Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A cyclone separator, having: an internally generally cylindrical first portion with a plurality of substantially equally-angularly spaced tangentially directed feeds, and, axially adjacent to the cylindrical first portion but for an annular transitional internal surface means providing a step and coaxial therewith, an internally generally cylindrical second portion open at its far end thereby providing a denser-phase outlet, the cylindrical second portion being characterized by the absence of feed inlets except over said step from said cylindrical first portion, the cylindrical first portion having an axial overflow outlet for less dense phase at its far end distally of the cylindrical second portion, the internal shape of the separator being governed by the following relationships: 15≦1.sub.1 /d.sub.1 ≦40 0.1≦4A.sub.i πd.sup.2.sub.1 ≦0.2 0.1≦d.sub.0 /d.sub.1 ≦0.25 1.2≦d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 ≦3, the internal diameter of the axial overflow outlet being d 0 , the internal diameter of the cylindrical first portion being d 1 , and of the cylindrical second portion being d 2 , and of which the internal length of the cylindrical first portion is 1 1 and of the cylindrical second portion is 1 2 , the total cross-sectional area of all said feeds measured at the point of entry normal to the inlet flow being A i .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A cyclone separator, having: an internally generally cylindrical first portion with a plurality of substantially equally-angularly spaced tangentially directed feeds, and, axially adjacent to the cylindrical first portion but for an annular transitional internal surface means providing a step and coaxial therewith, an internally generally cylindrical second portion open at its far end thereby providing a denser-phase outlet, the cylindrical second portion being characterized by the absence of feed inlets except over said step from said cylindrical first portion, the cylindrical first portion having an axial overflow outlet for less dense phase at its far end distally of the cylindrical second portion, the internal shape of the separator being governed by the following relationships: 15≦1.sub.1 /d.sub.1 ≦40 0.1≦4A.sub.i πd.sup.2.sub.1 ≦0.2 0.1≦d.sub.0 /d.sub.1 ≦0.25 1.2≦d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 ≦3, the internal diameter of the axial overflow outlet being d 0 , the internal diameter of the cylindrical first portion being d 1 , and of the cylindrical second portion being d 2 , and of which the internal length of the cylindrical first portion is 1 1 and of the cylindrical second portion is 1 2 , the total cross-sectional area of all said feeds measured at the point of entry normal to the inlet flow being A i .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein 1 2 /d 2 is at least 15.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 2, wherein 1 2 /d 2 is at least 40.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein d 1 /d 2 is from 1.5 to 2.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein the axial overflow outlet further comprises a coaxial outlet tube of diameter less than d 0 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein d 1 is from 10 to 100 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the radial to the axial extent of each of the feeds is from 2:1 to 4.5:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein said annular transitional internal surface means comprises: a flow-smoothing taper interposed between the first portion and the second portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 8, wherein the flow-smoothing taper has the form of a frustoconical internal surface whose larger-diameter end has a diameter d 1 and whose smaller-diameter end has a diameter of d 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 9, wherein the conicity (half-angle) of the flow-smoothing taper is from 5° to 90°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cyclone separator according to claim 10, wherein the conicity (half-angle) of the flow-smoothing taper is at least 10°.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
284 words
A method for removing a less dense liquid phase from a relatively large volume of more dense liquid phase, comprising: injecting a mixture of the two phases through a plurality of substantially equally-angularly spaced tangential feeds into the internally generally cylindrical first portion of a cyclone separator which also has, axially adjacent to the cylindrical first portion but for an annular transitional internal surface means providing a step, and coaxial with said cylindrical first portion, an internally generally cylindrical second portion open at its far end distally of said cylindrical first portion to provide a denser-phase outlet, this cylindrical second portion being characterized by the absence of feed inlets except over said step from said cylindrical first portion, the cylindrical first portion having an axial overflow outlet for the less dense phase at its far end distally of the cylindrical second portion, wherein the internal shape of said separator is governed by the following relationships 15≦1.sub.1 /d.sub.1 ≦40 0.1≦4A.sub.i /πd.sup.2.sub.1 ≦0.2 0.1≦d.sub.0 /d.sub.1 ≦0.25 1.2≦d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 ≦3, in which: d 0 =the internal diameter of the overflow outlet, d 1 =the internal diameter of the cylindrical first portion, d 2 =the internal diameter of the cylindrical second portion, 1 1 =the internal length of the cylindrical first portion, 1 2 =the internal length of the cylindrical second portion, and A i =the total cross-sectional area of all said feeds measured at the point of injection, normal to inlet flow; and collecting less dense phase leaving the cyclone separator via the axial overflow outlet for the less dense phase; the pressure of injection at said feeds being greater than the pressure at said axial overflow outlet and greater than the pressure at said denser-phase outlet.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
284 words
A method for removing a less dense liquid phase from a relatively large volume of more dense liquid phase, comprising: injecting a mixture of the two phases through a plurality of substantially equally-angularly spaced tangential feeds into the internally generally cylindrical first portion of a cyclone separator which also has, axially adjacent to the cylindrical first portion but for an annular transitional internal surface means providing a step, and coaxial with said cylindrical first portion, an internally generally cylindrical second portion open at its far end distally of said cylindrical first portion to provide a denser-phase outlet, this cylindrical second portion being characterized by the absence of feed inlets except over said step from said cylindrical first portion, the cylindrical first portion having an axial overflow outlet for the less dense phase at its far end distally of the cylindrical second portion, wherein the internal shape of said separator is governed by the following relationships 15≦1.sub.1 /d.sub.1 ≦40 0.1≦4A.sub.i /πd.sup.2.sub.1 ≦0.2 0.1≦d.sub.0 /d.sub.1 ≦0.25 1.2≦d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 ≦3, in which: d 0 =the internal diameter of the overflow outlet, d 1 =the internal diameter of the cylindrical first portion, d 2 =the internal diameter of the cylindrical second portion, 1 1 =the internal length of the cylindrical first portion, 1 2 =the internal length of the cylindrical second portion, and A i =the total cross-sectional area of all said feeds measured at the point of injection, normal to inlet flow; and collecting less dense phase leaving the cyclone separator via the axial overflow outlet for the less dense phase; the pressure of injection at said feeds being greater than the pressure at said axial overflow outlet and greater than the pressure at said denser-phase outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the lighter phase is oil and the denser phase is water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 12, further comprising: coaxially providing said axial overflow outlet with an outlet tube having an external diameter that is substantially smaller than d 0 , thereby dividing said axial overflow outlet into a central portion which is located centrally of the outlet tube and a radially outer portion which is located circumferentially of the exterior of the outlet tube; and recycling to said feeds the liquid out flow of said radially outer portion of said axial overflow outlet.