Hydrocyclone overflow transport

Claim 1

Apparatus for separating, into lighter overflow and heavier underflow fractions, a fluid mixture having a higher density liquid component and a lower density component, said apparatus comprising: a pressure retaining vessel having: an opening with a removable closure, a first region of high pressure adjacent to said closure and a second region of low pressure, inlet means for admitting the fluid mixture into said first region, overflow discharge means for exit of said lighter fraction, and underflow discharge means for exit of said heavier fraction from said second region; a support plate contained within said vessel; and a plurality of separating cyclones, each of said cyclones having a body which extends through a respective aperture in, and which is releasably, rigidly secured to said support plate by respective securing means engaging, and extending between, each of said cyclones and said support plate, the securing means for a given one of said cyclones of said plurality of cyclones being separate from the securing means for the other ones of said plurality of cyclones, each said cyclone body having at least one feed inlet in communication with said first region for receiving the fluid mixture, underflow outlet means in communication with said second region, and overflow outlet means in communication with said vessel overflow discharge means, said securing means for said cyclone bodies being accessible from said opening through said first region, whereby after removal of said closure, each cyclone body can, upon releasing said respective securing means, be individually released from, and withdrawn through, said support plate and out of said vessel opening for replacement.