GB739097A - Improvements in or relating to oil and water separation - Google Patents

Abstract

739,097. Gravity separation of liquids. SKAE, D. March 16, 1954 [March 20, 1953], No. 7694/53. Class 46. In a vessel for separating oil and water in which the liquid mixture flows successively in opposite vertical directions and oil is skimmed from the mixture at spaced positions between the inlet and outlet of the vessel as the liquid flows through a succession of chambers 12-16, the inlet 3 preferably being in the upper part of a chamber 10 having its outlet in its lower part, the outlets 30a from other chambers are in the upper parts thereof and the lower edge of any outlet is higher than that of its predecessor. Liquid enters through ports 4 in the end parts of the upper side of an inlet pipe 3 extending across the vessel, a skimming tray 5 being disposed below the un-ported portion to catch and convey oil to a discharge pipe 6. A perforated screen 23 below the tray reduces turbulence. The liquid passes below the first, 17, of partitions 17 ... 22 which separate the chambers, flows upwardly through the chamber 11, over the partition 18 and up open-ended stand pipes 30 and their branches to the outlets 30a into the next chamber and so on. In the upper parts of the chambers', trimming trays deliver to an oil discharge pipe, one tray 24 serving the two chambers 11, 12. Apart from the first one, the chambers communicate with one another at their upper ends and an inert gas may be trapped there. Pipes 45, 46 serve for heating the liquid. Purified water is discharged at 35 preferably to a filter.