Patent ID: 8657901

Claim:
A separation system for separating particles of a first fluid from a flow of a second fluid, wherein the first fluid has a higher density than the second fluid, the system comprising: one separation chamber for separating particles of the first fluid from the flow of the second fluid; and a plurality of apparatuses for coalescing particles of the first fluid entrained in the flow of the second fluid, each said apparatus comprising: a housing; an enclosure formed in the housing, the enclosure defining a first longitudinal axis and having at least one curved wall arranged to direct a fluid flow along said at least one curved wall in a curved path; a first inlet to the enclosure provided at a first location along the longitudinal axis for enabling introduction of the fluid flow substantially along a tangent to said at least one curved wall; and an outlet from the enclosure provided at a second location, remote from the first location, along the longitudinal axis for enabling exit of the fluid flow substantially along a tangent to said at least one curved wall, wherein the enclosure is arranged to direct fluid flow along the at least one curved wall between the first inlet and the outlet to cause particles of the first fluid to coalesce and exit the outlet, wherein the first fluid is entrained in the flow of the second fluid; wherein said plurality of apparatuses is arranged in a configuration such that the each outlet of each said apparatus directs coalesced particles of the first fluid in the fluid flow to enter the one separation chamber to be separated from the second fluid, and wherein the plurality of apparatuses is directly attached to the separation chamber at one side thereof.