Patent ID: 8192632

Claim:
A method for separating an aqueous phase from an oil phase of an oil-water mixture with a pressure discharge system having multi-phase separators, comprising: operating the pressure discharge system in multiple sequential stages, wherein the discharge system is configured, such that the oil-water mixture flows substantially in a horizontal direction; including a first stage, wherein the oil-water mixture is split into oil and water by at least one phase separator element, the at least one phase separator generates turbulence that promote a settling of water on the separators, wherein the at least one phase separator includes an inclined flow-against surface, thereby diverting the oil-water mixture upward, and wherein the at least one phase separator includes a flow-off surface configured at an opposing angle, thereby diverting the oil-water mixture downward; including a second stage, wherein water is further separated from the oil-water mixture and a laminar flow is generated by at least one laminar-phase separator element, wherein the at least one laminar-phase separator element includes an inclined flow-against surface, the incline is less than the incline of the flow-against surface of the first stage, said flow-against surface diverting the oil-water mixture upward, and wherein the at least one laminar-phase separator includes a flow-off surface configured at an opposing angle, thereby diverting the oil-water mixture downward; including a third stage, wherein at least one remaining water portion is coalesced and separated by at least one mechanical phase separator, wherein the at least one mechanical phase separator includes flow-against surface the incline is less than the incline of the flow-against surface of the first stage, said flow-against surface diverting the oil-water mixture upward, and wherein the at least one mechanical phase separator includes a flow-off surface configured at an opposing angle, thereby diverting the oil-water mixture downward; providing a planar horizontal joining surface between the flow-against surface and the flow off surface of each of the separators of the first, second and third stages, such that the oil-water mixture streams across the horizontal surface; providing a predetermined first vertical distance h 1 between two at least one phase separators of the first stage; providing a predetermined second vertical distance h 2 between two at least one laminar-phase separators of the second stage, wherein the vertical distance h 2 is greater than the vertical distance h 1 of the separators of the first stage; and providing a predetermined third vertical distance h 3 between two at least one mechanical phase separators of the third stage, wherein the vertical distance h 3 is less than the vertical distance h 1 of the separators of the first stage.