Patent ID: 7014756
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: B01D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for separating a mixture of a less dense fluid, a more dense fluid, and fines, the less and more dense fluids being immiscible with each other, the apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet at an upstream end thereof and an outlet at a downstream end thereof; a separation chamber located within the housing between the inlet and the outlet, the separation chamber comprising:  the separation chamber having at least one upper aperture located in an upper portion of the helical passage and at least one lower aperture located in a lower portion of the helical passage; and, a baffle attached between the housing and the separation chamber for directing at least a portion of the mixture into the separation chamber, whereby as the mixture is directed through the helical passage at least a portion of the less dense fluid passes through the at least one upper aperture into an upper collection zone in the housing, and at least a portion of the fines passes through the at least one lower aperture into a lower collection zone in the housing.