Separator arrangement for start-up system

Claim 1

A fluid separating apparatus comprising a substantially vertically oriented cylindrical housing, inlet means disposed in the upper portion of said housing for receiving a mixture of liquid and vapor, a riser pipe disposed in said housing and communicating with said inlet means for receiving said mixture, at least one discharge slot formed through said riser pipe, a skirt disposed in said housing and extending between said riser pipe and the inner wall of said housing, said skirt surrounding said slot and forming a solid baffle, an arcuate shaped discharge member registering with said at least one slot for receiving said mixture and discharging it against said skirt to create centrifugal forces to facilitate the separation of said liquid from said vapor, said liquid collecting on said skirt and falling to the lower portion of said housing by gravitational forces and said vapor rising to the upper portion of said housing by buoyant forces, an outlet disposed in the lower portion of said housing for permitting the liquid to discharge from the housing, an outlet formed in the upper portion of said housing to permit the vapor to discharge from the housing and means for supporting said riser pipe relative to said housing while permitting relative movement between said riser pipe and said housing in an axial direction in response to relative thermal expansion and contraction therebetween.