Enhanced in-line rotary separator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for separating a fluid, comprising:
- a rotatable drum having an inner drum wall and an outer drum wall disposed around the inner drum wall, the inner and outer drum walls at least partially defining a separation passage therebetween;
radial separator blades curved in a circumferential direction and disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the radial separator blades extending radially at least partially between the inner drum wall and the outer drum wall;
a first circumferential separator blade curved in a radial direction and disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the first circumferential separator blade extending at least partially around the inner drum wall; and
a housing disposed around the drum and configured to receive a higher-density component of the fluid separated in the separation passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for separating a fluid, with the apparatus including a rotatable drum having an inner drum wall and an outer drum wall disposed around the inner drum wall to define a separation passage therebetween. The apparatus also includes radial separator blades that are curved in a circumferential direction and are disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the radial separator blades extending radially at least partially between the inner drum wall and the outer drum wall. The apparatus further includes a first circumferential separator blade that is curved in a radial direction and is disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the first circumferential separator blade extending at least partially around the inner drum wall. The apparatus also includes a housing disposed around the drum and configured to receive a higher-density component of the fluid separated in the separation passage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for separating a fluid, comprising:
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a rotatable drum having an inner drum wall and an outer drum wall disposed around the inner drum wall, the inner and outer drum walls at least partially defining a separation passage therebetween; radial separator blades curved in a circumferential direction and disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the radial separator blades extending radially at least partially between the inner drum wall and the outer drum wall; a first circumferential separator blade curved in a radial direction and disposed in the separation passage of the drum, the first circumferential separator blade extending at least partially around the inner drum wall; and a housing disposed around the drum and configured to receive a higher-density component of the fluid separated in the separation passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for separating a fluid, comprising:
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introducing the fluid into a separation passage defined in a drum; rotating the drum to partially separate a higher-density component of the fluid from a lower-density component thereof; and turning the fluid in the separation passage to further separate the higher-density component of the fluid from the lower-density component thereof, comprising; turning the fluid in a first circumferential direction using curved radial separator blades; and turning the fluid in a first radial direction using a curved circumferential separator blade. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A rotary separator, comprising:
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a drum including an inner drum wall and an outer drum wall that is separated from the inner drum wall to at least partially define a separation passage therebetween, the drum configured to rotate to separate a liquid from a gas in a multiphase fluid; a row of radial separator blades disposed proximal an axial middle of the drum, the radial separator blades extending from the inner drum wall to the outer drum wall and being curved so as to turn fluid flowing therepast in first and second circumferential directions, each radial separator blade defining a radially-extending drainage groove; first and second circumferential separator blades disposed in the separation passage, proximal the axial middle of the drum, and extending at least partially around the inner drum wall, the first and second circumferential separator blades being curved so as to turn fluid flowing therebetween in a first and second radial direction, the first and second circumferential separator blades each defining drainage ports therein, each drainage port being aligned with the drainage groove of at least one of the radial separator blades; a housing disposed around the rotatable drum and defining a collection chamber in fluid communication with the separation passage; and a swirling structure disposed proximal an upstream end of the drum and configured to swirl the fluid to rotate the drum.
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Specification