US3968659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for separating water and liquid hydrocarbons from a fluid flow medium
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-09
•
Granted: 1976-07-13
•
Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A fluid flow is conducted through a heat exchanger and then to a vortex generation chamber in a housing to split the fluid flow into a hot stream and a cold stream. One of the streams is conducted to the heat exchanger for heat transfer relationship between the stream and the fluid flow and the cold stream is conducted to a vessel to condense and separate entrained liquids therefrom and the separated fluid or gas is discharged from the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Pilcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:30
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; C; C10; C10G; C10G5/00; C10G5/06; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/02; F25B9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of treating a fluid flow having entrained liquids comprising the steps of: a. conducting the fluid flow through a heat exchanger in a single pass; b. conducting the fluid flow from the heat exchanger to a vortex generation chamber in a housing in a single pass to split the fluid flow into a hot stream and a cold stream; c. conducting one of the streams to the heat exchanger in a single pass for heat transfer relationship between the stream and the fluid flow; d. conducting the cold stream to a vessel to condense and separate the entrained liquids therefrom in a single pass; and e. discharging the resulting cold stream from the vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of treating a fluid flow having entrained liquids comprising the steps of: a. conducting the fluid flow through a heat exchanger in a single pass; b. conducting the fluid flow from the heat exchanger to a vortex generation chamber in a housing in a single pass to split the fluid flow into a hot stream and a cold stream; c. conducting one of the streams to the heat exchanger in a single pass for heat transfer relationship between the stream and the fluid flow; d. conducting the cold stream to a vessel to condense and separate the entrained liquids therefrom in a single pass; and e. discharging the resulting cold stream from the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the stream conducted to the heat exchanger in a single pass is the hot stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the stream conducted to the heat exchanger in a single pass is the cold stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the hot stream is conducted from the heat exchanger to the housing surrounding the vortex generation chamber to maintain a pressure in the housing surrounding the vortex generation chamber and then subsequently discharging the hot stream from the housing to commingle with the cold stream in the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 in which the hot stream is circulated around the vortex generation chamber and then discharged from the housing to commingle with the cold stream in the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of: a. conducting one of the streams to an additional vortex generation chamber to split the one stream into a second hot stream and a second cold stream; and b. conducting one of the second streams to the heat exchanger for heat transfer relationship between the second stream and the fluid flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 including the steps of conducting the second cold stream to a vessel to condense and separate entrained liquids therefrom and discharging the resulting cold stream from the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the stream conducted to the additional vortex generation chamber is the hot stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the stream conducted to the additional vortex generation chamber is the cold stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the discharged resulting cold stream is conducted to an additional vortex generation chamber to split the discharged resulting cold stream into a second hot stream and a second cold stream and conducting one of the second streams to the heat exchanger for heat transfer relationship between the second stream and the fluid flow.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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US2522787A
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US2741899A
Cited
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Cited
US2807156A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US3815375A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |