# US 8,784,670 B2 · Multi-phase flow separation apparatus and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,670 B2 - Document ID: US8784670B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/224,455 - Filed: 2011-09-02 - Published: 2013-03-07 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-02 - Assignees: Rheaume Engineering Inc. - Applicants: Ronald William Zylla - Inventors: Ronald William Zylla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784670B2 ## CPC - B01D 21/2416: {Liquid distributors with a plurality of feed points} - B01D 21/2494: {provided with means for the removal of gas, e.g. noxious gas, air} - B01D 49/003: {by sedimentation} - E21B 43/34: Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well - B01D 2221/04: Separation devices for treating liquids from earth drilling, mining - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure extends along a length of the tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flow opening comprises one or more bottom edges of the sidewall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flow opening comprises discrete openings spaced along a length of at least one side of the enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The separation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one flow opening comprises multiple channels having at least one channel inlet within the enclosure and at least one channel outlet outside the enclosure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The separation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one channel outlets connect to a common diffusion body outside the enclosure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The separation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the channels have an open bottom. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The separation apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a distribution member positioned above the channels in the enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The separation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the channels are at an angle to a length of the enclosure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The separation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inlet of the tank is positioned at a first end of the length of the enclosure and the channel openings are on a side of the channel opposite the inlet of the tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The separation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the enclosure and the channels each form a vapor lock. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The separation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sidewall of the enclosure extends below the discrete openings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a horizontal cylindrical body, the enclosure extending along a length of the cylindrical body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is an inverted U-shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is spaced from an inner surface of the tank. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The separation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the outlets of the tank are positioned above the enclosure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank defines a flow path from the inlet to the outlet having three mutually orthogonal directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The separation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has an axis that is parallel to the input flow. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the enclosure extends along a length of the tank. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, the at least one flow opening comprises one or more bottom edges of the sidewall. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the at east one flow opening comprises discrete openings spaced along a length of at least one side of the enclosure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the discrete openings comprise channels having at least one channel inlet within the enclosure and at least one channel outlet outside the enclosure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein more than one channel outlets connect to a common diffusion body outside the enclosure. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the channels have an open bottom. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a distribution member positioned above the channels in the enclosure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the channels are at an angle to a length of the enclosure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one channel inlet is recessed from the bottom of the channel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the inlet of the tank is positioned at a first end of the length of the enclosure and the channel openings are on a side of the channel opposite the inlet of the tank. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the sidewall of the enclosure extends below the discrete openings. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the enclosure and the channels each form a vapor lock. ### Claim 32 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the tank comprises a horizontal cylindrical body, the enclosure extending along a length of the cylindrical body. ### Claim 33 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the enclosure is an inverted U-shape. ### Claim 34 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the enclosure is spaced from an inner surface of the tank. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the outlets are positioned above the enclosure. ### Claim 36 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the tank defines a flow path from the inlet to the outlet having three mutually orthogonal directions. ### Claim 37 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the enclosure has an axis that is parallel to the input flow.