Patent ID: 6468335
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A device for separating a mixture of fluids into three phases, gas, lighter liquid and heavier liquid, having a feed inlet, a gas outlet, an outlet for the lighter liquid and an outlet for the heavier liquid, which device comprises:a supply pipe with the feed inlet at its upstream end, said supply pipe typically oriented in a horizontal position; an inclined pipe having an inlet at its upper end that is connected to the outlet of the supply pipe and having a closed lower end; a gas discharge system comprising a gas riser having an inlet that is located in a gas-filled space and an outlet that is in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the device; a discharge system for lighter liquid having an inlet that is located in a lighter liquid-filled space and an outlet that is in fluid communication with the outlet for lighter liquid of the device; a discharge system for heavier liquid having an inlet arranged below the bottom level of the supply pipe and an outlet that is in fluid communication with the outlet for heavier liquid of the device; wherein the diameter of the supply pipe is selected such that during normal operation the velocities of the liquids are below a pre-determined value, wherein the ratio of the length of the supply pipe to its diameter is larger than 10 , and wherein the slope of the inclined pipe is selected such that during normal operations a stratified flow is maintained in the inclined pipe.