A marine separator for fluids of different densities

Claim 1

Separation apparatus for a plurality of fluids having different densities including a fluid of least density, a fluid of greatest density and a fluid of intermediate density and subject to marine motions, including: a) a cylindrical separator vessel (1; 20; 40) extending horizontally with one or two inlets (3; 21; 41, 42) to receive said plurality of fluids having different densities, b) a horizontal table/baffle (7; 22; 43) mounted in the vessel and beneath said inlet(s) and extending to within a predetermined distance from one or both ends of said vessel and parallel to the longitudinal vessel axis to receive and spread the fluids from said inlet(s), c) one or two vertical plates (9; 25, 26; 46, 47)sealed to one or both ends of said table/baffle and to the bottom of the vessel dividing the space below the table into (i) a liquid packed compartment (10; 31; 48) formed between the underside of said table/baffle, said vertical plate(s) and the vessel bottom and (ii) one or two wells (8; 23, 24; 44, 45) formed at one or both ends of said vessel, d) one or two outlets (4; 33, 34) through the vessel wall above the table/baffle for the fluid having the least density, e) outlet conduits (5, 6; 36, 37; 53, 54) from the compartment near the center of the compartment length to remove the separated fluids having greater densities, one of said outlets (6, 37, 54) being essentially flat with the bottom of the vessel for the fluid having the greatest density and the other outlet (5, 36, 53) extending up into said compartment a predetermined distance for the fluid having the intermediate density, f) two outlet conduits (15, 16) through said table/baffle communicating said compartment to the area above the table/baffle for the removal of the fluid of lesser density from said compartment, and g) at least one check valve (11, 12; 27, 28, 29, 30, 49, 50, 51, 52) mounted through said vertical plate(s) between said compartment and said well(s) to allow one way flow of the fluid into the compartment from the well(s).