Apparatus and process for separating components of a multiphase hydrocarbon stream

An apparatus for separating components of a multiphase hydrocarbon stream, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer vessel having a top end comprising a top outlet, a bottom end comprising a bottom outlet, with a longitudinal axis extending between the top end and the bottom end, and an outer vessel body disposed between the top end and the bottom end and having an outer vessel internal volume in fluid communication with the top outlet and the bottom outlet;
• wherein the outer vessel body comprises:
• a first section comprising a tangential inlet arranged to introduce the multiphase hydrocarbon stream tangentially into the outer vessel internal volume to create a vortex flow, and
• a second section arranged closer to the bottom end than the first section, wherein the outer vessel internal volume has a smaller cross-sectional circumference in the second section than in the first section;
• an inner vessel disposed within the outer vessel body, said inner vessel comprising:
• an inner vessel body having an inner vessel internal volume, and
• an inner bottom inlet oriented toward the bottom end of the outer vessel and in fluid communication with the inner vessel internal volume and with the outer vessel internal volume, and
• an inner top outlet oriented toward the top end of the outer vessel and in fluid communication with the outer vessel internal volume and the inner vessel internal volume;
• and
• a traversing conduit in fluid communication with the inner vessel internal volume and traversing the outer vessel body, so that a product stream can be conveyed from the inner vessel internal volume outside of the outer vessel, wherein the traversing conduit traverses the outer vessel body at a position that is further down along the longitudinal axis than the inner top outlet of the inner vessel.