Method and apparatus for treating heterogeneous fluid systems
OwnerEldon M. Sutphininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for separating dispersed multi-phase, fluid systems by flowing a gaseous medium through a liquid phase in a plurality of substantially vertical conduit members positioned over a manifold member through which the gas is supplied; and removing the separated phases from the predominant liquid. The components to be separated may be dispersed in the liquid or the gas. Flow of the gas through the conduit exposes the system to a large effective surface area as well as carrying the lighter components to the surface to form a separate, continuous phase, and inducing the heavier, usually solid, components to settle to the bottom of the apparatus. Optionally, particles may be included in the system to further increase the effective surface area.
Claims35
Apparatus for separating multiphase, fluid mixtures comprising:
- means to contain the multiphase, liquid mixtures;
- a plurality of substantially vertical, open ended conduit members positioned in mutually adjacent, close packed relationship in adjacent rows of several conduit members each with openings defined between the adjacent conduit members;
- gas distribution means having a plurality of gas outlets positioned with at least one gas outlet adjacent the opened bottom portion of each conduit member;
- means for maintaining a liquid level in the containment means substantially adjacent the open upper portion of the conduit members;
- and
- means for removing separated, initially dispersed components from the liquid;
- whereby gas flowing in bubble form upward through the conduits carries the liquid to the surface thereof and downward between the conduits while exposing the mixture to a substantial effective surface area to induce separation of dispersed, components for subsequent removal from the liquid.
Apparatus for separating a mixture of oil particles dispersed in water, the apparatus comprising:
- a tank adapted to receive and contain the mixture;
- a plurality of substantially vertical, open ended conduit members positioned within the tank and disposed in mutually adjacent, close packed relationship in adjacent rows of several conduit members each with openings defined between the adjacent conduit members;
- gas distribution means having a plurality of gas outlets positioned within the tank with at least one gas outlet adjacent the open bottom edge of each conduit member;
- means for maintaining a mixture level within the tank with the surface of the liquid being substantially at or adjacent the upper portion of the conduit members;
- inlet means for providing mixture to the interior of the tank;
- and
- means for removing separated oil from the surface of the mixture;
- whereby aerated oil and water mixture carried upward through the conduit members tends to coalesce the oil particles on the walls of the conduits and carry the lighter oil particle to the surface of the mixture to form a film which may be removed from the surface of the mixture, and the mixture flows both upwards within the conduits and downward between the conduits to provide a substantial effective surface area.
A method for separating constituents of differing densities dispersed in a fluid phase, the method comprising:
- flowing gas bubbles into a liquid through a plurality of gas outlets positioned beneath the surface of a liquid to aerate the liquid;
- moving the aerated liquid through a plurality of substantially vertical, open-ended conduit members positioned in mutally adjacent, close packed relationship in adjacent rows of several conduit members each with openings defined between the adjacent conduit members and immersed in the mixture;
- separating at least a portion of constituents dispersed in at least one of the gas and liquid during flow through the conduit members;
- forming a layer of separated, initially dispersed constituents;
- and
- removing the layer of separated initial dispersed components from the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.