IP Library Granted Patent US 7,503,950
Granted Patent B2
US 7,503,950 · App. 10/518,726 · Granted Mar 17, 2009

Assembly to separate liquid from a multiphase flow

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,503,950
App. No.
10/518,726
Granted
Mar 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Assembly to separate out liquid frotfi a multiphase fluid flow, comprising a scrubber, a column, a separator or other conventional separation equipment, combined with a deliquidizer that is connected as a preseparator to the fluid inlet. in that the deliquidizer functions according to a cyclone principle. With the assembly according to the invention the deliquidizer is modified such that it can be combined with conventional separation equipment such that a surprising improved technical effect is achieved. More specific the improved technical effect is achieved for assemblies where the deliquidizer is vertically oriented placed outside conventional separation equipment, with main flow direction upwards or downwards, or with the deliquidizer placed within conventional separation equipment.

Claims (23)

1. An assembly for separating out liquid from a multiphase fluid flow, comprising:

a main separation apparatus that comprises a main vessel, a fluid inlet, a vessel gas outlet, and a vessel liquid outlet;

a deliquidizer

that is connected as a preseparator to the fluid inlet,

that has a substantially pipe-shaped inner casing, which forms part of an inlet arrangement of the fluid inlet, and an outer casing within which the inner casing extends and opens, and

that operates on the principle of a cyclone;

a spin element that is located at an upstream end of the inner casing of the deliquidizier for rotation of the fluid flow such that the fluid flow is separated in a central zone along a longitudinal axis such that liquid is forced outward relative to the gas as a result of the rotation,

said spin element having a central void space, and being provided with at least one opening for outflow of separated gas from the void space, said opening forming a gas outlet from the central zone of the deliquidizer into the main vessel;

an annular outer zone formed between the inner casing and the outer casing and forming a liquid outlet path from within the inner casing into the main vessel;

a liquid barrier that is located at a downstream end of the outer casing to direct liquid into the annular outer zone; and

a line connecting the annular outer zone and a central section of the spin element for recirculation of gas entrained by liquid entering the main vessel.

2. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deliquidizer is arranged within the separation apparatus and has a main flow direction vertcally upwards.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deliquidizer is arranged within the separation apparatus and has main flow direction vertically downwards.

4. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deliquidizer is arranged horizontally within the separation appartus and consititutes an extension of the fluid inlet.

5. An assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising an antispin element arranged at the downstream end of the gas outlet from the central zone of the deliquidizer.

6. An arrangement for separating out liquid from a multiphase fluid flow, comprising:

a main separation appartus that comprises a main vessel, a fluid inlet, a vessel gas outlet, and a vessel liquid outlet;

a deliquidizer in which an inlet fluid flow has a main flow direction vertically upward and is rotated such that it is separated in a central zone along a longitudinal axis,

said deliquidizer operating on the principle of a cyclone such that liquid in the inlet fluid flow is forced radially outward and the central zone contains primarily gas,

said deliquidizer being located within the main separation apparatus and being connected as a pre-separator to the fluid inlet;

said deliquidizer having a substantially pipe-shaped inner casing and an outer casing within this the inner casing extends and opens, an outer annular zone thereby being formed between the inner and outer casings, said outer annular zone receiving the radially outwardly forced liquid;

a gas outlet arrangement leading from the central zone of the deliquidizer into the main vessel; and

an outer cone for the gas outlet arrangement urging the fluid flow from the deliquidizer to turn approximately 180° relative to a main flow direction.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2013
From: STATOIL ASA
To: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
Reel/Frame 031627/0265 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 31, 2013
From: STATOILHYDRO ASA
To: STATOIL ASA
Reel/Frame 031528/0807 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2013
From: STATOIL ASA
To: STATOILHYDRO ASA
Reel/Frame 031495/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2009
From: HALAND, TRYGVE
To: STATOIL ASA
Reel/Frame 022184/0536 →