US 11,964,221 B2 · Overload protection chamber for fluid separation apparatus and system

Abstract

A mixed fluid separator apparatus includes an overload protection chamber that prevents a large and sudden influx of oil from fouling a coalescing separator. To prevent sudden influx of a large concentration of oil from overwhelming the coalescing separator, a separate overload protection chamber is connected to a main coalescing separator apparatus. The overload protection chamber includes a water drain (majority water with some oil) to the main coalescing separator apparatus and an oil overflow (majority oil with some water) to drain excess oil when necessary to prevent overfilling of the coalescing separator apparatus. The overload protection chamber functions to rapidly separate and remove heavy concentrations of oil, protecting the main coalescing separator apparatus.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An overload protection chamber for a mixed fluid separator, comprising:

a chamber bounded by walls for containing the mixed fluid;
an oil-stop valve, disposed in the chamber, comprising:
a buoyant sealing ball bounded and vertically moveable in a column, the buoyant sealing ball having a buoyancy to float in a first fluid and sink in a second fluid;
and
a drain hole of the first fluid at the bottom of the vertical column, the buoyant sealing ball configured to seal the drain hole of the first fluid when resting on the drain hole of the first fluid;
a mixed fluid inlet;
and
an overflow weir having an upward-facing sloping surface and a top opening above a top of the column.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Overload protection chamber for fluid separation apparatus and system

Life of this patent

Overload protection chamber for fluid separation apparatus and system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9