Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C11/00—Accessories, e.g. safety or control devices, not otherwise provided for, e.g. regulators, valves in inlet or overflow ducting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D17/0214—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with removal of one of the phases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0217—Separation of non-miscible liquids by centrifugal force
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
  • B04C3/06—Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/08—Vortex chamber constructions
  • B04C5/081—Shapes or dimensions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
  • B04C5/15—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations with swinging flaps or revolving sluices; Sluices; Check-valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
  • B04C5/16—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations with variable-size outlets from the underflow ducting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
  • B04C5/181—Bulkheads or central bodies in the discharge opening

Definitions

• This invention relates to a separator.
• a separator for separating a relatively small volume e.g. up to 20% of a less dense liquid from a larger volume of a more dense liquid, for example separating small volumes of crude oil from production water from an oil well so that the separated water may be discharged in a virtually clean condition to the sea.
• a separator for this use in tubular form of reducing circular cross-section from a wide end to a narrow end, having at least one tangentially-disposed inlet at or adjacent the wide end for introducing at relatively high velocity the mixture of liquids to be separated 0 into the separator, and two outlets, the first disposed on the axis of the separator at the wide end for the removal of the less dense liquid component and the second disposed at or adjacent the narrow end for the removal of the more dense liquid component
• the less dense component for example oil
• the more dense component e.g. sea-water
• a separator for separating a mixture of liquids into a more dense component and a less dense component comprises an elongated tube having a circular cross-section which reduces in diameter from a wide end to a narrow end, at least one tangentially disposed inlet at or adjacent the wide end for the introduction at relatively high velocity of a mixture of liquids to be separated, at least one outlet for the removal of the less dense component on the axis of the separator, and at least one outlet for the removal of the more dense component, positioned in the vicinity of the narrow end of the separator, and pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the more dense component in the vicinity of the outlet for the more dense component.
• the tube may be of any suitable shape. For example it may be of constant taper from a location adjacent the inlet towards the narrow end. Alternatively the convergence angle may vary, either abruptly, so that the tube comprises a plurality of frusto conical portions, or gradually, so that the interior surface of the tube is curved, the degree of curvature decreasing in a direction from the wide end of the separator towards the narrow end.
• the tube may include at least one cylindrical section, e.g. at the wide end and/or at the narrow end.
• the outlet for the more dense component may extend for at least substantially the whole of the circumference of the tube, or may comprise at least one tangentially disposed port of any suitable cross-sectional shape, e.g. circular, elliptical, rectangular or square in the opposite sense to the said at least one inlet.
• the size of the outlet may be adjustable. For example it may be in the form of a gap between the tube and an outlet unit, which may be moveable along the axis of the separator, to vary the size of the gap.
• the adjacent surfaces of the end of the tube and of the outlet unit defining the gap may be tapered, the cross-sectional area of a surface on either tube or outlet unit increasing from the wide end towards the narrow end of the separator.
• At least one other, intermediate, outlet for the more dense component may be provided at a pre-determined position on the wall of the separator between the two ends, with pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the more dense component in the vicinity of this, intermediate, outlet for the more dense component.
• the intermediate outlet may extend for substantially the whole of the circumference of the tube, or may comprise at least one tangentially disposed port of any suitable cross-sectional shape, e.g. circular, elliptical, rectangular or square, in the opposite sense to the said at least one inlet.
• the size of the intermediate outlet may be adjustable, and the outlet may, in some situations, be closed. However, no change of diameter should occur.
• the tube may comprise a gap between two adjacent lengths of the tube, and the gap may be adjusted by moving one length relative to an adjacent length along the tube axis.
• the surfaces of the two adjacent lengths defining the gap may be tapered, the cross-sectional area of a wide surface on either length increasing in a direction from the wide end towards the narrow end of the separator.
• two diametrically opposed tangential inlets for the mixture of liquids to be separated Preferably there are two diametrically opposed tangential inlets for the mixture of liquids to be separated, of any suitable cross-sectional shape, e.g. circular, oval, rectangular or square. However more than two inlets may be provided.
