Separation process utilizing centrifugal rotor

Claim 2

A process for separating at least one component of a fluid fossil fuel containing a plurality of phases of different densities, which process comprises: charging the fluid fossil fuel to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; rotating said rotor so as to subject said fluid fossil fuel to a centrifugal force such that a more dense phase moves in a generally outward direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor and a less dense phase moves in a generally inward direction with respect to said axis of rotation; and collecting at least one hydrocarbon phase from said rotor.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein the fluid fossil fuel is crude oil or natural gas.

Claim 4

The process according to claim 1 in which the permeable element has a voidage of more than about 85%.

Claim 5

A process for stablizing a crude oil containing a gaseous phase, which process comprises: charging the crude oil to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said crude oil being charged to said rotor at a position adjacent to said axis of rotation; rotating said rotor so as to subject said crude oil to a centrifugal force such that a liquid phase moves away from said axis of rotation and a gaseous phase moves towards said axis of rotation; collecting a gaseous phase from said rotor adjacent its axis of rotation; and collecting the stabilized crude oil from a position adjacent the radially outer periphery of said rotor.

Claim 6

A process for stablizing a crude oil containing a gaseous phase, which process comprises: charging the crude oil to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said crude oil being charged to said rotor at a position adjacent to said axis of rotation; rotating said rotor so as to subject said crude oil to a centrifugal force such that a liquid phase moves away from said axis of rotation and a gaseous phase moves towards said axis of rotation; collecting a gaseous phase from said rotor adjacent its axis of rotation; and collecting the stabilized crude oil from a position adjacent the radially outer periphery of said rotor.

Claim 7

A process for separating an aqueous phase from crude oil, which process comprises: charging the crude oil to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said crude oil being charged to said rotor at a position intermediate the outer periphery of said rotor and its axis; rotating said rotor so as to subject said crude oil to a centrifugal force such that a denser liquid phase moves towards said outer periphery and a less dense liquid phase moves towards said axis; collecting an aqueous liquid phase from a position adjacent said rotor outer periphery; and collecting crude oil from which some at least of said aqueous phase has been separated from adjacent the axis of said rotor.

Claim 8

A process for separating an aqueous phase from crude oil, which process comprises: charging the crude oil to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said crude oil being charged to said rotor at a position intermediate the outer periphery of said rotor and its axis; rotating said rotor so as to subject said crude oil to a centrifugal force such that a denser liquid phase moves towards said outer periphery and a less dense liquid phase moves towards said axis; collecting an aqueous liquid phase from a position adjacent said rotor outer periphery; and collecting crude oil from which some at least of said aqueous phase has been separated from adjacent the axis of said rotor.

Claim 9

A process for separating a liquid phase, which phase may be organic or aqueous, from natural gas, which process comprises: charging said natural gas containing said liquid phase to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said natural gas being charged to the rotor at a position inermediate the outer periphery of said rotor and said axis of rotation; rotating said rotor so as to subject said natural gas to a centrifugal force such that said liquid phase moves towards said outer periphery and a gaseous phase moves towards said axis; collecting a liquid phase from a position adjacent said rotor outer periphery; and collecting a gaseous phase, from which at least a proportion of said liquid phase has been removed from adjacent the axis of said rotor.

Claim 10

A process for separating a liquid phase, which phase may be organic or aqueous, from natural gas, which process comprises: charging said natural gas containing said liquid phase to a rotor which is formed by mounting a permeable element on a rotatable shaft which is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, the permeable element having an interfacial area of more than about 500 meters 2 /meters 3 ; said natural gas being charged to the rotor at a position inermediate the outer periphery of said rotor and said axis of rotation; rotating said rotor so as to subject said natural gas to a centrifugal force such that said liquid phase moves towards said outer periphery and a gaseous phase moves towards said axis; collecting a liquid phase from a position adjacent said rotor outer periphery; and collecting a gaseous phase, from which at least a proportion of said liquid phase has been removed from adjacent the axis of said rotor.