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US 8,784,670 B2Granted
Multi-phase flow separation apparatus and system
AssigneeRheaume Engineering Inc.
InventorRonald William Zylla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-phase flow separation apparatus has a tank with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and an enclosure within the tank. The at least one inlet communicates an input flow into the enclosure. The enclosure has a sidewall defining an open bottom and at least one flow opening below the height of the inlet of the tank. The at least one outlet of the tank is outside the enclosure and above the at least one flow opening of the enclosure.
Claims37
A multi-phase flow separation apparatus, comprising:
- a tank having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;
- and
- an enclosure within the tank, the at least one inlet communicating an input flow into the enclosure, the enclosure having a sidewall defining an open bottom and at least one flow opening below the height of the inlet of the tank, the at least one outlet of the tank being outside the enclosure and above the at least one flow opening of the enclosure, wherein the tank has a liquid level that is above the at least one flow opening and the enclosure is filled with a gaseous phase such that the enclosure forms a vapor lock.
A method of separating solids from a multi-phase flow, comprising the steps of:
- providing a separator vessel comprising:
- a tank having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;
- and
- an enclosure within the tank, the enclosure defining an open bottom and at least one flow opening below the height of the inlet of the tank having an open bottom, the at least one outlet of the tank being outside the enclosure and above the at least one flow opening of the enclosure;
- defining a flow path from the inlet to the outlet by providing the enclosure with a sidewall defining at least one opening toward the bottom of the enclosure, the at least one inlet communicating an input flow into the enclosure, and the at least one outlet being above the opening of the enclosure and outside the enclosure, the flow path defining three mutually orthogonal components;
- and
- injecting a multi-phase flow through the inlet of the tank such that the tank has a liquid level that is above the at least one flow opening and the enclosure is tilled with a gaseous phase to form a vapor lock.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.