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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Cyclone inlet flow diverter for separator vessels

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6543237

This patent describeds a system for separating gas from liquid under relatively widely varying flow rates of gas and liquid such as in the production of crude oil from subterranean wells, the system including in combination, a separator vessel including means for retaining a quantity of separated liquid at a normal liquid level in the separator vessel above which is formed a gas collection space and means forming outlet conduits for the gas and the liquid, respectively, and inlet flow diverter apparatus disposed in the vessel and comprising: a generally cylindrical, substantially vertically extending inner wall member defining an interior chamber, the inner wall member depending below the normal liquid level; a fluid inlet conduit opening through the inner wall member into the chamber for discharging fluid comprising a gas-liquid mixture including slugs of gas and liquid at varying flow rates into the chamber; a generally cylindrical cap member including a peripheral depending wall spaced from and surrounding the inner wall member and defining with the inner wall member a liquid overflow space for receiving liquid overflow from the chamber, the cap member including means defining a gas outlet opening for discharging gas from the chamber into the gas collection space of the vessel and the depending wall includes a bottom edge delimiting the liquid overflow space and disposed below the normal liquid level for discharging liquid overflow from the chamber to the quantity of liquid in the separator vessel; means for supporting the cap member relative to the inner wall member; and means forming an opening into the chamber disposed below the normal liquid level for discharging liquid separated from the gas in the chamber into the quantity of separated liquid in the separator vessel.

Assignee:
Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4778494
OSTI ID:
6543237
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English