Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D17/0211—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with baffles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D17/0214—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with removal of one of the phases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/04—Breaking emulsions
  • B01D17/045—Breaking emulsions with coalescers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a separator for a three-phase mixture of the liquid-liquid-gas type intended to be used below sea level, in particular for separating the constituents of an oil / water / gas mixture.
• French patent No. 2,707,890 has proposed a separator for a three-phase liquid-liquid-gas mixture comprising means for admitting the mixture, a packing structure made up of thin fluted sheets pierced with orifices and stacked so as to forming grooves, and means of evacuation.
• This separator has satisfactory efficiency, but it cannot be used for a long time without human intervention being necessary.
• a separator for a three-phase liquid-liquid-gas mixture of the type comprising an enclosure provided with means for admitting the three-phase mixture, first means of evacuation and second means of evacuation, as well as a coalescing device comprising:
• first and second sub-assemblies being close to each other and arranged so that each plate of the first sub-assembly is substantially symmetrical, with respect to a substantially vertical plane, to a plate of the second sub-assembly,
• the intake means comprising an orifice
• the first means of evacuation comprising an orifice
• the second evacuation means comprising an orifice and being located at the lower part of the enclosure
• first and second subassemblies being arranged between the intake means and the first and second discharge means and oriented so that a current can flow from the admission means to the first and second discharge means passing through the spaces formed between the different plates.
• This separator is characterized in that the first evacuation means consist of: - a barrier plate substantially perpendicular to the plates of said subassemblies and extending from the bottom wall of the enclosure to a height (h 2 ) greater than the height (hi) of the plates of said subsets, and
• FIGS. 1 to 5 are annexed, by way of illustration only, FIGS. 1 to 5.
• Figure 1 shows schematically, in partial section and in perspective, a separator according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 schematically represents, in section, a variant of the separator of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 schematically represents, in front view in section, a part of the inlet means of the separator of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 schematically shows, in view from the left in section, a part of the inlet means of the separator of FIG. Figure 2.
• FIG. 5 shows schematically, in partial section and in perspective, the separator of FIG. 2.
• the separator according to the invention is illustrated in general in Figure 1, where it can be seen that it comprises an enclosure 1 having a substantially cylindrical shape, arranged horizontally and whose ends are closed by two hemispherical parts.
• This enclosure is provided with inlet means 2 for the three-phase mixture, first evacuation means 3 and second evacuation means 4.
• first subset 5 of plates 6 arranged parallel to each other and spaced from each other and a second subset 7 of plates 8 also arranged parallel to each other and spaced from each other.
• each plate 6 of the first sub-assembly 5 is substantially symmetrical, with respect to a substantially vertical plane, to a plate 8 of the second subset 7.
• the upper faces of the plates 6 of the first sub-assembly 5 form a salient angle ⁇ with the upper faces of the plates 8 of the second sub-assembly 7.
• the plates 6.8 are of generally rectangular shape, preferably regularly spaced, smooth and wavy to present more surface in a given volume. They are held in place at their ends by blades 29, 30.
• a central space located between the plates 6 of the first sub-assembly 5 and the plates 8 of the second sub-assembly 7 allows the vertical passage of the fluids.
• the two sub-assemblies 5,7 do not rest on the lower wall of the enclosure, they are slightly raised so as to leave a space allowing the circulation of fluids.
• the intake means 2 include an orifice located in the wall of the enclosure 1.
• the first evacuation means 3 include an orifice located in the wall of the enclosure 1.
• the second discharge means 4 comprise an orifice located in the wall of the enclosure 1, at its lower part.
• the plates 6,8 are oriented with respect to the intake 2 and discharge 3,4 means so that a current of three-phase mixture can circulate passing through the spaces formed between the different plates of the coalescence assembly . 4
• the separator according to the invention can therefore be explained as follows • the three-phase mixture enters the enclosure 1 through the intake means 2 and then flows to the first and second discharge means 3,4 , by circulating between the plates 6 and between the plates 8, that is to say in a substantially horizontal direction, in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder constituting the enclosure 1.