• the or each inlet may connect with a cylindrical end section of the tube.
• the size of either outlet for the more dense component, i.e. at the narrow end and/or between the two ends, or the inlet(s) may be controlled either manually or automatically under the influence of one or more sensors for detecting changes in various parameters such as liquid flow rate, liquid composition i.e. relative proportions of each component, or pressure at various positions.
• Figure 1 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a separator according to the invention
• Figure 2 shows how the angle ⁇ is defined
• Figures 3-5 show in simplified form, three alternative constructions of part of the separator shown in Figure
• Figures 6 and 7 show, in simplified form, two alternative forms of the second body section of the separator shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 8 shows how the angle ⁇ is defined;
• Figure 9 shows, in simplified form, the construction of the separator shown in Figure 1 at the narrow end thereof;
• Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section through a cyclone separator in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention.
• a cyclone separator in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 1 and comprises an elongated tube having a cylindrical inlet section 1, a first body section 2 and a second body section 3.
• the separator also comprises an outlet unit (see Figure 9).
• the separator is shown with thin walls but in practice they may be much thicker to withstand internal pressures of the liquids being separated.
• Two diametrically opposed, tangentially disposed inlet ports 5a and 5b are provided, leading to the inlet section 1 from inlet pipes (not shown) through which a mixture of water and up to 20% crude oil may be fed at high velocity to the separator interior.
• the inlet section is provided with a disc-shaped end cover 7, which in this example is not provided with an axially disposed outlet for the less dense component.
• the inlet ports may be of any suitable cross-section, although in Figure 1 the ports have a circular cross-section of diameter D,.
• the total cross-sectional area of the inlet ports A may lie in the range given by the equation:
• the inlet section 1 is connected to the first body section 2 which as shown in Figure 1 is of constant taper to provide the interior surface 8 with a constant convergence angle ⁇ between the point A where the inlet section joins the first body section and the point B where an intermediate outlet 6 for the more dense component is provided.
• the convergence angle ⁇ preferably lies in the range from about 30' to about 10° e.g. about 2°, although smaller convergence angles are possible, down to about l'-5', if the separator inlet diameter D ⁇ is small.
• a preferred value of ⁇ is 1.8 .
• the diameter D2 of the separator has reduced to a value given by the equation:
• the convergence angle may vary, either abruptly, so that the first body section 2 comprises a plurality of frusto-conical portions, the convergence angle decreasing from one portion to the next in a direction away from the inlet section 1 , or gradually so that the interior surface 8 of the body section 2 is curved, the degree of curvature decreasing in a direction away from the inlet section 1, as illustrated in Figure 4.
• the separator is provided with an intermediate outlet 6 for the more dense component in the form of ' a circumferential gap between the first body section 1 and the second body section 3.
• Pressue conrol means for controlling the pressure of the more dense component in the vicinity of the intermediate outlet is provided but not shown in Figure 1.
• Such means may comprise a pressure control valve.
• the size of the gap may be varied by moving the sections towards or away from one another so as to alter the longitudinal dimension L 2 shown in Figure 1.
• L 2 is defined by the equation:
• L 2 lies between 4.0mm and 8.0mm for a DM of about 70mm.
• the second body section is cylindrical in shape and has an internal diameter D3.
• D3 lies within the range given by the equation:-
• end of the second body section 3 adjacent the gap 6 may protrude inside the interior of the first body section 2.
• the intermediate outlet 6 may comprise one or more outlet ports of any suitable cross-sectional shape.
• Two diametrically-opposed, tangentially disposed rectangular ports 6a and 6b are shown in Figure 3
• two diametrically disposed, tangentially disposed circular .ports 6c and 6d are shown in Figure 4
• one tangentially disposed circular port 6e is shown in Figure 5.
• the second body section 3 in all constructions shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is a continuation of the first body section 2.
