Method and apparatus for separating fluids having different densities
OwnerRobert H. Bernardinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating mixtures of fluids having different densities. According to one aspect of the invention, a lower density fluid is separated from a higher density fluid. A mixture of the two fluids is received in a tank. A centrifugation of the mixture is induced in the tank. The lower density fluid is evacuated from the tank until the level of an interface created at least in part by the centrifugation between the higher density fluid and the lower density fluid reaches a predetermined threshold.
Claims15
An apparatus for separating a lower density fluid from a higher density fluid, comprising:
- a tank having an inlet for receiving therein a mixture of the two fluids and a first outlet for evacuating the lower density fluid, said inlet adapted to induce centrifugation of said mixture in said tank;
- and
- a valve responsive to the level of an interface created at least in part by said centrifugation between the higher density fluid and the lower density fluid within said tank, said valve being disposed in the line of fluid flow through said outlet and adapted to close when said interface reaches a predetermined level and remain closed so long as said interface remains at or above said level.
A method for separating a lower density fluid from a higher density fluid, comprising:
- receiving a mixture of the two fluids in a tank;
- inducing a centrifugation of said mixture in the tank;
- evacuating, from the tank, the lower density fluid until the level of an interface created at least in part by said centrifugation between the higher density fluid and the lower density fluid reaches a predetermined level;
- and
- preventing evacuation, from the tank, of the lower density fluid so long as the lower density fluid remains at or above said level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.