Liquid to Liquid Separation Process and Technology

Liquid to liquid separation, at the very basic level, is a process where water is removed from a hydrocarbon. Over the last decade, there have been three prominent machines or mechanisms that can perform a liquid to liquid separation. These three mechanisms include a centrifuge, a vacuum dehydration system and a coalescer system. While all three mechanisms have unique advantages and disadvantages, the most often used within the fuel and oil industry is the coalescer system. A coalescer is a type of fluid conditioning system that works with solutions in a fixed kidney loop filtration system or portable filter carts. The goal of the coalescer system is to remove water and particles from steam and gas turbines, compressors and other rotating equipment lube oils, diesel fuels, gasoline and jet fuel. The most prominent illustration of this can be seen in large white storage tanks that sit just outside of airports and hold hundreds of thousands of gallons of jet fuel.

Liquid to Liquid Separation

Storage tanks breathe. They can have leaking seals, manways that leak and other issues that allow the ingression of water into a tank that is only supposed to contain fuel. Since water is heavier than fuel, the water sinks and collects in the bottom of the storage tank. The water in fuel storage tanks has traditionally been removed by sumping the tank. This is done by opening a drain valve in the bottom of the storage tank allowing the water to run out into a controlled collection area. The problem with this is that fuel can also escape. The loss of fuel is expensive and there are obvious environmental concerns. The largest being the fugitive emissions.

The introduction of a filtration system with a coalescer can mitigate these concerns. The fuel storage tank is monitored and the sumping is done by pulling the fuel water mixture from the tank sump and separating the water from the fuel. The clean dry fuel is returned to the tank and the water is discharged to a controlled contained area.

Using Coalescers

Loss of profits and environmental concerns are very real issues when storage tanks are not properly maintained. Installing a filtration system with a coalescer and technologies to monitor fuel and water levels can take care of these potential issues by making sure that only water is discharged into the control area and only fuel is returned to the storage tank.

Filtration systems with coalescers are extremely effective and are used by all airports that dispense fuel. Aircraft fuel needs to be clean and dry in order to be safe and effective.

Filtration systems with coalescers are used to create a safe and more efficient process for liquid to liquid separation. Some of the benefits can include automated operation – no manual water draining required – safer operations and ease of start-up and maintenance. With an automated system, an operator at the storage facility does not need to be present while the filtration systems with a coalescer is operating.

The automated system allows everything to be run without the need for constant human intervention. The same is true with the fact that no manual water draining is required when using a filtration systems with a coalescer. Fuel storage facilities no longer have to be concerned that an individual sumping a fuel storage tank will not cut the system off at the correct time.

Most filtration system with a coalescer in use today are easy to understand, easy to start-up, easy to operate and easy to maintain making operator training short.

Removing Emulsified Water

It is important to understand that free water as well as emulsified water can be extracted through this method of liquid to liquid separation. When water settles to the bottom of a fuel storage tank and is not emulsified with the fuel, it is important to remove that water to keep the fuel clean and free of any water that may contaminate the fuel. When water is still mixed with the fuel (emulsified), it is important to remove as much of that water as possible so the fuel can be as clean and dry meeting industry standards for use in aircrafts.

Use of a filtration system with a coalescer will remove water (free and emulsified) thus reducing the chance for corrosion on the bottom of the tank. The water waste discharge the coalescer produces contains a very low hydrocarbon content, which makes it more eco-friendly than the other options that are currently available.

View article on Filtration News Magazine (Page 39)

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