• the total outlet area A3 of the outlet port 6e or both outlet ports 6a and 6b or 6c and 6d may lie in the range given by the equation:-
• a 2 is the cross-sectional area of the tube at the point B in Figure 1. and corresponds to the diameter D 2 . This is the diameter immediately adjacent the intermediate outlet on the side closer to the wide end of the separator.
• the arrangement of the outlet ports 6a, 6b etc is in the opposite sense to the inlet ports 5a and 5b.
• the second body section 3 as shown in the construction in Figure 1 may be cylindrical. However, alternatively it may be formed with a frusto-conical mouth portion, as shown between points C and E in Figure 6, the remainder being cylindrical, as shown between points E and D. Alternatively it may be curved as shown in Figure 4, or of wholly frusto-conical form, as shown in Figure 7. In all instances the overall angle of convergence ⁇ between points C and D (see Figure 8) lies in the range 0° to about 5° .
• the overall length 3 of the second body section 3 lies in the range given by the equation:-
• the outlet 10 for the more dense component at the narrow end of the separator leads into a closed chamber 12.
• the component is fed from the chamber 12 through a restriction or other pressure control means such as a valve 13.
• the pressure of the outflowing component is thereby controlled. If several separators are used in parallel, the discharges of the more dense component may be into one chamber.
• the outlet 10 shown in Figure 9 extends around the whole circumference of the end of the second body section 3.
• the outlet is characterised by the axial width L5 of the outlet, the taper angle ⁇ of the conical deflector 15 disposed in the chamber and the diameter Dg of the base of the deflector.
• the values of these dimensions lie in the following preferred ranges:-
• Dg may be larger than 4D4.
• the upper limit depends on the size and shape of the chamber 12 or other practical limitations.
• the outlet 10 may be in the form of one or more tangentially disposed outlet ports of any suitable shape e.g. circular, rectangular or square, similar to the intermediate outlet ports 6a, 6b, 6c etc, and in the opposite sense the inlet ports 5a, 5b.
• the less dense component of the mixture forms as a central core within the liquid and is removed from the separator via an axially disposed outlet 11 in the form of a narrow tube 19, the end of which is preferably tapered so as to form a sharp edge 17.
• the tube extends towards the interior of the separator beyond the extremity 18 of the second body section 3.
• the tube 19 may have an enlarged diameter outwardly from the separator beyond the extremity 18 of the second body section 3.
• the internal diameter D5 of the tube is selected depending on the proportions of the liquid components being separated but may be varied within the range given by the following equation:-
• the length L4 the tube 19 extends within the separator may be. varied within the range:-
• FIG. 10 One specific embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 10 and comprises a cyclone separator in the form of an elongated tube having a cylindrical inlet .section lOly a first body section 102 and a second body section 103.
• the separator also comprises an outlet unit 104.
• the inlet section is provided with an end cover 107.
• the inlet section 101 is connected to a tubular first body section 102 by any suitable means.
• the first body section 102 has a tapered interior having a frusto-conical surface 83, the convergence angle ⁇ of the surface 83 having a value of 1.8°.
• the length L of the first body section is 835mm.
• the minimum diameter D 2 of the first body section is 17.5mm.
• a tubular second body section 103 having a cylindrical interior, i.e. the diameter of the interior surface 112 is constant.
• This gap 113 provides an outlet for the more dense component which discharges into a cylindrical chamber 84 surrounding the gap 113 and thence out through a pressure controlling valve 85.
• the position of the second body section 103 relative to the first body section 102 is adjustable by means (not shown in Figure 1) to vary the size of the gap 113.
• the axial length 2 of the gap is between 1mm and 10mm.
• Two 0 ring seals 86, 87 are provided in grooves 88, 89 in the outer cylindrical surface of the first body section 102 allowing the first body section to slide in or out of the chamber 84 as required.
• the gap 113 is formed between a frusto-conical surface 114 on the end of the first body section 102" remote from the inlet section 101 and a conical surface 115 on the adjacent end of the second body section 103.
