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Multi-directional flow gravity Separator
| Details |
Inventors: Terrien, Richard; Walker, David;
Assignee: Universal Separators, Inc. (Madison, WI)
Primary Examiner: Upton; Christopher
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Medlen & Carroll, LLP
A multi-directional flow gravity separator for separating a mixture of two immiscible fluids with different densities includes an elongated generally vertical tank, in which the mixture flows in a generally downward direction, and an effluent discharge tube through which the clarified effluent flows upward and out the tank. Alternatively, the separator includes an elongated vessel, or shroud, within the tank, through which the mixture flows in a generally upward direction before flowing downwardly in the tank; the clarified effluent is discharged from about the bottom of the tank. Alternatively, a separator includes both the elongated vessel and an effluent discharge tube. Alternatively, the vessel of a separator includes a coalescer; preferably, the coalescer results in an increased length of the fluid flow path through the vessel; most preferably, the coalescer is a helical spiraled vane, which results in a helical fluid flow path. In all embodiments, the lighter fluid is collected and discharged from the upper portion of the separator. In another aspect, a bi-directional flow coalescing device includes an elongated vessel and a coalescer, where the mixture is introduced near the bottom of the vessel and flows generally in an upward direction through the coalescer; most preferably, the coalescer is a helical spiraled vane, which results in a helical fluid flow path. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a multi-directional flow gravity separator and a method for separating a mixture of two immiscible fluids of differing specific gravities.
Typically, such a mixture is an oil-water mixture, and typically the oil is present at much lower proportions than is the water; the separator separates the oil from the water.
However, the invention is not limited to the separation of oil from a mixture of oil and water, though it has great utility in this application.
The two fluids of different specific gravities comprise a fluid of higher specific gravity or density, which is referred to as a "heavier" fluid, and a fluid of lower specific gravity or density, which is referred to as a "lighter" fluid.
By "immiscible" it is meant that the two fluids do not mix with each other, or form a solution; furthermore, the mixture is not an emulsion.
Thus, a mixture of two such immiscible fluids generally consists of a suspension of droplets of the lighter fluid of varying sizes within the heavier fluid.
In an open container and under the influence of gravity, the droplets of the lighter fluid begin to move upward within the heavier fluid.
As these droplets move, they tend to collide with and merge with other lighter fluid droplets, forming larger droplets.
These larger droplets continue moving upward, and, due to their larger size, attract and merge with additional droplets, thus increasing in size as they move upward in the heavier fluid.
This process of merging and forming larger droplets of fluid is termed "coalescence.
" Eventually, the droplets of the lighter fluid reach the surface of the mixture, where the lighter fluid collects; a line of demarcation forms between the separated lighter and heavier fluid, which is the "interface" between the two immiscible fluids.
The heavier fluid collects below the interface; it generally remains below the interface, although portions of heavier fluid which become entrapped by the coalescing lighter fluid appear in the collected lighter fluid; under the influence of gravity, these portions of heavier fluid tend to move downward through the collected lighter fluid and past the interface to the heavier fluid
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Liquid Purification 
