System and apparatus for the separation of multi-phase mixture

Claim 2

Apparatus for separating multi-phase mixtures or at least partially separating a more dense component of a mixture from a less dense component thereof, the apparatus comprising; an outer casing defining a cavity therein, an intake port through which the mixture is fed to the apparatus, a first outlet port from which a more dense component can be discharged from the apparatus and a second outlet port from which a less dense component can be discharged from the apparatus; the apparatus further including a cyclone separating means locatable within said cavity and which comprises a plurality of longitudinal separating chambers, each chamber having a portion which has a greater cross-sectional dimension at one end than at its other end, each chamber further comprising inlet means and at least two outlets; a head portion integrally connected to each of said separating chambers and having a first outlet passage formed within the head portion and transverse to said longitudinal separating chambers in fluid communication with one outlet of each of said separating chambers and a second outlet passage within said head portion which is parallel with said longitudinal separating chambers; and means for communicating said first and second outlet passages with said second outlet port, the other of said outlets of each separating chamber being in communication with said first outlet port, at least a portion of one of said outlet passages being located at a position between said intake port and said first outlet port and the other of said outlet being in communication with said second outlet port, and said inlets being in communication with said intake port.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said outlets comprises an overflow outlet at the end of the separating chamber of greater cross sectional dimension and the other said outlets comprises an under flow outlet positioned longitudinally away from said overflow outlet toward said other end of said separating chamber.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said head portion is formed integral with said one end of each of the separating chambers, the head portion including a major inlet passage in fluid communication with the intake port of the apparatus and the plurality of tangentially directed feed inlets communicating with the major inlet passage and directing fluid to respective ones of the separating chambers, the underflow outlets being in communication with the cavity, so that the more dense component can pass into the cavity and then be discharged through the second outlet port.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said head portion comprises a major inlet passage in fluid communication with the intake port with the head portion disposed within the cavity.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said head portion comprises a blocklike element having said major inlet passage formed therein and a series of tangentially directed feed inlets associated therewith which feed the mixture to respective portions of the separating chambers.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 and further wherein said head portion comprises a blocklike element having said major inlet passage formed therein and a series of tangentially directed feed inlets associated therewith which feed the mixture to respective separating chambers.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least four separating chambers are provided, each being in fluid communication with at least one said feed inlet which is of involute form.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the head portion includes a third outlet passage for discharge of the less dense component through the second outlet port, the third outlet passage comprising a groove in the outer surface of the block like element from which the less dense component is discharged, the third outlet passage being disposed in the blocklike portion, adjacent the separating chambers.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first and second outlet passages include collecting passages for receiving the separated component from the overflow end of each chamber and transferring it to the third outlet passage.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the head portion includes a tapered forward end arranged to face the cavity formed within the casing and which is adapted to seat in a complementary tapered portion on the outer casing, the third outlet passage being provided on this tapered forward end.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said head portion is arranged to be sealingly received within the cavity and has portions forming a major inlet passage in fluid communication with the intake port with the head portion disposed within the cavity.

Claim 13

A system for separating multi-phase mixtures comprising an input line through which the multi-phase mixture is delivered, an output line through which at least one of the separated phases of the mixture is discharged and a plurality of apparatus according to claim 1 arranged in parallel between the input and output lines and, valve means interconnected with said apparatus and said input and output lines

Claim 14

An oil-water separating apparatus for at least partially separating a more dense liquid component from a less dense oil component of a multi-phase fluid mixture, comprising: an outer casing arranged to form a fluid tight cavity; a plurality of elongated cyclone separation chambers having a central axis, an inlet end and an outlet end and mounted within the cavity, each of said chambers having a portion which has a greater cross-sectional dimension at its inlet end than at its outlet end; each of said chambers having at least one tangential inlet means at its inlet end and at least two outlets, with one of said outlets being located at or near the inlet end of said chamber for outletting the less dense oil component of the fluid mixture from said chamber and the other of said outlets being located at or near the outlet end of said chamber for outletting the more dense liquid component of the fluid mixture from said chamber; head means constituting a block and arranged for rigid sealing reception against said outer casing and against the outer peripheral wall of each of said elongated separation chambers at the inlet ends thereof, said head means having an outlet passage means within said head for forming a common fluid communication path with the outlet of each of said chambers which is located at or near the inlet end of said chambers for outletting the less dense oil component of the fluid mixture from said chambers; first outlet port means in a wall of said outer casing for communicating with the other of said outlets of said chambers for outletting the more dense liquid component; inlet port means for providing a common fluid communication path with said inlet means of each of said chambers; and second outlet port means in a wall of said outer casing for communicating with said outlet passage within said head means.

Claim 15

An oil-water separating apparatus for at least partially separating a more dense liquid component from a less dense oil component of a multi-phase fluid mixture, comprising: an outer casing arranged to form a fluid tight cavity; a plurality of elongated cyclone separation chambers having a central axis, an inlet end and an outlet end and mounted within the cavity, each of said chambers having a portion which has a greater cross-sectional dimension at its inlet end than at its outlet end; each of said chambers having at least one tangential inlet means at its inlet end and at least two outlets, with one of said outlets being located at or near the inlet end of said chamber for outletting the less dense oil component of the fluid mixture from said chamber and the other of said outlets being located at or near the outlet end of said chamber for outletting the more dense liquid component of the fluid mixture from said chamber; head means constituting a block and arranged for rigid sealing reception against said outer casing and against the outer peripheral wall of each of said elongated separation chambers at the inlet ends thereof, said head means having an outlet passage means within said head for forming a common fluid communication path with the outlet of each of said chambers which is located at or near the inlet end of said chambers for outletting the less dense oil component of the fluid mixture from said chambers; first outlet port means in a wall of said outer casing for communicating with the other of said outlets of said chambers for outletting the more dense liquid component; inlet port means for providing a common fluid communication path with said inlet means of each of said chambers; and second outlet port means in a wall of said outer casing for communicating with said outlet passage within said head means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second outlet port means has an opening positioned on a wall of said outer casing so that when said head means is assembled against said outer casing, said outlet passage within said head means is aligned with said outlet port means opening.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said outlet passage within said head means has a flowpath portion arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the elongated separation chambers, which flowpath portion is common to each of said outlets for outletting the less dense phase.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said head means and plurality of chambers are arranged as a unitary structure so that said individual separation chambers are connected thereto in such a way that when said head means is removed from its sealing reception against said outer casing, said separation chambers remain connected to said head means.