Patent ID: 6752860
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: B01D,B04C,E21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for separation of a fluid flowing through a pipeline into a light fraction and a heavier fraction, in which a fluid flow is set into rotation so that said fluid flow is separated into a central zone (6) essentially containing the light fraction, and an outer annular zone (7) essentially containing the heavier fraction, and from which the fluid in the central zone and the fluid in the outer zone are discharged via respective outlet means (12-14 resp. 4), characterised in that said apparatus comprisesan essentially tubular casing (2) arranged to constitute a section of the pipeline proper, a spin element (5) for rotation of the fluid flow being located at the upstream end of the casing (2), and the outlet means for the central zone comprising a discharge element (12) arranged downstream of the spin element (5) and having openings (13) for discharge of the light fraction and possibly entrained heavier fraction from the central zone (6), a control separator (25) connected to the discharge element (12) and arranged to separate entrained heavier fraction from the light fraction, the separator (25) being provided with an outlet (35) for separated heavier fraction, and an outlet (28) for the light fraction, and a control system comprising a level transmitter (42) for indication of the level of separated heavier fraction in the separator (25), and a level control unit (43) connected to the level transmitter (42) and to a valve (40, 41) in the outlet (28) of the separator for the light fraction, and in cooperation with the valve seeing that the separated heavier fraction in the separator (25) being kept at a constant level (31) corresponding to the maximally allowed, entrained quantity of the heavier fraction in the light fraction.