US 4,072,481 AGranted

Device for separating multiple phase fluid systems according to the relative specific gravities of the phase

OwnerClaude C. Laval, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

A device for separating multiple phase fluid systems according to the relative specific gravities of the phase having a vortex chamber providing upper and lower ends and a circumscribing side wall, a supply conduit connected to the upper end of the chamber adapted to supply a fluid system to the chamber so as to cause it to swirl in the chamber to throw a heavier phase outwardly to descend in the chamber and to cause a lighter phase to move inwardly in the chamber, a tubular vortex finder extended in the upper end of the chamber about which said system is swirled having an open end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end of the chamber through which a phase of intermediate specific gravity is discharged, a conduit connected to the lower end of the chamber to remove the heavier phase therefrom, a partition in the upper end of the chamber extended between the vortex finder and the wall of the chamber to define a collecting compartment thereabove, said partition having an opening therethrough adjacent to the vortex finder for the passage of the lighter phase therethrough into the compartment, and a conduit connected to the compartment to draw the lighter phase therefrom.

Claims6

Dependent claims

In combination with a pump for liquids having an intake disposed in a well containing a three phase fluid system including a gaseous phase, a liquid phase and a particulate solid phase, a device for protecting the liquid pump from the passage of the gaseous phase and the particulate solid phase therethrough comprising:

A. a vortexing chamber immersed in the fluid system in the well having upper and lower end walls and a sidewall defining a surface of revolution concentric to an axis disposed longitudinally of the well;
B. a substantially cylindrical vortex finder connected to the intake of said pump mounted in the upper end wall of the chamber and extended concentrically axially downwardly in the chamber having an open lower end intermediate the upper and lower end walls of the chamber;
C. a partition circumscribing the vortex finder mounted on the sidewall in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end wall of the chamber to define a compartment for collecting gas thereabove in the chamber, said partition having a gas passage therethrough adjacent to the vortex finder to admit gas to the compartment and being substantially impervious outwardly thereof;
D. means in the sidewall for directing the fluid system of the well into the vortexing chamber tangentially to a circle concentric to the axis thereof at an elevation below the passage in response to operation of the pump whereby the fluid swirls downwardly in the chamber in a centrifuging action throwing solid particles outwardly for gravitational descent to the lower end of the chamber, the gaseous components swirl inwardly and upwardly for movement through the passage into the gas collecting compartment, and said fluid having had solid particles and gaseous components centrifuged therefrom swirls downwardly and then upwardly through the lower end of the vortex finder;
E. a gas pump for drawing gas from the compartment having an intake connected to the compartment and a discharge at the surface of the well;
and
F. a tail pipe for drawing solid particles from the chamber mounted on the lower end wall in communication with the vortexing chamber and downwardly extended therefrom.

4 more elements

In combination with a pump having an intake disposed in a well containing a three phase fluid system including a gaseous phase, a liquid phase and a particulate solid phase, a device for protecting the liquid pump from the passage of the gaseous phase and the particulate solid phase therethrough comprising:

A. a vortexing chamber immersed in the fluid system in the well having upper and lower end walls and a sidewall defining a surface of revolution concentric to an axis disposed longitudinally of the well;
B. a substantially cylindrical vortex finder connected to the intake of said pump mounted in the upper end wall of the chamber and extended concentrically axially downwardly in the chamber having an open lower end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end wall of the chamber;
C. a partition mounted on the sidewall in circumscribing relation to the vortex finder intermediate the upper end wall of the chamber and the lower end of the vortex finder defining a compartment for collecting gas thereabove in the chamber, said partition having a gas passage therethrough adjacent to the vortex finder to admit gas to the compartment;
D. means in the sidewall below the partition for directing the fluid system of the well into the vortexing chamber tangentially to a circle concentric to the axis thereof in response to operation of the pump whereby the fluid swirls downwardly in the chamber in a centrifuging action throwing solid particles outwardly for gravitational descent to the lower end of the chamber, the gaseous components swirl inwardly and upwardly through the gas passage into the gas collecting compartment, and said fluid having had solid particles and gaseous components centrifuged therefrom swirls downwardly and then upwardly through the lower end of the vortex finder;
E. a conduit for drawing gas from the compartment having an intake connected to the compartment and a discharge upwardly spaced therefrom;
and
F. a tail pipe for drawing solid particles from the chamber mounted on the lower end wall in communication with the vortexing chamber and downwardly extended therefrom.

4 more elements

A device for separating a three phase fluid system containing at least three phases of different specific gravities including a lightest gaseous phase comprising:

A. a vortexing chamber having upper and lower end walls and a sidewall defining a surface of revolution concentric to an upwardly extended axis;
B. a substantially cylindrical vortex finder mounted in the upper end wall of the chamber and extended downwardly in the chamber substantially concentrically of the sidewall having an open lower end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end wall of the vortexing chamber and an upper end above the upper end wall of the vortexing chamber;
C. a partition mounted on the sidewall of the vortexing chamber in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end wall thereof and defining a gas receiving compartment therebetween within the chamber, said partition being in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end of the vortex finder and having a gas passage therethrough immediately adjacent to the vortex finder communicating with the gas receiving compartment;
D. fluid directing means in the sidewall below the partition but above the lower end of the vortex finder disposed tangentially to a circle concentric to said axis;
E. means for supplying such a three phase fluid system to the fluid directing means at a pressure greater than the pressure at the upper end of the vortex finder whereby the fluid swirls downwardly in the chamber in a centrifuging action throwing solid particles outwardly for gravitational descent to the lower end of the chamber, the gaseous components swirl inwardly and upwardly for movement through the passage into the gas collecting compartment, and said fluid having had solid particles and gaseous components centrifuged therefrom swirls downwardly and then upwardly through the lower end of the vortex finder;
F. means connected to the compartment for drawing gas therefrom;
and
G. means connected to the lower end of the chamber for drawing particles therefrom.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/771,687Filed 24 Feb 1977 · continuation
Priority: 9 Apr 1976
Granted: 7 Feb 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F04D 9/001
Priming; Preventing vapour lock: preventing vapour lock
B01D 19/0057
In rotating vessels, vessels containing movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused: the centrifugal movement being caused by a…
B04C 5/103
Vortex chamber constructions: bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber
E21B 43/35
Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well: specially adapted for separating solids