US6576029B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream
Assignee: Cameron Solutions Inc
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Filing: 2001-06-13
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Granted: 2003-06-10
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Expires: 2021-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a gas stream employing a vessel having a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. At least one vortex tube is supported within the vessel and has a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube is affixed to the orifice plate in communication with the gas outlet opening and extends concentrically within the vortex tube, the vortex finder tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area, the gas deflector having a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. One embodiment may include at least one free-fall preventer within the vortex tube positioned below the tangential inlet and having a plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverting vanes positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vortex tube and serving to augment the rotation of liquid as it traverses towards the outlet end of the vortex tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh M. West
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:10
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04C; B04C3/00; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0217; B01D19/00; B01D19/0042; B01D19/0052; B01D19/0057; B01D45/00; B01D45/12; B01D45/14; B01D47/00; B01D47/02; B01D47/021; B04C3/06; B04C5/00; B04C5/02; B04C5/04; B04C5/08; B04C5/103; B04C5/24; B04C5/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream comprising: a vessel having an interior in communication with a wet gas inlet, a dry gas outlet and a liquid outlet; at least one vortex tube supported within said vessel interior, the vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a first end, an outlet end and a wet gas inlet in and tangential to said internal wall surface, the tangential wet gas inlet being spaced from said first end and arranged so that wet gas entering therein rotates within said vortex tube to cause at least some of the liquid components thereof to be separated from said wet gas stream as it is forced against said internal wall surface by centrifugal action; and at least one free-fall preventer within said vortex tube positioned below said tangential wet gas inlet and above said vortex tube outlet end, the free-fall preventer having a plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverting vanes positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said vortex tube and configured to impose minimal restriction to flow within said vortex tube while augmenting the rotation of separated liquid component as it traverses downwardly in said vortex tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
205 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream comprising: a vessel having an interior in communication with a wet gas inlet, a dry gas outlet and a liquid outlet; at least one vortex tube supported within said vessel interior, the vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a first end, an outlet end and a wet gas inlet in and tangential to said internal wall surface, the tangential wet gas inlet being spaced from said first end and arranged so that wet gas entering therein rotates within said vortex tube to cause at least some of the liquid components thereof to be separated from said wet gas stream as it is forced against said internal wall surface by centrifugal action; and at least one free-fall preventer within said vortex tube positioned below said tangential wet gas inlet and above said vortex tube outlet end, the free-fall preventer having a plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverting vanes positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said vortex tube and configured to impose minimal restriction to flow within said vortex tube while augmenting the rotation of separated liquid component as it traverses downwardly in said vortex tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 1 including: a short length center tube positioned concentrically within said vortex tube providing an annular space between an exterior surface of the tube and said vortex tube internal wall surface, said plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverter vanes positioned in the annular space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 2 wherein said center tube is longer than said vanes are in height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 2 including: an orifice plate closing said vortex tube first end and having a concentric gas outlet opening therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 4 including a vortex finder tube in communication with said orifice plate gas outlet opening and extending concentrically within said vortex tube outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 4 including a curved outlet pipe affixed to said orifice plate exterior of said vortex tube and in communication with said vortex tube central opening and configured to divert gas passing out of said orifice plate gas outlet opening in a direction having a downward tangent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 1 including: a liquid discharge deflector tube secured in relationship to an external portion of said vortex tube and encompassing said vortex tube outlet end, the deflector tube being of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said vortex tube at said outlet end providing an external annular area, the deflector tube having a bottom end; and an end plate at least substantially closing said bottom end of said deflector tube to thereby deflect liquid flowing out of said vortex tube outlet end into an upward direction through said external annular area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 1 including: an energy absorbing housing providing a quiescent inducing cavity surrounding said outlet end of said vortex tube, liquid flowing out said outlet end of said vortex tube flowing into said quiescent inducing cavity provided by said energy absorbing housing, said energy absorbing housing having cavity walls defining said quiescent inducing cavity, said cavity walls having small diameter openings through which liquid passes into the interior of said vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream comprising: a vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a first end, an outlet end and a wet gas inlet in and tangential to said internal wall surface, the tangential wet gas inlet being spaced from said first end and arranged so that wet gas entering therein rotates within said vortex tube to cause at least some of the liquid components thereof to be separated from said wet gas stream and to be forced against said internal wall surface by centrifugal action; and at least one free-fall preventer within said vortex tube positioned below said tangential wet gas inlet and above said vortex tube outlet end, the free-fall preventer having a plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverting vanes positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said vortex tube configured to impose minimal restriction to flow within said vortex tube while augmenting the rotation of separated liquid component as it traverses downwardly in said vortex tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream comprising: a vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a first end, an outlet end and a wet gas inlet in and tangential to said internal wall surface, the tangential wet gas inlet being spaced from said first end and arranged so that wet gas entering therein rotates within said vortex tube to cause at least some of the liquid components thereof to be separated from said wet gas stream and to be forced against said internal wall surface by centrifugal action; and at least one free-fall preventer within said vortex tube positioned below said tangential wet gas inlet and above said vortex tube outlet end, the free-fall preventer having a plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverting vanes positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said vortex tube configured to impose minimal restriction to flow within said vortex tube while augmenting the rotation of separated liquid component as it traverses downwardly in said vortex tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 9 including: a short length center tube positioned concentrically within said vortex tube providing an annular space between an exterior surface of the tube and said vortex tube internal wall surface, said plurality of spaced apart radially arranged flow diverter vanes positioned in the annular space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 10 wherein said center tube is longer than said vanes are in height.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 9 including: an orifice plate closing said vortex tube first end and having a concentric gas outlet opening therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 12 including a vortex finder tube in communication with said orifice plate gas outlet opening and extending concentrically within said vortex tube outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 12 including a curved outlet pipe affixed to said orifice plate exterior of said vortex tube and in communication with said vortex tube central opening and configured to divert gas passing out of said orifice plate gas outlet opening in a direction having a downward tangent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 9 including: a liquid discharge deflector tube secured in relationship to an external portion of said vortex tube and encompassing said vortex tube outlet end, the deflector tube being of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said vortex tube at said outlet end providing an external annular area, the deflector tube having a bottom end; and an end plate at least substantially closing said bottom end of said deflector tube to thereby deflect liquid flowing out of said vortex tube outlet end into an upward direction through said external annular area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream according to claim 9 including: an energy absorbing housing providing a quiescent inducing cavity surrounding said outlet end of said vortex tube, liquid flowing out said outlet end of said vortex tube flowing into said quiescent inducing cavity provided by said energy absorbing housing, said energy absorbing housing having cavity walls defining said quiescent inducing cavity, said cavity walls having small diameter openings through which liquid passes into the interior of said vessel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-09 | 2006-12-09 | 2007-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-09 | 2010-12-09 | 2011-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-09 | 2014-12-09 | 2015-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |