Patent ID: 7166218

Claim:
A device for separating an effluent comprising a denser phase and a less dense phase, said less dense phase having a density less than said denser phase and a conductivity different than said denser phase, said device comprising a pair of electrodes, means for introducing the effluent between said electrodes, a helical channel in which said effluent is centrifuged, after passage between said electrodes, so that the phases are separated and, a separation element intended for discharge of the separated phases, comprising an opening extending over a periphery of the effluent centrifuged in said helical channel to discharge a part of the effluent centrifuged in said helical channel, and a mask for limiting discharge of the less dense phase through said opening, said mask closing said opening and leaving an orifice extending over an angular portion ranging between 20° and 180° so that the denser phase distributed in a lower part of said helical channel is discharged through said orifice and the less dense phase distributed in an upper part of said helical channel is kept within an inside of said separation element by said mask.