Patent ID: 7811344

Claim:
A fluid separator for separating a liquid and a gas from a fluid, the fluid separator comprising: a first vortex tube comprising a first tapered wall that defines a first fluid inlet, a first gas outlet and a first liquid outlet, the first gas outlet is smaller than the first liquid outlet, the first fluid inlet is closer to the first gas outlet than to the first liquid outlet; a second vortex tube comprising a second tapered wall that defines a second fluid inlet, a second gas outlet and a second liquid outlet, wherein the first vortex tube defines a first longitudinal centerline the second vortex tube defines a second longitudinal centerline, the first longitudinal centerline and the second longitudinal centerline are tilted out of parallel alignment with each other, the second gas outlet is smaller than the second liquid outlet, the second fluid inlet is closer to the second gas outlet than to the second liquid outlet, the second vortex tube is disposed alongside the first vortex tube such that the first gas outlet is adjacent to the second gas outlet, and the first liquid outlet is adjacent to the second liquid outlet; and an inlet pipe defining a discharge outlet connected to the first tapered wall and the second tapered wall such that the inlet pipe is in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the second fluid inlet, the first tapered wall and the second tapered wall are joined to each other to create a flow splitter at the discharge outlet such that when the fluid flows through the inlet pipe, the fluid splits between the first vortex tube and the second vortex tube, and upon flowing through the first vortex tube and the second vortex tube, the liquid tends to flow toward the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet while the gas tends to flow toward the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet.