| abstract |
An electrically energised device for coalescing a first conductive fluid, emulsified in a second fluid, comprising a tube member ( 1 ), having at least one fluid inlet ( 2 ) and at least one fluid outlet ( 3 ). The tube member ( 1 ) defines a flow channel ( 4 ) for an emulsion of the first and second fluid from its inlet side to its outlet side and comprises at least one electrically insulating wall portion, and an interacting pair of a first and a second electrode ( 5, 6 ), separated from the first and second fluid by at least one insulating wall portion of the tube member ( 1 ). Said electrodes are supplied with a voltage for the purpose of subjecting the first and second fluid flowing through the flow channel to an electrostatic field. The device comprises at least one passive centre electrode ( 11 ), made of a conducting material, arranged in the channel ( 4 ) and electrically insulated from the first and second electrode ( 5, 6 ). |