Gas-liquid separator

Claim 2

A SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING FROM A GAS STREAM, HEAVIER COMPONENTS PRESENT IN THE GAS STREAM, COMPRISING: A HOUSING CHAMBER A GAS STREAM INLET CONDUIT EXTENDING INTO SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING AN UPSTREAM END AND A DOWNSTREAM END, THE LATTER OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN SAID CHAMBER. GAS SWIRL MEANS LOCATED IN SAID INLET CONDUIT FOR IMPARTING A SWIRLING MOTION TO THE GAS STREAM A SEPARATION CONDUIT AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID INLET CONDUIT, THE DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID INLET CONDUIT BEING COAXIALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE UPSTREAM END OF SAID SEPARATION CONDUIT DEFINING AN ANNULAR INJECTION ORIFICE FOR THE ENTRY OF RECIRCULATING GAS FROM SAID CHAMBER. CONDUIT MEANS AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID INLET CONDUIT AND SAID SEPARATION CONDUIT AND HAVING AN UPSTREAM END COAXIALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID SEPARATION CONDUIT DEFINING AN ANNULAR EJECTION PORT FOR THE REMOVAL OF SAID HEAVIER COMPONENTS FROM SAID GAS STREAM, SAID SEPARATION CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID INLET CONDUIT AND SAID UPSTREAM END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND FROM ITS AXIS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY TO ITS SURROUNDING WALL BEING FREE OF INTERNAL STRUCTURE, SAID ANNULAR EJECTION PORT BEING FORMED BY AN INWARD FACING SURFACE FORMED ON THE DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID SEPARATION CONDUIT AND BY AN OUTWARD FACING SURFACE FORMED ON THE UPSTREAM END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS. SAID INWARD AND OUTWARD FACING SURFACES FLARING OUTWARD IN THE DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION AT DIFFERENT ANGLES RELATIVE TO THE AXIS SUCH THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FLARWD ED INWARD AND OUTWARD FACING SURFACES DECREASES AT POSITIONS RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE AXIS AND IN THE DOWNSTREAM DIRECT- TION FROM THE ENTRANCE TO SAID EJECTION PORT. SAID CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING A DOWNSTREAM END EXTENDING OUT OF SAID CHAMBER FOR THE PASSAGE OF GAS SEPARATED FROM SAID HEAVIEW COMPONENTS; AND MEANS FOR REMOVING FROM SAID CHAMBER SAID COMPONENTS SEPARATED FROM THE GAS STEEAM.

Claim 3

The separator of claim 1 wherein: said separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, the upstream portion of said conduit means has an inside diameter which is equal to said minimum inside diameter of said separation conduit.

Claim 4

The separator of claim 1 wherein: said conduit means defines an outlet conduit having its downstream end extending out of said housing, said outward facing surface of said ejection port is formed on the upstream end of said outlet conduit, said outlet conduit between its upstream end and its downstream end and from its axis radially outward to its surrounding wall being free of internal structure.

Claim 5

The separator of claim 3 wherein: said separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said outlet conduit has an inside diameter which is equal to said minimum inside diameter of said separation conduit.

Claim 6

The separator of claim 1 wherein: said separation conduit defines a first stage separation conduit, said conduit means comprises: a second stage separation conduit and an outlet conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit, said outward facing surface defining a portion of said annular ejection port being formed on the upstream end of said second stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit having its upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining an annular discharge orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice.

Claim 7

The separator of claim 5 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first separation conduit, said outlet having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said second separation conduit.

Claim 8

The separator of claim 1 wherein: said separation conduit defines a first stage separation conduit, said conduit means comprises: a second stage separation conduit; a third stage separation conduit; and an outlet conduit all of which are axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit, said outward facing surface defining a portion of said annular ejection port being formed on the upstream end of said second stage Separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining a second annular ejection port, said outlet conduit having its upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said third stage separation conduit defining an annular discharge orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice.

Claim 9

The separator of claim 7 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit has an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first stage separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit has an inside diameter along the major part of its length which is about equal to the inside diameter of said second stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit has an outside diameter which is less than said inside diameter of said third stage separation conduit.

