Centrifugal separator discharge control system

Claim 2

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture and including a discharge for the lighter density fluid therefrom, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid mixture pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge, said valve means being responsive to said discharge pressure sensing means and said inlet fluid mixture pressure sensing means to control the discharge of lighter density fluid from said centrifugal separator.

Claim 3

In a centrifugal separator having an inlet to receive a mixture of two immiscible fluids of differing densities, a first outlet for the discharge of the separated heavier density fluid, and a second outlet for the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid, a discharge control system comprising: means to balance the fluid pressures in the centrifugal separator; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in the second outlet; second flUid pressure sensing means disposed in the centrifugal separator inlet; and valve means operably disposed in the second outlet and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid.

Claim 4

In a centrifugal separator having an inlet to receive a mixture of two immiscible fluids of differing densities, a first outlet for the discharge of the separated heavier density fluid, and a second outlet for the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid, a discharge control system comprising: means to balance the fluid pressures in the centrifugal separator; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in the second outlet; second flUid pressure sensing means disposed in the centrifugal separator inlet; and valve means operably disposed in the second outlet and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid.

Claim 5

The discharge control system of claim 2 wherein said pressure balancing means comprise energy transfer means disposed in the centrifugal separator.

Claim 6

The discharge control system of claim 3 wherein said energy transfer means include inlet impeller means.

Claim 7

The discharge control system of claim 4 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include outlet turbine means.

Claim 8

The discharge control system of claim 5 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include radially extending septa means.

Claim 9

The discharge control system of claim 3 wherein said energy transfer means include outlet turbine means.

Claim 10

The discharge control system of claim 7 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include radially extending septa means.

Claim 11

The discharge control system of claim 3 wherein said energy transfer means include radially extending septa means.

Claim 12

The discharge control system of claim 9 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include inlet impeller means.

Claim 13

A centrifugal separator comprising: an imperforate cylindrical outer drum; means to rotatably support said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; inlet impeller means disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum at one end thereof; outlet turbine means disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum at the other end thereof; a perforate cylindrical inner drum disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum between said inlet impeller means and said outlet turbine means; a plurality of septa radially extending inwardly from said imperforate cylindrical outer drum and said perforate cylindrical inner drum; said imperforate cylindrical outer drum including inlet means to deliver a mixture or emulsion of two immiscible fluids of differing densities to said inlet impeller means, first outlet means to receive separated heavier density fluid from said outlet turbine, and second outlet means to receive separated lighter density fluid from said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said second outlet means; second fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said inlet means; and valve means operably disposed in said second outlet means and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid through said second outlet means to maintain a central column of separated lighter density fluid within prescribed radial limits in the perforate cylindrical inner drum.

Claim 14

A centrifugal separator comprising: an imperforate cylindrical outer drum; means to rotatably support said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; inlet impeller means disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum at one end thereof; outlet turbine means disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum at the other end thereof; a perforate cylindrical inner drum disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum between said inlet impeller means and said outlet turbine means; a plurality of septa radially extending inwardly from said imperforate cylindrical outer drum and said perforate cylindrical inner drum; said imperforate cylindrical outer drum including inlet means to deliver a mixture or emulsion of two immiscible fluids of differing densities to said inlet impeller means, first outlet means to receive separated heavier density fluid from said outlet turbine, and second outlet means to receive separated lighter density fluid from said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said second outlet means; second fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said inlet means; and valve means operably disposed in said second outlet means and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid through said second outlet means to maintain a central column of separated lighter density fluid within prescribed radial limits in the perforate cylindrical inner drum.

Claim 15

The centrifugal separator of claim 11 wherein said second outlet means is concentrically disposed within said first outlet means.

Claim 16

The centrifugal separator of claim 11 wherein said second outlet means is concentrically disposed within said inlet means.

Claim 17

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture and including a discharge for the lighter density fluid therefrom, comprising: means to sense the pressure of an accumulated central column of separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid mixture pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge, said valve means being responsive to said lighter density fluid column pressure sensing means and said inlet fluid mixture pressure sensing means to control the discharge of lighter density fluid from said centrifugal separator and thereby controlling the breadth of the lighter density fluid column.

Claim 18

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture and including a discharge for the lighter density fluid therefrom, comprising: means to sense the pressure of an accumulated central column of separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid mixture pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge, said valve means being responsive to said lighter density fluid column pressure sensing means and said inlet fluid mixture pressure sensing means to control the discharge of lighter density fluid from said centrifugal separator and thereby controlling the breadth of the lighter density fluid column.

