US 4,900,445 AGranted

Low pressure hydrocyclone separator

AssigneeConoco Inc.

InventorsDavid A. Flanigan, Elwyn Shimoda, James E. Stolhand

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system is provided for the separation of oil from oily water, particularly where the oily water is available only at relatively low pressures insufficient ot drive a hydrocyclone separator. Particular combinations of pumps and hydrocyclones can be effective in these low pressure situations where the pressure boost required is not substantially greater than a differential pressure at which the pump begins to substantially degrade the volumetric mean size of droplets of oil in the oily water passing therethrough. This is achieved by operating the pump at relatively near its maximum flow rate capacity to substantially reduce on a percentage basis the effect of fluid slippage within the pump. Improved techniques for analysis of oil droplet size distribution are also disclosed.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A sampler apparatus, comprising means for cooperating with a hydrocyclone including:

a primary flow conduit having an inlet and an outlet defining a direction of fluid flow therethrough from said inlet to said outlet;
a Pitot tube disposed in said primary flow conduit and aligned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said primary flow conduit, said Pitot tube having an open end facing into said direction of fluid flow;
a sample flow conduit extending from said Pitot tube to a junction with said primary flow conduit downstream of said Pitot tube;
a differential pressure measuring means for comparing a fluid pressure inside said Pitot tube with a fluid pressure in said primary flow conduit near said open end of said Pitot tube;
and
a flow restriction means, disposed in said primary flow conduit between said Pitot tube and junction, for creating a pressure drop sufficient to flow a sample stream of fluid through said sample flow conduit, said flow restriction means having a variable restriction so that said restriction can be adjusted to provide a suitable pressure drop over a range of fluid flow rates through said primary flow conduit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.