Claim 10

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream end and a downstream end, the latter of which is located in said chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position spaced from said downstream end sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, said separation conduit having a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said separation conduit and having its downstream end extending out of said chamber, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, said annular ejection port being formed by an inward facing surface formed on the downstream end of said separation conduit and by an outward facing surface formed on the upstream end of said outlet conduit, said inward and outward facing surfaces flaring outward in the downstream direction at different angles relative to the axis such that the distance between said flared inward and outward facing surfaces decreases at positions radially outward from the axis and in the downstream direction from the entrance to said ejection port, said outlet conduit having a cylindrical inside surface with a diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said separation conduit, said separation conduit between said downstream end of said inlet conduit and said upstream end of said outlet conduit and from its axis radially outward to its surrounding wall being free of internal structure, said outlet conduit between its upstream end and its downstream end and from its axis radially outward to its surrounding wall being free of internal structure, and means for removing from said housing chamber said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 11

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream end and a downstream end, the latter of which is located in said chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position spaced from said downstream end sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, said separation conduit having a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said separation conduit and having its downstream end extending out of said chamber, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, said annular ejection port being formed by an inward facing surface formed on the downstream end of said separation conduit and by an outward facing surface formed on the upstream end of said outlet conduit, said inward and outward facing surfaces flaring outward in the downstream direction at different angles relative to the axis such that the distance between said flared inward and outward facing surfaces decreases at positions radially outward from the axis and in the downstream direction from the entrance to said ejection port, said outlet conduit having a cylindrical inside surface with a diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said separation conduit, said separation conduit between said downstream end of said inlet conduit and said upstream end of said outlet conduit and from its axis radially outward to its surrounding wall being free of internal structure, said outlet conduit between its upstream end and its downstream end and from its axis radially outward to its surrounding wall being free of internal structure, and means for removing from said housing chamber said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 12

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream End and a downstream end, the latter of which is located in said chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit and having a downstream end extending out of said chamber for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, and means for removing from said chamber said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 13

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream End and a downstream end, the latter of which is located in said chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit and having a downstream end extending out of said chamber for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, and means for removing from said chamber said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 14

The separator of claim 10 wherein: said annular ejection port is formed by an inward facing surface formed on the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit and by an outward facing surface formed on the upstream end of said second stage separation conduit, said inward and outward facing surfaces flaring outward in the downstream direction at different angles relative to the axis such that the distance between said inward and outward facing surfaces decreases at positions radially outward from the axis and in the downstream direction from the entrance to said ejection port.

Claim 15

The separator of claim 11 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit has an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit has an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said second stage separation conduit.

Claim 16

The separator of claim 11 wherein said gas swirl means comprises: at least two plates located in said inlet conduit at a predetermined angle Alpha with respect to the longitudinal axis of said inlet conduit for producing a helical flow around the wall of said first stage separation conduit which is a section of a parabola, the angle theta of said outer surface of said annular port with respect to the axis being defined as follows:

Claim 17

The separator of claim 10 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit has an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit has an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said second stage separation conduit.

Claim 18

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream and a downstream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining a first annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, a third stage separation conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining a second annular ejection port, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said third stage separation conduit and having a downstream end extending out of said housing for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the dowstream end of said third stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, and, means for removing from said chamber, said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 19

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a gas stream inlet conduit extending into said chamber and having an upstream and a downstream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from said chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining a first annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, a third stage separation conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially inserted into the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining a second annular ejection port, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said third stage separation conduit and having a downstream end extending out of said housing for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the dowstream end of said third stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice, and, means for removing from said chamber, said components separated from the gas stream.

Claim 20

The separator of claim 15 wherein: said first annular ejection port is formed by an inward facing surface formed on the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit and by an outward facing surface formed on the upstream end of said second stage separation conduit, said inward and outward facing surfaces flaring outward in the downstream direction at different angles relative to the axis such that the distance between said inward and outward facing surfaces decreases at positions radially outward from the axis and in the downstream direction from the entrance to said first ejection port.

Claim 21

The separator of claim 15 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit has an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first stage separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit has an inside diameter along the major portion of its length which is about equal to said inside diameter of said second stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit has an outside diameter which is less than said inside diameter of said third stage separation conduit.

