In-Line Separator (Patent No: 864315)

Inventor: Beattie, David L.G.

Location: Edmonton

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A separator, for recovering entrained liquid from a gas flow in a pipeline, said separator comprising an elongate shell for connection in the pipeline, an elongate vortex tube, having a generally circular cross section, mounted within the shell, said vortex tube defining with the shell a gravity-separation chamber therebetween and having an inlet at its upstream end to admit the pipeline flow and an outlet at its downstream end for discharging substantially liquid-free gas, said vortex tube including two fixed, substantially co-axial tube sections spaced apart longitudinally to define an axial gap adjacent the downstream end portion of the vortex tube, said axial gap providing communication between the interior of the vortex tube and the gravity-separation chamber, means for imparting a spinning motion to the said flow about the longitudinal axis of the vortex tube to cause centrifugal separation of gas and liquid, a passageway extending between a central portion of the interior of the vortex tube at the upstream end portion thereof and the gravity separation chamber, and liquid collection means having an inlet in communication with the gravity-separation chamber adjacent the upstream end portion of the vortex tube for the removal of liquid from said gravity-separation chamber.

2. A separator according to claim 1 further comprising an elongate member, having a generally circular cross-section, mounted axially within the upstream end portion of the vortex tube and defining with the tube wall an annular-section passage, said member having a longitudinal bore therein, a conduit extending between the gravity-separation chamber and the bore, said conduit and bore defining the said passageway, and a plurality of fixed radial vanes carried by the member and projecting into the said annular-section passage to provide means for imparting a spinning motion to the flow.

3. A separator according to claims 1 and 2 wherein the liquid collection means comprises a pot.

4. A method of separating entrained liquid from a gas flow in a pipeline which comprises providing a gas-liquid flow under pressure, establishing and maintaining a rotating body of such flow in a separate, confined, generally cylindrical space having an axial outlet at one end thereof, an axial inlet at the other end thereof, and an axial gap adjacent to but spaced from the axial outlet, so as to effect a separation by centrifugal forces of liquid from the gas whereby substantially all the liquid accumulates at the outer section of the space and the bulk of the gas forms a vortex in the central section of the space; sucking the accumulated liquid and a portion of the gas through the gap into a confined zone maintained at reduced pressure by communication with the axial low pressure zone within the said cylindrical space; conducting the liquid and gas at reduced velocity along a flow path within the confined zone to cause gravity-separation of the liquid from the gas; collecting the separated liquid within liquid collection means having an inlet in communication with the confined zone adjacent to the axial inlet of the cylindrical space; and exhausting the gas from the confined zone back into the cylindrical space.