A combination liquid and gas separator and jetting tool includes a housing containing a rotatable drum, a stator in the inlet end of the housing for swirling a liquid/gas mixture, a rotor attached to the drum for rotation by the mixture; whereby the gas and liquid are separated. The liquid and gas are discharged through separate restricted orifices downstream of the drum. Orifices can be located in a rotating head for cleaning, cutting or other downhole operations.
1. An apparatus for separating a gas from a liquid under pressure comprising:
a tubular housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a stator in said inlet end of the housing for causing swirling of gas-containing liquid introduced into said inlet end;
a drum rotatably mounted in said housing downstream of said stator in the direction of liquid flow between said inlet and outlet ends of the housing;
a rotor in an inlet end of said drum for causing the drum to rotate in the housing;
an end wall in a downstream end of said drum in the direction of fluid flow through the housing;
liquid outlet ports in the periphery of said end wall for discharging liquid from the drum;
a gas outlet port in the center of said end wall for discharging gas from the drum;
a liquid outlet passage in said housing for receiving liquid from said liquid outlet ports and discharging liquid from said housing;
a gas outlet passage in said housing for receiving gas from said gas outlet port and discharging gas from said housing;
a first flow restriction in said liquid outlet passage for restricting liquid flow during discharge from the apparatus; and
a second flow restriction in said gas outlet passage for restricting gas flow during discharge from the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rotor includes vanes extending longitudinally of the housing and drum for directing the gas-containing liquid longitudinally of said drum.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , including a jetting assembly on said housing downstream of said outlet end of the housing, said assembly containing said first flow restriction.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said first flow restriction is a nozzle in said jetting assembly for discharging a liquid jet from the apparatus.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said second flow restriction is a restricted orifice in said jetting assembly for discharging gas from the apparatus.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said nozzle and said restricted orifice have longitudinal axes intersecting outside of said jetting assembly, whereby a gas shroud is formed around said liquid jet.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a jetting head rotatable in said housing downstream of said end wall for receiving liquid and gas;
a central passage in said head for receiving liquid from said liquid outlet ports;
inclined liquid orifices in said head for jetting liquid from said head, whereby the head is caused to rotate in the housing;
a siphon tube defining said gas outlet passage extending through said central passage;
a restriction in said siphon tube proximate a discharge end thereof; and
inclined gas discharge nozzles in said head for discharging gas from said head to intersect said liquid jetting from said liquid orifices.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said liquid and gas orifices have longitudinal axes intersecting outside of said housing, whereby a gas shroud can form around liquid jetting from said liquid orifices.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , including a speed governor rotatable in said housing between said end wall and said head, said speed governor supporting said head in the housing and governing the speed of rotation of the head.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said end wall of the drum includes a conical end extending upstream with respect to the direction of travel of liquid and gas in said housing for ensuring the smooth flow of liquid to said liquid outlet ports.