Compact separation apparatus

A fluid separation apparatus for separating a fluid mixture including at least two fluids having different densities, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel having:
• a fluid reservoir;
• a vortex generation zone located within the fluid reservoir of the vessel, the vortex generation zone including a vortex generation wall having at least a first tapered wall section having an angle which increases the rotational velocity of a fluid mixture flowing through the vortex generation zone, the vortex generation zone having a configuration which directs the fluid mixture from the fluid inlet toward the upper surface of the fluid reservoir;
• at least one fluid inlet for the fluid mixture, the fluid inlet extending into the vortex generation zone at an angle having a component tangential to an internal wall of the vortex generation wall at a point on the internal wall proximate to the fluid inlet;
• a first fluid outlet through which the less dense fluid exits the vessel, the first fluid outlet being fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir, the first fluid outlet being positioned substantially level with an upper surface of the fluid reservoir;
• and
• a second fluid outlet through which the denser fluid exits the vessel, the second fluid outlet being fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir, and
• a gas bubble generator which introduces gas bubbles into at least a portion of the fluid mixture before the fluid mixture enters the vessel through the fluid inlet, the gas bubbles assisting separation of the fluids of the fluid mixture within the fluid reservoir,
• wherein the vortex generation wall further includes a second wall section located between the first wall section and the upper surface of the fluid reservoir having an upright substantially frustoconical shape, and a third wall section located between the second wall section and the upper surface of the fluid reservoir having a substantially cylindrical shape.