US 4,913,819 AGranted

Liquid jet solids removal system for process vessels

AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company

InventorJohn C. Patterson

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Abstract

A liquid jet manifold arrangement for process separator vessels for removing solids such as sand and sediment which accumulate along the bottom wall of the vessel during operation. A plurality of elongated manifolds are arranged to extend longitudinally along the vessel bottom wall and each manifold is provided with an array of jet nozzles which are arranged along the manifold bottom side and top side, respectively. The nozzles extend in a direction such as to create a substantially vortical flow of liquid to entrain and urge the fluidized solids mixture toward the solid removal outlet opening in the vessel. The manifolds are supported in a standoff position from the vessel bottom wall by adjustable support brackets and a generally arcuate shield is supported above and spaced from each of the jet manifolds to redirect the liquid flow out of the nozzles to enhance the vortical flow pattern.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a process separator vessel wherein accumulations of relatively fine solids occur along a bottom wall surface of said vessel, and said vessel includes at least one outlet opening for discharging a fluidized mixture of said solids with a solids evacuation liquid, a system for removing said accumulated solids for discharge through said outlet opening comprising:

at least one elongated jet manifold extending along said vessel and standing off from said wall surface in the vicinity of accumulated solids, said jet manifold including an array of jet nozzles spaced apart along said manifold including a plurality of jet nozzles opening from a bottom side of said manifold and adjacent to said wall surface and a plurality of jet nozzles opening from a top side of said manifold, the angular orientation of said nozzles with respect to said manifold being such as to create a substantially vortical flow of liquid around said manifold and in the vicinity of said wall surface, and at least a majority of said nozzles being oriented to emit liquid jets in a direction which includes a directional component extending toward said outlet opening for fluidizing and entraining accumulated solids in said vessel in said vortical flow of liquid and to move toward said outlet opening to prevent substantial accumulations of said solids along said wall surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.