Vortex flash separator

Claim 2

In a flash separating apparatus for separating and removing pure steam from a condensate and liquid content of a high temperature effluent being introduced thereto under positive pressure, a container having enclosing side and upper and lower end walls defining a vertically elongated chamber therein, a centrally disposed tubular pure steam outlet member extending upwardly outwardly through the upper end wall of said container, an effluent introducing tubular inlet member extending horizontally inwardly through the side wall into a cooperating substantially perpendicularly aligned position with respect to an inner open end portion of said steam outlet member for introducing high temperature effluent under pressure into said chamber and for moving it in a cyclonic path about said steam outlet memBer; said chamber providing an upper flash sector about said effluent inlet and steam outlet members, an intermediate vortex sector, and a liquid collecting lower sector therewithin; a tubular liquid outlet means for said lower sector comprising, an inner leg part that extends vertically downwardly within said liquid collecting lower sector and that has a lower open end portion to receive liquid from said lower sector, a crossextending connector part supporting and secured at an inner end portion thereof to an upper end portion of said inner leg part and extending outwardly through the side wall of said container, and an outer leg part that extends vertically downwardly along the outside of said container and is secured at its upper end to an outer end of said connector part for receiving and discharging liquid from said liquid collecting lower section; and a siphon breaker means carried by said liquid outlet means and directly communicating with said lower sector for defining a liquid level within said lower sector.

Claim 3

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, said siphon breaker means being an open portion within an upper wall portion of said connector part that is located within said lower sector.

Claim 4

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, means for introducing a flow of cooling fluid directly to said tubular liquid outlet means externally of said lower sector for cooling liquid being removed from said lower sector as it is being discharged from said outer leg part.

Claim 5

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 2, means for introducing a down-flow of cooling fluid directly to said tubular liquid outlet means externally of said lower sector for cooling liquid being removed from said lower sector as it is being discharged from said outer leg part.

Claim 6

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 3, said means for introducing the cooling fluid being an inlet nipple that is mounted on the outer end portion of said connector part in direct down-flow alignment with said outer leg part.

Claim 7

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 3, said tubular liquid outlet means being of inverted U-shape and said outer leg part thereof being of greater length than said inner leg part thereof.

Claim 8

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 6, a centrally disposed bottom outlet within the lower end wall of said container for cleaning-out sludge from within said lower sector, and valve means for opening and closing said bottom outlet.

Claim 9

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, said effluent introducing tubular inlet member having its bottom side extending substantially horizontally into the upper sector of said container on a plane that passes along the open inner end portion of said steam outlet member to optimize dryness of steam moving outwardly through said steam tubular outlet member.

Claim 10

In a flash separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, said tubular steam outlet member and said liquid outlet member being of substantially the same diameter and being about twice the diameter of said effluent introducing tubular inlet member.

Claim 11

In a flash separating apparatus for separating and removing pure steam from a condensate and liquid content of a high temperature effluent being introduced thereto under positive pressure, a container having enclosing side and upper and lower end walls defining a vertically elongated chamber therein, a centrally disposed tubular pure steam outlet member extending upwardly outwardly through the upper end wall of said container, an effluent introducing tubular inlet member extending horizontally inwardly through the side wall into a cooperating substantially perpendicularly aligned position with respect to an inner open end portion of said steam outlet member for introducing high temperature effluent under pressure into said chamber and for moving it in a cyclonic path about said steam outlet member; said chamber providing an upper flash sector about said effluent inLet and steam outlet members, an intermediate vortex sector, and a liquid collecting lower sector therewithin; a tubular liquid outlet means for said lower sector comprising, an inner leg part that extends vertically downwardly within said liquid collecting lower sector and that has a lower open end portion to receive liquid from said lower sector, a cross-extending connector part supporting and secured at an inner end portion thereof to an upper end portion of said inner leg part and extending outwardly through the side wall of said container, and an outer leg part that extends vertically downwardly along the outside of said container and is secured at its upper end to an outer end of said connector part for receiving and discharging liquid from said liquid collecting lower sector; said chamber having a minimum ratio of length to diameter of about 2 to 1, and means for introducing a flow of cooling fluid directly to said tubular liquid outlet means externally of said lower sector for cooling liquid being removed from said lower sector as it is being discharged from said outer leg part.

Claim 12

In a flash separating apparatus for separating and removing pure steam from a condensate and liquid content of a high temperature effluent being introduced thereto under positive pressure, a container having enclosing side and upper and lower end walls defining a vertically elongated chamber therein, a centrally disposed tubular pure steam outlet member extending upwardly outwardly through the upper end wall of said container, an effluent introducing tubular inlet member extending horizontally inwardly through the side wall into a cooperating substantially perpendicularly aligned position with respect to an inner open end portion of said steam outlet member for introducing high temperature effluent under pressure into said chamber and for moving it in a cyclonic path about said steam outlet member; said chamber providing an upper flash sector about said effluent inLet and steam outlet members, an intermediate vortex sector, and a liquid collecting lower sector therewithin; a tubular liquid outlet means for said lower sector comprising, an inner leg part that extends vertically downwardly within said liquid collecting lower sector and that has a lower open end portion to receive liquid from said lower sector, a cross-extending connector part supporting and secured at an inner end portion thereof to an upper end portion of said inner leg part and extending outwardly through the side wall of said container, and an outer leg part that extends vertically downwardly along the outside of said container and is secured at its upper end to an outer end of said connector part for receiving and discharging liquid from said liquid collecting lower sector; said chamber having a minimum ratio of length to diameter of about 2 to 1, and means for introducing a flow of cooling fluid directly to said tubular liquid outlet means externally of said lower sector for cooling liquid being removed from said lower sector as it is being discharged from said outer leg part.