Apparatus for separation of gas-liquid mixtures and promoting coalescence of liquids
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAbdul Rahman Zafer Akhras, Regis Didier Vilagines, Maher Maqbool Shariff
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Abstract
Provided herein is a conditioning apparatus that includes a geometrical configuration having an inlet flow deceleration conduit and a cyclonic tube to effectuate both liquid-gas separation and droplet coalescence. The apparatus is typically positioned at the inlet of a separator vessel used for removing water and gas from extracted crude oil containing entrained water and gas. The apparatus promotes droplet coalescence and gas separation for mixed fluids flowing into an existing water and oil separation device.
Claims26
A conditioning apparatus for separating gas from a multi-component flowing fluid containing a mixture of gas, water and oil and for promoting the coalescence of water droplets in the oil-water mixture, the apparatus comprising:
- a fluid deceleration member having an entry portion and a transition portion, the entry portion having an inlet for receiving the flowing fluid mixture and a curvilinear conduit having an increasing cross-sectional flow area downstream of the inlet,
- the entry portion being joined to, and in fluid communication with the transition portion having an outer curvilinear wall, wherein the entry portion and the transition portion define a deceleration member fluid passage;
- and
- a cyclonic member having
- an inlet adjoined to the deceleration member through convergence of the transition portion outer curvilinear wall and a downstream side of the cyclonic member inlet and convergence of an inner boundary wall of the entry portion and an upstream side of the cyclonic member inlet and
- a riser section at an upper end of the cyclonic member,
- wherein the cyclonic member inlet is positioned in the sidewall of the cyclonic member intermediate its upper and lower ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.