Separator for use in boreholes of limited diameter
OwnerClaude C. Laval, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A separator, for use in boreholes of limited diameter, having a vortex chamber adapted to be received in the borehole having upper and lower ends and including a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution; a tubular vortex finder concentrically disposed in the upper end of the chamber defining an annular throat therebetween; a swirling chamber interconnecting the upper end of the vortex chamber and the vortex finder and providing a surface of revolution of larger diameter than the vortex chamber disposed concentrically thereabout; and an axially facing, swirl inducing inlet extended outwardly of the chamber to admit fluid from the borehole into the swirling chamber and through the throat for centrifuging flow in the vortex chamber.
Claims10
A separator for use in boreholes of limited diameter containing fluid with particulate matter therein comprising:
- (A) a vortex chamber having an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentric to an axis and upper and lower end portions;
- (B) a vortex finder extended concentrically in the upper end of the vortex chamber and therebetween defining an annular throat;
- and
- (C) a swirling chamber interconnecting the upper end portion of the vortex chamber and the vortex finder having an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentrically about the axis, the swirling chamber having an annular portion circumscribing the vortexing chamber and outwardly extended therefrom having an inlet therethrough facing downwardly exteriorly of the vortexing chamber to receive fluid upwardly therein disposed tangentially to a circle concentric to the axis to impart a swirling action to fluid admitted to the swirling chamber, and communicating through the swirling chamber and the throat with the vortexing chamber to swirl the fluid therein to centrifuge particulate matter from the fluid for descent in the vortexing chamber and return flow of the fluid out of the vortex finder.
A separator for use in boreholes of limited diameter containing fluid with particulate matter therein comprising:
- (A) a vortex chamber adapted to be received in such a borehole having an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentric to an axis, upper and lower end portions, and an outer diameter appreciably less than the inner diameter of such a borehole;
- (B) a vortex finder extended concentrically in the upper end of the vortex chamber and therebetween defining an annular throat communicating with the interior of the vortex chamber;
- and
- (C) a swirling chamber interconnecting the upper end portion of the vortex chamber and the vortex finder at a position above the chamber having an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentrically about the axis, an inner diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the chamber and of the vortex finder and an outer diameter less than the diameter of the borehole, said swirling chamber having an annular portion circumscribing the vortexing chamber and outwardly extended therefrom, and the annular portion having an inlet therethrough positioned to face downwardly between the vortexing chamber and the wall of the borehole to admit fluid therefrom, disposed tangentially to a circle concentric to the axis to impart a swirling action to fluid admitted to the swirling chamber, and communicating through the swirling chamber and the throat with the vortexing chamber to swirl the fluid therein to centrifuge particulate matter from the fluid for descent in the vortexing chamber and return flow of the fluid out of the vortex finder.
A fluid separator for use in boreholes of limited diameter comprising:
- (A) a vortex chamber adapted to be received by such a borehole having:
- (1) a side wall providing an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentric to an axis,
- (2) an external diameter less than the diameter of the borehole,
- (3) an upper end, and
- (4) a lower end;
- (B) a vortex finder having:
- (1) a lower end disposed concentrically in the upper end of the vortex finder of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the vortex chamber so as to define a throat therebetween;
- and
- (C) a swirling chamber interconnecting the upper end portion of the vortex chamber and the lower end portion of the vortex finder in covering relation to the throat and having:
- (1) an internal surface of revolution of a diameter greater than that of the vortex chamber disposed concentrically to said axis,
- (2) an external surface of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the borehole, and
- (3) an inlet in said surface of revolution facing downwardly externally of the vortex chamber tangential to a cylinder concentric to the axis and oblique to a plane normal to the axis so as to admit fluid moving upwardly along the vortex finder, said inlet being in communication with the vortex finder through the swirling chamber and the throat.
A centrifuging device for separating particulate solids from a fluid stream consisting of a liquid carrying solid particles therein, said device having particular utility in boreholes of restricted cross-sectional area comprising:
- (A) a vortex chamber adapted to be received in such a borehole having a sidewall providing an inwardly disposed surface of revolution disposed concentrically about an axis, an open upper end and a substantially closed lower end;
- (B) a tubular vortex finder extended concentrically in the upper end of the chamber and therewith defining an annular throat about the vortex finder;
- (C) an annular swirl inducing plate mounted in concentrically circumscribing relation to the upper end of the chamber having an inner edge connected to the chamber, a circular outer edge, and a fluid admission port tangential to a circle concentric to the axis providing a downwardly disposed intake end externally of the chamber and an upwardly disposed outlet end;
- (D) wall means having an inwardly disposed surface of revolution concentric to said axis interconnecting the outer edge of the plate and the vortex finder;
- and
- (E) means for applying a fluid pressure differential to the port and the vortex finder whereby the fluid enters upwardly through the port and is swirled thereby, swirls about the vortex finder downwardly through the throat, and swirls in the chamber to throw the particles outwardly for descent to the lower end thereof while the fluid returns upwardly and out of the vortex finder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.