Batchwise gravitational separation of an emulsion using plural vertically superimposed chambers

Claim 1

A method of separating an emulsion comprising a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid, using a plurality of closed, liquid-filled vertically arrayed separation chambers having a horizontal extension larger than their vertical extension, and each of which has a lower outlet for the separated heavier liquid, an upper outlet for the separated lighter liquid, and an inlet for emulsion located at a substantial flow-distance from the said two outlets, whereat the separation chambers are kept at an overpressure by causing the heavier and lighter liquids separated gravitationally during the actual separation process to depart from said chambers via a respective one of two pressure-holding vessels containing lighter liquid and a supply of heavier liquid, respectively, and having a weir so located above the uppermost part of the uppermost separation chamber that with the pressure-holding vessels communicating with each other through at least one of the separation chambers equilibrium will occur in the thus formed U-pipe system only when separated lighter liquid is not present beneath the outlet for lighter liquid of the uppermost separation chamber, wherein the emulsion is fed batchwise into at least one separation chamber at a time, at a temperature greater than the temperature of the liquid already present in said at least one separation chamber and in a volumetric quantity which is less than the volume of said at least one separation chamber, and wherein during the introduction of the emulsion into said at least one separation chamber the lighter-liquid outlet of said at least one separation chamber is held closed and the heavier-liquid outlet is held open so that the emulsion charged to said at least one separation chamber displaces a corresponding amount of solely heavier liquid from said at least one separation chamber, and wherein the emulsion inlet of said at least one separation chamber is then closed and the lighter-liquid outlet thereof opened so that lighter liquid separated in said at least one separation chamber from said emulsion during the separation process is forced through said lighter-liquid outlet, by a corresponding amount of separated heavier liquid flowing from the pressure-holding vessel containing said supply of heavier liquid back into said at least one separation chamber.

Claim 2

A method of separating an emulsion comprising a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid, using a plurality of closed, liquid-filled vertically arrayed separation chambers having a horizontal extension larger than their vertical extension, and each of which has a lower outlet for the separated heavier liquid, an upper outlet for the separated lighter liquid, and an inlet for emulsion located at a substantial flow-distance from the said two outlets, whereat the separation chambers are kept at an overpressure by causing the heavier and lighter liquids separated gravitationally during the actual separation process to depart from said chambers via a respective one of two pressure-holding vessels containing lighter liquid and a supply of heavier liquid, respectively, and having a weir so located above the uppermost part of the uppermost separation chamber that with the pressure-holding vessels communicating with each other through at least one of the separation chambers equilibrium will occur in the thus formed U-pipe system only when separated lighter liquid is not present beneath the outlet for lighter liquid of the uppermost separation chamber, wherein the emulsion is fed batchwise into at least one separation chamber at a time, at a temperature greater than the temperature of the liquid already present in said at least one separation chamber and in a volumetric quantity which is less than the volume of said at least one separation chamber, and wherein during the introduction of the emulsion into said at least one separation chamber the lighter-liquid outlet of said at least one separation chamber is held closed and the heavier-liquid outlet is held open so that the emulsion charged to said at least one separation chamber displaces a corresponding amount of solely heavier liquid from said at least one separation chamber, and wherein the emulsion inlet of said at least one separation chamber is then closed and the lighter-liquid outlet thereof opened so that lighter liquid separated in said at least one separation chamber from said emulsion during the separation process is forced through said lighter-liquid outlet, by a corresponding amount of separated heavier liquid flowing from the pressure-holding vessel containing said supply of heavier liquid back into said at least one separation chamber.

Claim 11

An apparatus for the separation of an emulsion comprising substantially a heavier and a lighter liquid, said apparatus comprising means for defining a plurality of closed liquid-filled separation chambers arranged one above the other and having a horizontal extension larger than their vertical extension, each of said chambers having a lower outlet for separated heavier liquid, an upper outlet for separated lighter liquid and an inlet for emulsion arranged at a substantial flow-distance from said two outlets, whereat the outlets of said separation chambers for heavier and lighter liquid, respectively, are each connected to a respective pressure-holding vessel containing lighter liquid and a supply of heavier liquid, respectively, with a liquid level located above the uppermost part of the uppermost separation chamber, whereat the liquid levels in the two pressure-holding vessels are so located relative to one another that, with the pressure-holding vessels in communication with each other through at least one of the separation chambers, equilibrium will not occur in the thus formed U-tube system until the separated lighter liquid is not beneath the level of the outlet for lighter liquid of the uppermost separation chamber, wherein the separation chambers communicate with means for heating and introducing emulsion batchwise into at least one separation chamber at a time with the outlet of each said at least one separation chamber for lighter liquid closed and each outlet for heavier liquid open, and wherein means are provided for subsequently closing the emulsion inlet of each said at least one separation chamber at a time and establishing communication via said at least one separation chamber between the heavier-liquid outlet and the lighter-liquid outlet of said at least one separation chamber.

Claim 12

An apparatus for the separation of an emulsion comprising substantially a heavier and a lighter liquid, said apparatus comprising means for defining a plurality of closed liquid-filled separation chambers arranged one above the other and having a horizontal extension larger than their vertical extension, each of said chambers having a lower outlet for separated heavier liquid, an upper outlet for separated lighter liquid and an inlet for emulsion arranged at a substantial flow-distance from said two outlets, whereat the outlets of said separation chambers for heavier and lighter liquid, respectively, are each connected to a respective pressure-holding vessel containing lighter liquid and a supply of heavier liquid, respectively, with a liquid level located above the uppermost part of the uppermost separation chamber, whereat the liquid levels in the two pressure-holding vessels are so located relative to one another that, with the pressure-holding vessels in communication with each other through at least one of the separation chambers, equilibrium will not occur in the thus formed U-tube system until the separated lighter liquid is not beneath the level of the outlet for lighter liquid of the uppermost separation chamber, wherein the separation chambers communicate with means for heating and introducing emulsion batchwise into at least one separation chamber at a time with the outlet of each said at least one separation chamber for lighter liquid closed and each outlet for heavier liquid open, and wherein means are provided for subsequently closing the emulsion inlet of each said at least one separation chamber at a time and establishing communication via said at least one separation chamber between the heavier-liquid outlet and the lighter-liquid outlet of said at least one separation chamber.