# US 10,307,694 B2 · High efficiency phase splitter

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- Number: US 10,307,694 B2
- Document ID: US10307694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/597,052
- Filed: 2017-05-16
- Published: 2017-08-31
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-16
- Assignees: FMC Separation Systems, BV
- Applicants: FMC Separation Systems, BV
- Inventors: Mohamed Reda Akdim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307694B2

## CPC

- B01D 19/0057: {the centrifugal movement being caused by a vortex, e.g. using a cyclone, or by a tangential inlet}
- B01D 45/16: generated by the winding course of the gas stream {, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes}
- B04C 3/06: Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
- B04C 5/107: Cores; Devices for inducing an air-core in hydrocyclones (forming part of the outlet pipe B04C5/13)
- B04C 5/181: Bulkheads or central bodies in the discharge opening
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B04C: APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES ({centrifugal separation of water from steam B01D45/12;} jet mills B02C19/06; {wind sifters B07B7/00;} cyclonic type combustion apparatus F23; {vortex burners for cyclone-type combustion apparatus F23D1/02; cyclonic type combustion apparatus for gas turbines F23R3/00})

## Abstract

A phase splitter for separating a multiphase fluid into a relatively light phase and a relatively heavy phase includes a separator tube which comprises a fluid inlet through which the multiphase fluid enters the apparatus, a heavy phase outlet through which the heavy phase exits the apparatus and an inner diameter surface which defines a flow bore that extends between the fluid inlet and the heavy phase outlet. A swirl element positioned in the flow bore downstream of the fluid inlet causes the multiphase fluid to rotate and separate the heavy phase from the light phase. The light phase forms an elongated core which extends axially through the flow bore radially inwardly of the heavy phase from proximate the swirl element toward the heavy phase outlet. A core stabilizer is positioned in the flow bore between the swirl element and the heavy phase outlet and engages the distal end of the light phase core to thereby inhibit the light phase from exiting the apparatus through the heavy phase outlet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for separating a multiphase fluid into a relatively light phase and a relatively heavy phase, the apparatus comprising:
an elongated separator tube which comprises first and second ends, a multiphase fluid inlet located proximate the first end, a heavy phase outlet located proximate the second end, and an inner diameter surface which defines a flow bore that extends between the multiphase fluid inlet and the heavy phase outlet, the heavy phase outlet being oriented coaxially with the flow bore;
a swirl element which is positioned in the flow bore downstream of the multiphase fluid inlet and upstream of the heavy phase outlet, the swirl element being configured to rotate the multiphase fluid to thereby force the heavy phase radially outwardly toward the inner diameter surface of the separator tube and the light phase radially inwardly into a light phase core which extends axially through the flow bore from proximate the swirl element toward the heavy phase outlet;
a light phase discharge channel which is fluidly connected to a radially inner region of the flow bore; and
a core stabilizer which is positioned in the flow bore between the swirl element and the heavy phase outlet, the core stabilizer including a cylindrical stabilizer body and means for securing the stabilizer body to the separator tube;
the stabilizer body comprising an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of a radially adjacent portion of the separator tube to thereby define an annulus between the stabilizer body and the separator tube which is fluidly connected to the heavy phase outlet;
the stabilizer body further comprising a generally conical hollow cavity having an axis which is coaxial with the separator tube, the cavity comprising an upstream opening which is located at an upstream end of the stabilizer body, a closed downstream end which is located downstream of the opening, and an inner surface which converges radially inwardly from the upstream opening to the downstream end;
wherein during operation of the apparatus the cavity engages the end of the light phase core to thereby prevent the light phase from flowing through the annulus and being discharged with the heavy phase through the heavy phase outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface converges linearly from the upstream opening to the downstream end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inner surface converges at an angle of between 15° and 45°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inner surface converges at an angle of between 25° and 35°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the stabilizer body is between 65% and 85% of the inner diameter of the radially adjacent portion of the separator tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream opening comprises a diameter which is between 50% and 70% of the inner diameter of the radially adjacent portion of the separator tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises an axial length from the upstream opening to the downstream end which is between 100% and 150% of the diameter of the upstream opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separator tube comprises a constant inner diameter and the axial distance between the downstream end of the swirl element and the upstream opening of the cavity is between 4 times and 5 times the inner diameter of the separator tube.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for securing the stabilizer body to the separator tube includes a support ring which comprises a number of axial holes through which the heavy phase flows.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for securing the stabilizer body in the separator tube includes a number of radial fins which extend between the body and the separator tube.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge channel extends axially through the swirl element and comprises a discharge opening in a downstream end of the swirl element.