Apparatus for centrifugal separation of two-phase mixtures

Claim 1

Apparatus for centrifugal separation of two-phase mixtures into a liquid and a gaseous phase comprising a separator vessel having a horizontal longitudinal axis and being elongated along said axis, a tubular structure in said vessel in peripherally spaced relation thereto and having a horizontal longitudinal axis, said tubular structure being covered by respective end faces at its axial ends, a supply conduit for the mixture extending into said vessel and connecting with said tubular structure at the upper midregion thereof in a substantially tangential direction with respect to said tubular structure, whereby the mixture flowing through said conduit and entering said structure travels on helical paths in the direction toward said respective end faces to effect separation of the gaseous phase from the mixture, respective stub tubes of smaller diameter than said tubular structure disposed therein and mounted on said respective end faces and forming an outlet from within said tubular structure to the interior of said vessel for the gaseous phase separated from the mixture, said stub protruding inwardly into said tubular structure and forming respective annular spaces for accommodating the mixture traveling in helical paths, said tubular structure having respective openings in the bottom portion of said structure in its tubular wall in the region of said ends beneath said stub tubes and forming an outlet to the interior of said vessel for the liquid phase of said mixture, a plurality of gas outlets at the top region of said vessel for venting the gas phase from the interior of said vessel, and drain means at the bottom region of said vessel for draining the liquid phase from said vessel.