Hydrocyclones for oil spill cleanup having a controlled split ratio

• US 5,498,346 A
• Filed: 09/06/1994
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Conoco Specialty Products Incorporated (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Hadfield, David A., Schubert, Mark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/300,986
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 210/96.1, 210/197, 210/242.3, 210/257.1, 210/258, 210/259, 210/512.1, 210/512.2, 210/513, 210/704, 210/729, 210/776, 210/787, 210/788, 210/804, 210/805 , 210/806, 210/923, 210/170, 210/747, 210/143
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/02 Separation of non-miscible liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0217 by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/107 Whirling means forming a vortex in the water; cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Abstract

An oil spill recovery system includes a first hydrocyclone separator and optionally a second hydrocyclone separator located on a floating vessel floating on a body of water from which spilled oil is to be recovered. A recovered fluid containing oil and water emulsion and a large amount of free sea water is recovered from the body of water. The first hydrocyclone separator separates the recovered fluid into a first underflow stream containing oily water and a first overflow stream which contains substantially all of said oil and water emulsion. The oily water underflow stream from the first hydrocyclone separator is then directed to a second hydrocyclone separator which separates it into a second underflow stream which is returned to the sea as clean water, and a second overflow stream. The first overflow stream is stored in on-board ship'"'"'s storage. The second overflow stream may be stored in ship'"'"'s storage or recycled for further separation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recovering oil spilled in a body of water comprising:

(a) means for recovering a fluid stream containing oil and water from a body of water;

(b) monitor means for monitoring the makeup of the recovered fluid stream;

(c) a first hydrocyclone means for receiving and separating the monitored fluid stream into a first more dense stream and a first less dense stream;

(d) control means for controlling the split ratio between the first more dense stream and the first less dense stream in response to only the monitor means;

(e) storage means for receiving at least a majority of the first less dense stream;

(f) a second hydrocyclone means for receiving and separating the first more dense stream into a second more dense stream and a second less dense stream; and

(g) means for returning at least a majority of the second more dense stream to the body of water.

2. An oil spill recovery process for recovering spilled oil from a body of water comprising the steps of:

(a) recovering a fluid stream containing oil and water from the body of water;

(b) monitoring the makeup of the recovered fluid stream;

(c) separating the monitored fluid stream into a first more dense stream and a first less dense stream in a first hydrocyclone;

(d) controlling the split ratio between the first more dense stream and the first less dense stream in response to only the monitoring of step (b);

(e) storing at least a majority portion of the first less dense stream in a storage zone;

(f) separating the first more dense stream into a second more dense stream and a second less dense stream in a second hydrocyclone; and

(g) returning at least a majority portion of the second more dense stream to the body of water.