Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • 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
  • B01D17/04—Breaking emulsions
  • B01D17/045—Breaking emulsions with coalescers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
  • B01D19/0042—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow
  • B01D19/0052—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow in rotating vessels, vessels containing movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/24—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks
  • B01D21/2405—Feed mechanisms for settling tanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/24—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks
  • B01D21/2444—Discharge mechanisms for the classified liquid
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/24—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks
  • B01D21/245—Discharge mechanisms for the sediments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/26—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/0039—Settling tanks provided with contact surfaces, e.g. baffles, particles
  • B01D21/0042—Baffles or guide plates
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/24—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks
  • B01D21/2494—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks provided with means for the removal of gas, e.g. noxious gas, air
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D21/30—Control equipment
  • B01D21/34—Controlling the feed distribution; Controlling the liquid level ; Control of process parameters

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to separation of three fluid phases- gas, oil and water, and more particularly concerns achieving such separation using rotating separator apparatus.
• the invention concerns methods of operating rotary separator apparatus in relation to scoop means immersed in a liquid ring on the rotary separator and to weir means to isolate fluid shear forces produced by the scoop means from the separation portions of the rotary separator. Solids entrained in the flow must also be separated.
• Another advantage is the size and weight of the required vessels.
• the large separation vessels require large, expensive structures to support their weight.
• the above object is met by operating rotating separator apparatus to which fluid, including gas and liquids (as for example oil and water mixed together) is supplied in a fluid jet, as via a nozzle, the steps of the basic method including: a) separating the liquids from the gas in the stream, at a first zone within the rotating apparatus, and b) providing weir structures operating to separate the liquids into liquids of differing density at a second zone within said apparatus.
• fluid including gas and liquids (as for example oil and water mixed together)
• the fluid jet has momentum which is utilized by transfer of energy from the jet to the rotating separator apparatus. Power may also be transferred from an external source to the rotating separator.
• a further object concerns removal from the fluid jet of entrained solid particles, the method including providing a solids removal passage in the rotating separator apparatus, and including conducting the particles which are separated by centrifugal force to the passage.
• Yet another object includes provision at the rotating separator apparatus of a passage for receiving a liquid A of higher density, providing at the apparatus an outlet for liquid A, and providing at the apparatus an outlet for liquid
• At least one of the outlets may advantageously be in the form of a scoop immersed in at least one of the liquids flowing as in a liquidous ring relative to the scoop, with one of the weirs located to control flow of the one liquid over that weir to the ring.
• a barrier is typically provided between two such liquidous rings defined by the liquids A and B.
• a movable inlet barrier may be provided in association with the scoop to block entry of gas into the scoop.
• An additional object includes supporting the barrier for movement in response to changes in force applied to the barrier by at least one of the liquids flowing relative to the scoop.
• a still further object includes providing one or more of the outlets at the rotating separator apparatus to have the form of an open weir, and flowing liquid via that weir to a passage in which a scoop is immersed to remove liquid, as will be described.
• An additional object is to employ two weirs defined by the weir structure to control the flow of two of such liquids to outlets, and thereby to control the position of an interface defined by and between the two liquids.
• Fig. 1 is a sectional view, i.e., an axial radial plane, of three-phase rotary apparatus incorporating the invention
• Fig. la is a view like Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section showing details of a scoop having an inlet immersed in a rotating ring of liquids, and taken in a plane normal to the axis of separator rotation;
• Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2 showing a modification
• Fig. 5 is a view taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing two open weir outlets to liquid scoops; and Fig. 7 is a partial cross-section taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. la.
• Figs. 1 and la show versions of the three-phase rotary separator structure 32.
• a mixture of oil, gas and water is expanded in a nozzle 17.
• the resulting gas and liquid jet 1 is well collimated.
• the jet impinges generally tangentially onto a moving (rotating) surface 2.
