Inlet distributor for liquid-liquid separators

Claim 1

Apparatus for mounting in a fluid separation zone adapted to improve the gravitational separation of fluids having different densities, said apparatus comprising: fluid entry means opening into and disposed inwardly of said separation zone, fluid distribution means mounted upright upon the terminus of said fluid entry means within said separation zone, said fluid distribution means including: an elongated hollow member in fluid communication with said fluid entry means and having an end plate irremovably mounted upon and closing the terminal end thereof, another plate mounted about the elongated hollow member in oppositely spaced relation with respect to the end plate, a plurality of openings through said elongated hollow member transversely spaced along said member between said plates, packing means disposed annularly about said openings in said elongated hollow member between said plates and an enveloping open mesh network of interconnecting metal webs operatively enclosing the packing means between said end plates within the fluid distribution means, the cross sectional area of the openings in said elongated hollow member being sufficient, with respect to the cross sectional area of said fluid entry means, to reduce the kinetic energy of the fluid entering the separation zone to improve the gravitational separation of the fluid of lower density from the fluid of higher density.