Claim 19

A centrifugal separator comprising: an imperforate cylindrical outer drum; means to rotatably support said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; a perforate cylindrical inner drum disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum to rotate therewith; said imperforate cylindrical outer drum including inlet means to deliver a mixture or emulsion of two immiscible fluids of differing densities to said separator, first outlet means to receive separated heavier density fluid from said separator, and second outlet means to receive separated lighter density fluid from said separator; means operably associated with said imperforate outer drum and said perforate inner drum to balance the fluid pressures in the centrifugal separator; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said second outlet means; second fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said inlet means; and valve means operably disposed in said second outlet means and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid through said second outlet means to maintain a central column of separated lighter density fluid within prescribed radial limits in the perforate cylindrical inner drum.

Claim 20

A centrifugal separator comprising: an imperforate cylindrical outer drum; means to rotatably support said imperforate cylindrical outer drum; a perforate cylindrical inner drum disposed within said imperforate cylindrical outer drum to rotate therewith; said imperforate cylindrical outer drum including inlet means to deliver a mixture or emulsion of two immiscible fluids of differing densities to said separator, first outlet means to receive separated heavier density fluid from said separator, and second outlet means to receive separated lighter density fluid from said separator; means operably associated with said imperforate outer drum and said perforate inner drum to balance the fluid pressures in the centrifugal separator; first fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said second outlet means; second fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said inlet means; and valve means operably disposed in said second outlet means and responsive to said first and second fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of the separated lighter density fluid through said second outlet means to maintain a central column of separated lighter density fluid within prescribed radial limits in the perforate cylindrical inner drum.

Claim 21

The centrifugal separator of claim 15 wherein said pressure balancing means comprise energy transfer means disposed in the centrifugal separator.

Claim 22

The centrifugal separator of claim 16 wherein said energy transfer means include inlet impeller means disposed between one end of the inner drum and the corresponding end of the outer drum.

Claim 23

The centrifugal separator of claim 17 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include outlet turbine means disposed between the other end of the inner drum and the corresponding end of the outer drum.

Claim 24

The centrifugal separator of claim 18 wherein said energy transfer means additionally incude septa means extending radially between the outer drum and the inner drum and extending radially inward from the inner drum.

Claim 25

The centrifugal separator of claim 16 wherein said energy transfer means include outlet turbine means disposed between one end of the inner drum and the corresponding end of the outer drum.

Claim 26

The centrifugal separator of claim 20 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include septa means extending radially between the outer drum and the inner drum and extending radially inward from the inner drum.

Claim 27

The centrifugal separator of claim 16 wherein said energy transfer means include septa means extending radially between the outer drum and the inner drum and extending radially inward from the inner drum.

Claim 28

The centrifugal separator of claim 22 wherein said energy transfer means additionally include inlet impeller means disposed between one end of the inner drum and the corresponding end of the outer drum.

Claim 35

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge to discharge separated lighter density fluid from said separator when the sensed discharge pressure of the ligher fluid exceeds a preselected value above the sensed inlet fluid pressure.

Claim 36

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge to discharge separated lighter density fluid from said separator when the sensed discharge pressure of the ligher fluid exceeds a preselected value above the sensed inlet fluid pressure.

Claim 37

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge to discharge separated lighter density fluid from the separator when the sensed discharge pressure of the lighter density fluid exceeds a preselected value above the sensed inlet fluid pressure; the valve means including a diaphragm controlled valve, the sensed discharge pressure on one side of the diaphragm tending to open the valve and the sensed inlet fluid pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm tending to close the valve.

Claim 38

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge to discharge separated lighter density fluid from the separator when the sensed discharge pressure of the lighter density fluid exceeds a preselected value above the sensed inlet fluid pressure; the valve means including a diaphragm controlled valve, the sensed discharge pressure on one side of the diaphragm tending to open the valve and the sensed inlet fluid pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm tending to close the valve.

Claim 39

The discharge control system of claim 28 wherein said valve means includes means to bias the diaphragm controlled valve towards the open position.

Claim 40

The discharge control system of claim 29 wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring.

Claim 47

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge, said valve means being responsive to said discharge pressure sensing means and said inlet fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of lighter density fluid from said centrifugal separator, said valve means including a diaphragm controlled valve, the sensed discharge pressure on one said of the diaphragm tending to open the valve and the sensed inlet fluid pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm tending to close the valve.

Claim 48

A discharge control system for a centrifugal separator adapted to separate and discharge a lighter density fluid from an inlet fluid mixture, comprising: means to sense the discharge pressure of the centrifugally separated lighter density fluid; means to sense the centrifugal separator inlet fluid pressure; and valve means operably disposed in the lighter density fluid discharge, said valve means being responsive to said discharge pressure sensing means and said inlet fluid pressure sensing means to control the discharge of lighter density fluid from said centrifugal separator, said valve means including a diaphragm controlled valve, the sensed discharge pressure on one said of the diaphragm tending to open the valve and the sensed inlet fluid pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm tending to close the valve.