• the surface is solid with holes 3, to permit drainage of the liquids and solids.
• Surface 2 is defined by the inner side of a rotating separator annulus 2a connected as by rotor 8 and structure 31 to a rotating shaft 19 of structure 32. Shaft bearings are shown at locations 19a.
• the moving surface may alternatively be comprised of the separated liquid, in which case no solid surface 2 is required.
• the separated gas flows through gas blades 9 in the rotor 8, transferring power to the rotor and shaft 19.
• the gas leaves through an exit port 18.
• Blades 9 are spaced about the rotor axis 19b.
• the oil and water, and any particulate solids, flow into the space between the outer wall 20 and the separating surface 2, in the centrifugal force field.
• the greater density of water causes it to acquire a radial outward velocity and separate form the oil flow 4.
• Separated water is indicated at 5.
• the separating oil and water flow axially through slots at location 8a in the rotor, toward the oil outlet 10, and toward the water outlet 13, respectively.
• the liquids will be slowed by frictional forces transferring power to the separating surface and hence to the rotor and shaft. If the tangential velocity of the jet is lower than the desired rotating surface speed, external power must be transferred to the shaft, and hence rotor and separating surface, to drag the slower liquids up to the speed of the rotating surface.
• the power can be transferred, for example by a motor, or by the shaft of another rotary separator.
• the solids, being heavier than the water, are thrown to the inner side of the wall 20. The solids are collected at the farthest radial position 6 of that wall, and flow at 21 with a small amount of water into a volute 22 from which they are discharged.
• the relative placement of the oil outlet 10 in the oil collection zone 10a, and the water outlet 13, in the water collection zone 13a beyond barrier 12 causes the oil-water interface 7a to form at a location radially outward of both the oil outlet and the water outlet, but which is radially inward from the water passages 23.
• This location of the rotating interface at 7a effects separation of the oil and water.
• interface 7a intersects barrier 12, and that zones 10a and 13a are at opposite axial sides of barrier 12.
• the interface radial location is determined by the following relation, listing dimensions as shown in Fig. la:
• the interface location is independent of the relative amounts of water and oil, so long as the pressure drop of liquid in flowing from the interface location to the outlets is small compared to the large centrifugally-induced head from the rotating liquids.
• the liquid outlets are typically open scoops of the type shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• a rotary separator is shown at 110 and having an annular portion 111 with a surface Ilia facing radially inwardly toward the separator axis 112 of rotation (the same as axis 19b in Fig. 1).
• a liquid film or layer builds up as a ring 113 on the rotating surface and is shown to have thickness "t".
• Such liquid may typically be supplied in a jet, as from a two-phase nozzle.
• the nozzle, jet and separator elements are schematically shown in Fig. 5. See also U.S. Patent 5,385,446, incorporated herein by reference, and wherein the momentum of the jet is transferred to the separator at its inner surface Ilia, inducing rotation.
• a scoop or diffuser structure is provided at 114 for removing liquid in the ring 113.
• the scoop has an entrance 115 defined by radially separated inner and outer lips 115a and 115b presented toward the relatively oncoming liquid in the ring. Lip 115b is immersed in the liquid ring; and lip 115a is located radially inwardly of the inner surface 113a of the liquid ring. Ring liquid at 113b, radially inwardly of the scoop lip 115b, enters the scoop at 113c, and flows via a passage 116 in the scoop toward outlet 117.
• the scoop is normally non-rotating, i.e., fixed, or it may rotate, but at a slower rate than the separator.
• Barrier structure is provided, and located proximate the scoop entrance or inlet, to block gas exiting to the scoop.
• One such barrier structure is indicated at 121, and as having a barrier surface 121a projecting radially outwardly of the scoop inner lip 115b, i.e., toward the liquid ring, whereby liquid on the ring travels relatively past barrier surface 121a to enter the scoop at its inlet.