• the light liquid is then evacuated by the first evacuation means 3 and the heavy liquid by the second evacuation means 4
• the gas contained in the mixture is evacuated directly by the evacuation means 3
• the first evacuation means comprise
• a barrier plate 9 substantially perpendicular to the plates of the sub-assemblies 11, 12 and extending from the lower wall 26 of the enclosure to a height h 2 greater than the height hi of the plates of the sub-assemblies 11.12,
• the barrier plate 9 is fixed to the enclosure in a sealed manner on all its sides, except for the upper side, which means that only the light supernatant liquid can pass over it and then be evacuated through port 10.
• the enclosure preferably comprises a second barrier plate 13, situated between the orifice 10 and the barrier plate 9 and substantially parallel to the latter.
• This second barrier plate 13 extends from a height h 3 greater than the height h 2 of the barrier plate 9, up to a height ru situated above the lower wall 26 of the enclosure, so as to leave an opening 29.
• This arrangement allows the volume between the two barrier plates 9 and 13 to constitute a buffer reserve which flows through the opening 29 towards the orifice 10 when the flow rate decreases at the inlet.
• the flow rate of the fluids at the outlet of the separator is regulated.
• the intake means include • 5
• a supply pipe 14 connecting a wall of the enclosure to a location located inside the enclosure, at a point situated in the upper part of the enclosure, above the sub-assemblies 11, 12 of plates,
• the supply pipe 14 preferably crosses the wall of the enclosure at a point located in the lower part of the hemispherical end of the cylinder constituting the enclosure
• the obstacle 16 consists of V-shaped angles arranged parallel to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pipe 14, spaced from each other so as to be able to pass the fluid between them Each angle is preferably oriented so that the point of the "V is located at the bottom of the angle
• angles are preferably distributed over several levels along the axis of the pipe 14, the angles of one level then preferably being offset with respect to those of the neighboring level, so that the fluid passing between two angles of a level collides with an angle of the upper level
• the fluid coming from the pipe 14 cannot pass directly through the obstacle 16 because it must somehow zigzag between the angles.
• the flow of the resulting fluid generally ensures a tranquilization of the flow of the fluid on its arrival in the enclosure of the separator
• two parallel walls 18, 19 of the chamber 15 extend upwards and maintain a second obstacle 17 which may be similar to the obstacle 16
• This anti-wave barrier may be a plate arranged parallel to the barrier plate 9 and extend from the bottom wall 26 of the enclosure to a height less than the height hi of the subassemblies 11 , 12
• Sand removal means can be provided They are formed from pipes 20,21 and discharge orifices 22,23
• the pipes 20,21 are pierced along their length with projection orifices and they extend horizontally between the sub-assemblies 11, 12 and the lower wall 26 of the enclosure They each have a bent portion 24.25 which passes through the wall 26 of the enclosure and by means of which 6 pressurized water can be introduced. This water is then projected by the projection orifices arranged along the conduits 20 and 21 and it carries the sand deposited on the wall 26 towards the evacuation orifices 22, 23.
• the separator according to the invention is not likely to retain deposits or to clog over time
• the pressure drop it causes is limited is less than 1 bar
• the intake means 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 can be used with any type of separator
• the separator according to the invention can be used to remove water from oil / water / gas mixtures in which water sometimes represents up to 80% of the mixture
• the separator according to the invention can thus be installed at a depth of up to 1000 m below sea level, and even more if the mechanical dimensioning of the enclosure is provided for this purpose.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Separating Particles In Gases By Inertia (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9523010

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1998
  • 1998-02-16 FR FR9801843A patent/FR2774924B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-02-15 WO PCT/FR1999/000327 patent/WO1999040993A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1999-02-15 EP EP99903753A patent/EP0975406A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events