GB675241A - Improvements in and relating to apparatus for separating immiscible liquids or liquids and insoluble solids - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for separating immiscible liquids or liquids and insoluble solids by heating to reduce the viscosity of the mixture, and thus permit separation by virtue of a difference in specific gravities, comprises a vertical annular conduit, means for introducing the mixture into the upper end of it, helical heating means co-axial with and located within the conduit, means for causing an appreciable change in direction of flow of the mixture upon its emergence from the lower end of the conduit, and a chamber surrounding the lower end of the conduit and having an outlet for one or more constituents of the mixture. As shown, impure oil from an auxiliary tank 11, Fig. 4, is fed by pipe 28 and inlet pipes 26, Fig. 1 (one not shown), to the bottom <PICT:0675241/III/1> <PICT:0675241/III/2> chamber 20 of each of two separators 10 and its change of direction in passing up a thermally-conducting tube 29, Fig. 1, causes silt and some water to be deposited in the chamber 20. From the top of the tube 29 it passes down an annular conduit formed by the tube 29 and a second thermally-conducting tube 30 traversed by a steam pipe 39 fed from a pipe 42. The heat-treatment and the reversal of direction of the oil at the bottom of the conduit cause deposition of the remaining water at the bottom of a mddle chamber 19 to the top chamber 18 through apertures 31, which prevent eddying, in a partition 17B and then through pipes 33, (not shown), and 35 to fuel pumps 36, Fig. 4. Water may be drawn off at intervals from chambers 20 and 19 by pipes 44 and 45, Fig. 1, respectively, through self-closing valves 46 and pipe 48, an observation glass 47 being provided on pipe 48. A perforated delivery plate (not shown), is fixed in front of the oil delivery port in the bottom chamber 20. The outlet end 41 of the steam pipe 39, Fig. 1, is connected to a common outlet pipe 43, Fig. 4.