Claim 22

The separator of claim 17 wherein: said first stage separation conduit has a minimum inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said inlet conduit, said second stage separation conduit has an inside diameter which is about equal to said minimum inside diameter of said first stage separation conduit, said third stage separation conduit has an inside diameter along the major portion of its length which is about equal to said inside diameter of said second stage separation conduit, said outlet conduit has an outside diameter which is less than said inside diameter of said third stage separation conduit.

Claim 23

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a tubular shaped passageway, circular in cross section, extending through said chamber and including: a gas stream inlet extending into said chamber and an outlet spAced from said inlet and extending out of said chamber for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, gas swirl means located in said inlet for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, an injection orifice downstream of said gas swirl means for the entry of recirculating gas into said passageway from said chamber, an ejection port spaced downstream of said injection orifice for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, and an ejection orifice spaced downstream of said ejection port for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas from said passageway for recirculation through said injection orifice, the portion of said passageway between said injection orifice and ejection port having a minimum diameter greater than that of said inlet and about equal to that of said portion of said passageway between said ejection port and said ejection orifice, said passageway between said gas swirl means and said outlet and from its axis radially outward to its periphery being free of internal structure, and means for removing from said chamber, said heavier components separated from said gas stream.

Claim 24

A separator for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a housing chamber, a tubular shaped passageway, circular in cross section, extending through said chamber and including: a gas stream inlet extending into said chamber and an outlet spAced from said inlet and extending out of said chamber for the passage of gas separated from said heavier components, gas swirl means located in said inlet for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, an injection orifice downstream of said gas swirl means for the entry of recirculating gas into said passageway from said chamber, an ejection port spaced downstream of said injection orifice for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, and an ejection orifice spaced downstream of said ejection port for the ejection into said chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas from said passageway for recirculation through said injection orifice, the portion of said passageway between said injection orifice and ejection port having a minimum diameter greater than that of said inlet and about equal to that of said portion of said passageway between said ejection port and said ejection orifice, said passageway between said gas swirl means and said outlet and from its axis radially outward to its periphery being free of internal structure, and means for removing from said chamber, said heavier components separated from said gas stream.

Claim 25

The separator of claim 19 wherein said ejection port is formed by inward and outward facing surfaces flaring outward from the outer periphery of said passageway in the downstream direction at different angles relative to the axis of said passageway such that the distance between said flared inward and outward facing surfaces decreases at positions radially outward from said axis and in the downstream direction from the entrance to said ejection port.

Claim 26

The separator of claim 20 wherein: said passageway on the upstream side of said ejection port flares outward from a given diameter forming said inward facing surface, said passageway comprises a cylindrical portion located radially inward from said outward facing surface, said cylindrical portion of said passageway and a section downstream thereof have a diameter equal to that of said given diameter.

Claim 27

A two-stage tubular separating assembly to be located in a chamber for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a gas stream inlet conduit having an upstream and downstream end, the latter of which is to be located in the chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from the chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit and having a downstream end to extend out of the chamber for the passage of separated gas, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into the chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice.

Claim 28

A two-stage tubular separating assembly to be located in a chamber for removing from a gas stream, heavier components present in the gas stream, comprising: a gas stream inlet conduit having an upstream and downstream end, the latter of which is to be located in the chamber, gas swirl means located in said inlet conduit for imparting a swirling motion to the gas stream, said gas swirl means being located at a position sufficient to provide a gas swirl stabilization zone in said inlet conduit downstream of said gas swirl means, a first stage separation conduit axially aligned with said inlet conduit, the downstream end of said inlet conduit being coaxially located within the upstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular injection orifice for the entry of recirculating gas from the chamber, a second stage separation conduit axially aligned with said first stage separation conduit, said second stage separation conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said first stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection port for the removal of said heavier components from said gas stream, an outlet conduit axially aligned with said second stage separation conduit and having a downstream end to extend out of the chamber for the passage of separated gas, said outlet conduit having an upstream end coaxially located within the downstream end of said second stage separation conduit defining an annular ejection orifice for the ejection into the chamber of remaining traces of said heavier components along with a portion of the gas for recirculation through said annular injection orifice.

Claim 29

A separator comprising a chamber having a plurality of the assemblies of claim 22 located in the chamber at spaced apart positions, each assembly having its inlet conduit extending intO the chamber and its outlet conduit extending out of the chamber.