GB877979A - Crude oil separator - Google Patents

Abstract

877,979. Gravity-separation apparatus. GILL, H. E. Dec. 14, 1959 [Dec. 12, 1958], No. 42470/59. Class 46. A wheel-mounted separator for removing salt water and sediment from crude oil obtained directly from an oil well is divided into compartments by vertical plates 15B to 15J, Fig. 4, seven of the compartments having roof-shaped baffles 18 to 21, Fig 6, and the remainder having only the baffles 19 and 21, Fig. 7. Mixture introduced at 32 to perforate branch pipes 33, 34, Fig. 7, is constrained by holes 17, Fig. 6, in the vertical plates and by holes 37, Fig. 7, in a cover plate 36, and holes 23 in baffle 21A, holes 24 in baffle 20G and holes 22 in baffle 18A, Fig. 4, to follow the tortuous path shown in Fig. 4. Openings such as 25 and 38 and tubes such as 28, Fig. 7, permit water to flow downwards, while tubes, (not shown), extending from the ridges of baffles 19 and opening above baffles 18 permit oil to flow upwards. Openings 16 in plates 151 and 15J provide a reservoir compartment 39 from which oil flows into the top 53 of a pipe 52, Fig. 7, and past a gate valve 55 to exit at 54. Water enters at 58, Fig. 7, a pipe 57 and passes a gate valve 60 to exit at 59. The stems 56 of the valves are mounted at opposite sides and ends of a lever 41 controlled by a float 45 for reciprocal operation. Holes 17, 37, 23, 24 and 22 decrease in size from the beginning to the end of the tortuous path. The viscosity of the liquid is adjusted by a fire tube having single entry and discharge reaches 65a and 65h respectively, Fig. 7, and twin reaches 65b to 65g extending back and forth in each horizontal region. (Fire-tube apertures are shown in plate 15E, Fig. 6). The cross-section of the fire tube decreases progressively. Plates 15 are spaced from the bottom of the enclosure 1, and a slightly overlapping rake 71 is associated with each plate, Fig. 6, the rakes being secured to a rod 68 reciprocatable in holes in the plates to discharge sludge through valved pipes (not shown).