• the barrier surface has a doctor tip extent, indicated at 121b, controlling the radial thickness at t 2 of the liquid ring that enters the scoop. In this regard, ⁇ is normally less than t,.
• the doctor tip extent 121b is also normally of a width (parallel to axis 112) about the same as that of the scoop inlet.
• the barrier surface is shown to have taper in the direction of relative travel of liquid that enters the scoop, and that taper is preferably convex, to minimize or prevent build up of liquid in a turbulent wake at the scoop entrance.
• the scoop inlet width w is of lesser extent than the liquid in the ring, i.e., ring liquid exists at widthwise opposite sides of the scoop, as at 113e and 113f. Accordingly, separated gas is prevented, or substantially prevented, from entering the scoop to flow to the outlet, and an efficient gas-liquid separation is achieved.
• Another aspect concerns the provision of means for effecting controllable displacement of the barrier structure toward the liquid ring, whereby the thickness t 2 of the liquid layer entering the scoop is controlled.
• barrier displacement control means is shown in the form of a spring 125, positioned to urge the barrier structure toward the liquid ring.
• a balance is achieved between the force of the spring acting to urge the barrier toward the liquid ring, and the force of liquid impinging on the convex surface 121a of the barrier, to position the barrier radially as a function of separator rotary speed, liquid ring rotary speed, and liquid viscosity, whereby a controlled rate of liquid ingestion into the scoop to match liquid supply to the ring is achieved, and without air ingestion, i.e. , the inlet is left open to liquid inflow, but is blocked for gas.
• Guide structure is also provided for guiding such displacement of the barrier structure as it moves in direction toward and away from the liquid ring.
• a stop 134 on the stem is engageable with the end 133a of the sleeve to limit radially outward movement of the barrier structure, and its doctor tip, as referred to.
• Figs. 4 and 5 show use of a foil 40 or foils immersed in the liquid and angled relative to the direction of liquid ring travel, to receive liquid impingement acting to produce a force component in a radially outward (away from axis 12) direction. That foil is connected to the barrier structure 121, as via struts 42, to exert force on the barrier acting to move it into or toward the liquid.
• FIG. 6 Another type of outlet is shown in Fig. 6.
• Separated oil flows over a weir 204, positioned such that the oil interface 201 is at a radius rmont from the center line of the shaft.
• the weir 204 rotates with the rotor 13.
• the oil flows controllably over weir 204 into a collection ring 205 in an oil passage 225, and from which it is removed by a scoop 209, immersed in the oil layer at 209a.
• Separated water 208 slows through a passage 203, formed by a space between the separator rotor 32, and bottom wall 206a of the dual weir structure 206.
• the water flows to the right under the action of the hydrostatic head and controllably flows over the weir 207.
• the water flows into a collection ring 214 in a water passage 224, from which it is removed by a scoop 210, immersed in the water layer at 210a.
• Fig. 7 is a partial cross section on lines
• FIG. 7-7 of Fig. la. It shows the function of ribs 230 in the rotary separator.
• the nozzle 301 introduces a mixture of oil, gas and water 308, onto the separation surface 2.
• the liquids drain through holes 309 into a longitudinal passage 303 formed by longitudinal ribs 304.
• the ribs provide a coalescing surface for drops as well as a structural support. They also function to inhibit secondary flows in the passages.
• the oil and water interface 307 is formed by the rotational gravity field and the location of the weirs.
• the separated oil flows over the top of the oil weir 305.
• the separated water flows through the passage 306 formed by the weir structure.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
• Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
• Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26758300

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-05-06 AU AU38926/99A patent/AU743963B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-05-06 EP EP99921814A patent/EP1100603A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-05-06 WO PCT/US1999/010145 patent/WO1999058220A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-05-06 BR BR9910275-7A patent/BR9910275A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-05-06 CA CA002329039A patent/CA2329039A1/en active Pending
• 2000
  • 2000-11-08 NO NO20005646A patent/NO319177B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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