Patent ID: 11911716
Assignee: ENERCORP ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  E | IPC B  E

Claim 21:
22. A solids separation system, comprising:
a separator configured to separate a multi-phase process fluid into a solids and a fluid;
a blowdown vessel coupled to the separator, wherein the blowdown vessel is configured to receive the solids and a portion of the fluid from the separator;
a fluid removal assembly coupled to the blowdown vessel, wherein the fluid removal assembly is configured to drain at least some of the fluid in the blowdown vessel therefrom, substantially without removing the solids from the blowdown vessel, wherein the fluid removal assembly comprises:
an inlet screen positioned proximal to a bottom of the blowdown vessel, wherein the inlet screen is configured to prevent the solids from draining therethrough; and
a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet screen and downstream from the blowdown vessel, wherein the fluid flows through the inlet screen and into the collection chamber, and wherein the inlet screen prevents the solids from flowing therethrough and into the collection chamber;

a blowdown drain coupled to the blowdown vessel and configured to evacuate the solids therefrom, wherein a frequency at which the blowdown vessel is to be drained is determined based upon an amount of the solids produced from a well, an amount of the solids separated from the multi-phase process fluid in the separator, and an amount of the solids blown-down to the blowdown vessel; and
a recycle line extending between the collection chamber and the separator, wherein the recycle line is configured to recycle the at least some of the fluid drained into the collection chamber back into the separator.