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AssigneeAlpha Thames Ltd.
InventorsDavid Eric Appleford, Brian William Lane
Estimating the term…
A retrievable fluid separation module (2) for a seabed processing system to which flow lines are connected includes one portion (60) of a multi-ported valve isolation connector (5) and a separator chamber (6) for separating a plurality of fluids from a received fluid mixture. The separator chamber has an inlet flow line (12) for the received fluid mixture and an outlet flow line (15, 16) for each separated fluid. The flow lines are connected to the one portion of the connector (5) which selectively isolates the module from or connects it to the flow lines by means of a second complementary portion (61) of the multi-ported valve isolation connector with which the first portion is adapted to engage. There may be a modulating valve (25) in at least one outlet flow line (16) for controlling flow therethrough and a control actuator (63) for controlling the or each modulating valve.
A retrievable fluid separation module (2) for a processing system (1) to which external flow lines are connected, the module including a first portion (60) of a module isolating and connecting means (5) and a separator vessel (6) for separating a plurality of fluids from a received fluid mixture, the separator vessel having at least one inlet flow line (8,9) for the received fluid mixture and at least one outlet flow line (15,16) for each separated fluid, the at least one inlet flow line and the outlet flow lines being connected to the first portion of the module isolating and connecting means for selectively isolating the module from or connecting it to the external flow lines by means of a second complementary portion (61) of the module isolating and connecting means with which the first portion of the module isolating and connecting means is adapted to engage, and the module includes control means (29) for controlling operation of the module (2) whereby the module can operate at least substantially autonomously, and includes separate control signal connection means (32) connected to the control means (29), the control signal connection means being adapted to transmit or receive control signals from beyond the module (2).
A modular processing system (41) comprising at least two retrievable at least substantially autonomous modules (44, 45), and a plurality of module isolating and connecting means (5), each retrievable module including control means (29) for controlling operation of the module, and each module being connected to at least one flow line (50, 51) by one module isolating and connecting means, the modules being connected to the at least one flow line and each module is adapted to isolate from the at least one flow line by its respective module isolating and connecting means without affecting the operation of or the connection of the remaining module or modules with the at least one flow line.
A method for acting on fluids in a system (1) to which external flow lines are connected, characterised by the steps of:
A method for operating a modular processing system (41) characterized by the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.