• the surfaces 114 and 115 are such that they diverge on a direction away from the inlet section 101 at a divergence angle typically 30°
• the overall length L3 of the second body section is 500mm.
• an outlet unit 104 Adjacent the end 116 of the second body section 103 (i.e. at the narrow end of the separator) remote from the inlet section 101 there is positioned an outlet unit 104.
• This is in the form of a thick-walled tube within the bore of which is an inner tube 117 having an internal diameter in the range 2mm-3mm.
• This inner tube 117 is a sliding fit within the outlet unit 104, has a constant internal diameter in the range 4mm- 7mm, and its axis coincident with the axis of the remaining parts of the separator.
• An elongation 118 of the inner tube 117 extends a short distance L4 into the separator from the narrow end 116 thereof towards the inlet section 101, so that the inner tube mouth 122 is spaced apart from the narrow end 116.
• the mouth 122 of the tube is externally tapered to form a sharp edge at its extremity within the separator.
• the surface 119 of the second body section 103 facing the outlet unit 104 is frusto-conical and the surface 120 of the outlet unit 104 facing the second body section 103 is conical.
• a small circumferential gap 121 is provided between the surfaces 119 and 120 to form a second outlet for the more dense component which discharges into a cylindrical chamber 91 surrounding the gap 121 and thence out through a pressure controlling valve 92.
• the surfaces 119 and 120 diverge in a direction away from the inlet section 1 at a divergance angle ⁇ typically 30°.
• the position of the outlet unit relative to the second body section 103 may be adjusted by means (not shown in Figure 1) to vary the size of the gap 121.
• the " axial length L5 of the gap is 0-lOmm e.g. 5mm.
• Two 0 ring seals 94, 95 are provided in grooves 96, 97 in the outer cylindrical surface of the outlet unit 104, allowing it to slide into or out of the chamber 92 as required.
• suitable means may be provided for sliding the inner tube 117 within the outlet unit 104, thus varying the axial length L4 (typically 80mm) of the elongation 118 and hence moving the mouth 122 thereof to be positioned at any required distance from the narrow end 116 of the separator.
• the mouth 122 of the inner tube 117 in the outlet unit 4 provides an outlet for the removal of the less dense component i.e. oil, from the separator.
• This inner tube 117 may be connected to a suitable valve and/or pump as required.
• the separator of this embodiment In use of the separator of this embodiment (as shown in Figure 10) the mixture of liquids to be separated, water and crude oil, is fed at high speed into the separator through the inlet ports 105a and 105b.
• the sizes of the gaps 113 and 121 may be varied. Fluid flow and pressure are also varied. Since the less dense component i.e. the oil, moves towards the axis of the separator this may be removed through the mouth 122 of the inner tube 117. Additionally since the more dense component i.e. water, moves towards the wall of the separator i.e.
• Axial outlet flow About 2 to 3 1/min

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Geometry (AREA)
• Cyclones (AREA)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26292697

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (21)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 1988
  • 1988-08-30 CA CA000576098A patent/CA1328629C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1988-08-31 IL IL87632A patent/IL87632A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1988-09-01 WO PCT/GB1988/000715 patent/WO1989002313A2/en unknown
  • 1988-09-01 US US07/469,405 patent/US5008014A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1988-09-01 EP EP88308072A patent/EP0313197B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1988-09-01 IN IN736/CAL/88A patent/IN171235B/en unknown
  • 1988-09-03 MY MYPI88000987A patent/MY104934A/en unknown
  • 1988-09-05 CN CN88106510A patent/CN1026298C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1988-09-08 EG EG478/88A patent/EG18592A/xx active
• 1990
  • 1990-03-02 NO NO901005A patent/NO304139B1/no unknown
  • 1990-03-02 DK DK199000555A patent/DK175444B1/da not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1990-03-05 GB GB9004892A patent/GB2231287B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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