Gas separator having a low rotating mass
AssigneeCamco International Inc.
InventorTodd M. Branstetter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas separator having a reduced rotating mass. The gas separator includes a stationary flow inducer that creates a vortex within an outer housing. The flow inducer includes an accelerator mechanism that increases the velocity of the fluid mixture as it flows through a portion of the gas separator. The resultant liquid and gaseous phases are directed from the gas separator through separate outlets.
Claims21
A gas separator for use in a submergible pumping system deployed in a wellbore to pump a production fluid, comprising:
- a housing having an interior surface that is generally tubular in shape, defining a hollow interior;
- a fluid mixture inlet disposed in the housing;
- a liquid outlet disposed in the housing and including a liquid port exposed to the hollow interior;
- a gas outlet disposed in the housing and including a gas port exposed to the hollow interior at a position radially inward from the port;
- and
- a flow director system mounted in a stationary position and extending into the hollow interior, the flow director system being configured to accelerate the flow of fluid and to direct fluid flow in a generally spiral pattern along the interior surface between the mixture inlet and the liquid outlet.
A gas separator for use in a submergible pumping system deployed in a wellbore to pump a production fluid, comprising:
- an enclosed, stationary screw through which a production fluid mixture is forced to impart a centrifugal force on the production fluid mixture to accelerate the flow of production fluid and to direct production fluid flow in a generally spiral pattern.
A method for separating gas from a fluid mixture, comprising:
- directing a fluid mixture through a cylindrical cavity formed by an interior wall surface;
- circulating the fluid mixture along a stationary guide disposed along the interior wall to import a centrifugal force thereto;
- accelerating the fluid mixture by decreasing the cross-sectional area along the fluid mixture's flow path;
- separating a gas component and a liquid component from the fluid mixture;
- and
- individually removing the gas component and the liquid component from the cylindrical cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.