Patent ID: 8192588
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A water removal apparatus for removal of water in a separation column, comprising: a separator fluidly and externally coupled to the separation column and configured to receive an oily water from the separation column and to allow separation of water from the oily water into a water phase and an oil phase, wherein the separation column is configured to receive a water-containing hydrocarbon feed and to separate hydrocarbons; a feed line that is fluidly coupled to the separator and the column such that the feed line provides the oily water from a side draw of the separation column to the separator; a return line that is fluidly coupled to the separator and the column such that the return line provides oil from the oil phase to the column; and a thermal control unit thermally coupled to the return line and configured to allow raising a temperature of the oil in the return line in an amount effective to promote density-driven flow of the oil from the separator to the column through the return line, and wherein the thermal control unit comprises an electric heater or a steam heater that are configured to allow raising of a temperature of the oil in the return line in an amount of at least 5° F. relative to the temperature of the oil in the oily water.