Fluid/fluid separators

Details Fluid/fluid separators Fluid/fluid separators

1985-08-21

1987-05-19

Hart, Charles

Gas separation

With nonliquid cleaning means for separating media

Solid agent cleaning member movingly contacts apparatus

55345, 55457, B01D 1900

Patent

active

046664769

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to fluid/fluid separators, and in particular, though not exclusively to oil/gas separators. Separators of this invention may be used in separating oil from gas at high pressure such as at the well-head of an oil well.
British Patent Application No. 82 17798 (2 101 496) described an oil/gas separator device to be mounted at an oil well head and having a cylindrical perforated or foraminous sleeve surrounding a core having helical external channels. An oil/gas mixture flows through the channels along a helical flow path in such a way that the gas escapes through the perforations or apertures in the sleeve. One embodiment has channels of a generally triangular cross section (such cross section being in a plane including the core axis) bounded along one side of the cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve in this embodiment has holes near the top, narrow, end of the triangle for discharge of gas.
According to the present invention, there is provided a separator for separating fluids of different densities from a mixture thereof including means to define at least one mixture flow path which is helical or otherwise extends along and round an axis, and including a plurality of outlets from the flow path for the lighter fluid, such outlets being spaced apart along the flowpath and leading from a radially innermost part of the cross section of the flow path.
With the invention, a fluid mixture passed through the flow path will tend to separate due to centrifugal forces into a heavier fraction, which is radially outwards, and a lighter fraction, which is radially inwards and can be removed through the outlets. Light fraction removal can take place at points along the flow path. The heavy fraction is expected normally to exit from the flow path at the end of the separator.
Preferably, the outlets are passages extending from the radially innermost part outwardly to the exterior of the flow path. In this way the lighter fraction is removed to be outside the flow path of the heavier fraction. When collected, the light fraction can thus be easily conducted away without having to cross the flow path of the heavier fraction, which will be of particular importance if the heavier fraction entrains particles of any sort.
In preferred forms the cross section of the flow path is generally triangular. The triangle may have one radially extending side, an outer side which is, typically, parallel to said axis, and a third side inclined to said axis. If the separator is used with the axis vertical, which is preferred though not essential, because it may for instance have its axis horizontal, the radial side is preferably the base of the triangle. The radially innermost part of the flowpath is then at the inner end of the passage, and the outlet leads from there, preferably in the form of a passage formed beneath the base. Preferred embodiments also have a channel in the flow path bounded by a lip. As the mixture proceeds along the flowpath the light fraction tends to pass into the channel. The outlets lead from the channel where provided.
Preferably each outlet can be closed, or shut to an adjustable extent, so that the profile of light fraction dicharge along the length of the flow path can be controlled. The separator may comprise a core surrounded by a sleeve. The core can have one or preferably a plurality of channels cut into it to form one or a plurality of flowpaths. Preferably the sleeve is cylindrical, so that the flowpaths are spiral. The sleeve may be formed as an inner and an outer sleeve, each with apertures and being relatively rotatable to adjust the degree of overlap of the apertures.
Additional outlets from the flowpath may be provided at narrow portions thereof, for instance at the apex of the triangle when a triangular cross section is employed. This may be useful for discharging fluids such as cleaning liquids. A still further set of outlets may be provided at wide portions of the flowpath, useful for discharging heavy fluids if desired.
The outlets for the light fraction, as mentioned, open

REFERENCES:
patent: 2494427 (1950-01-01), Bidwell et al.
patent: 3209518 (1965-10-01), Spurgis et al.
patent: 3271929 (1966-09-01), Bowden et al.
patent: 3641745 (1972-02-01), Moore
patent: 4088459 (1978-05-01), Tuzson
patent: 4482364 (1984-11-01), Martin et al.

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