초록 ▼

A fluid separator includes a side-by-side double-vortex fluid generator installed within a pressure vessel. The vortex generator separates the liquid and gas components of the incoming fluid mixture, and the vessel itself helps further separate the liquid into water and oil components, which makes t

A fluid separator includes a side-by-side double-vortex fluid generator installed within a pressure vessel. The vortex generator separates the liquid and gas components of the incoming fluid mixture, and the vessel itself helps further separate the liquid into water and oil components, which makes the fluid separator particularly suited for processing fluids extracted from an oil well. The generator includes two diverging vortex tubes each having a polygonal cross-section. Such a cross-section allows the tubes to be formed using a conventional press brake. The vortex tubes also have diverging longitudinal centerlines to help spread the liquid flow pattern discharging into the vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. 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

The invention claimed is: 1. 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. 2. The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein the first tapered wall comprises a first section and a second section that are joined to each other by way of at least two fillets that extend lengthwise between the first gas outlet and the first liquid outlet. 3. The fluid separator of claim 1, further comprising a gas flow deflector in proximity with but spaced apart from the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet, the gas flow deflector is positioned so as to deflect gas discharged from the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet. 4. The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein the first vortex tube and the second vortex tube are vertically elongate. 5. The fluid separator of claim 1, further comprising a pressure vessel that contains the first vortex tube and the second vortex tube therein, the pressure vessel defines a vessel inlet connected to the inlet pipe, an oil extraction line conveying an oil component of the liquid from the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet to a first location beyond the pressure vessel, a water extraction line conveying a water component of the liquid from the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet to a second location beyond the pressure vessel, and a gas extraction line conveying the gas from the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet to a third location beyond the pressure vessel. 6. The fluid separator of claim 5, wherein the pressure vessel is vertically elongate. 7. The fluid separator of claim 5, wherein the pressure vessel is horizontally elongate. 8. The fluid separator of claim 5, further comprising a demister disposed within the pressure vessel, wherein the demister is downstream of the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet and is upstream of the gas extraction line. 9. The fluid separator of claim 5, further comprising a flow disruptor disposed within the pressure vessel and being at least occasionally submerged in the liquid. 10. 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, wherein the first tapered wall has a circumferential polygonal cross-section between the first fluid inlet and the first liquid outlet such that the first vortex tube approximates a conical tube; a second vortex tube comprising a second tapered wall that defines a second fluid inlet, a second gas outlet and a second liquid outlet, 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. 11. 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 flange at the first gas outlet, wherein the flange extends radially inward from the first tapered wall toward a longitudinal centerline of the first vortex tube; a second vortex tube comprising a second tapered wall that defines a second fluid inlet, a second gas outlet and a second liquid outlet, 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.