Separator device

1. Separator device ( 1 ) for separating a first liquid substance from a second substance, the two substances forming a mixture, the apparatus comprising:

a vessel ( 2 ) with an inlet ( 3 ) for receiving the mixture,

a first outlet ( 12 ) for discharge of a first fraction of the mixture,

a second outlet ( 13 ) for discharge of a second fraction of the mixture, and

a flow element ( 7 ) comprising a number of parallel tubular channels defining a flow path for the mixture, the channels having an inlet end ( 8 ) for receiving the mixture and an outlet end ( 9 ) for discharge of the first fraction, a length direction of the channels being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, wherein in a transverse cross-section through the flow element, the channels form a two-dimensional array of closed cells ( 22 ), each cell defining a boundary of a flow channel, the cells being arranged in at least two rows (A 1 -A 3 , B 1 -B 3 ) each cell in a first row contacting with its perimeter a cell in the second row, wherein

the separator device comprises a return duct ( 15 ) in fluid connection with the first outlet, and connected to the vessel ( 2 ) via a gas mixing device ( 17 ),

an upper side of the flow channels being in fluid communication with the inlet ( 3 ) for forming a flow path for the mixture from the upper to a lower part of flow channels,

the second outlet ( 13 ) is situated at an upper part of the separator device in fluid communication with the upper part of the flow channels, a flow path for gas and the second fraction of the mixture extending from a lower part to an upper part of the flow channels,

the inlet ( 3 ) is situated in a side surface of vessel ( 2 ) for entering the mixture into the upper of the vessel ( 2 ) in a sideways direction, and

an outlet of the gas mixing device is connected to the inlet ( 3 ) for mixing air into the mixture prior to the mixture entering into the vessel ( 2 ),

a level sensor ( 25 ) being situated is an upper part of the separator device, the first outlet ( 12 ) being situated in a lower part of the separator device and comprising a controlled valve ( 26 ) which receives as an input a control signal generated by the level sensor ( 25 ).

2. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the flow channels are between about 50 cm and about 300 cm, preferably between about 120 cm and about 300 cm, a hydraulic diameter of the cells being between about 1 cm and about 10 cm.

3. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the inclination of the flow channels is a least 50 degrees.

4. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , further comprising a third outlet ( 14 ) at a lower end for removal of a sediment fraction.

5. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein each row comprises at least 5 cells.

6. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the cells are rectangular.

7. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the cells are hexagonal.

8. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the cells are congruent.

9. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the cells are congruent.

10. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the inclination of the flow of channels is a least about 50 degrees.

11. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a third outlet ( 14 ) at a lower end for removal of a sediment fraction.

12. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each row comprises at least 5 cells.

13. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cells are rectangular.

14. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cells are hexagonal.

15. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the cells are congruent.

16. Separator device ( 1 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the cells are congruent.

17. Separator device ( 1 ) for separating a first liquid substance from a second substance, the two substances forming a mixture, the apparatus comprising:

a vessel ( 2 ) with an inlet ( 3 ) for receiving the mixture,

a first outlet ( 12 ) being situated in a lower part of the separator for discharge of a first fraction of the mixture, the first outlet ( 12 ) comprising a controlled valve ( 26 ) which receives as an input a control signal generated by a level sensor ( 25 ),

second outlet ( 13 ) for discharge of a second fraction of the mixture, and

a flow element ( 7 ) comprising a number of parallel tubular channels defining a flow path of the mixture, the channels having an inlet end ( 8 ) for receiving the mixture and an outlet end ( 9 ) for discharge of the first fraction, a length direction of the channels being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, wherein a transverse cross-section through the flow of element, the channels form a two-dimensional array of closed cells ( 22 ), each cell defining a boundary of a flow channel, the cells being arranged in at least two rows (A 1 -A 3 , b 1 -B 3 ), each cell in a first row contacting with its perimeter a cell in the second row, wherein

the separator device comprises a return duct ( 15 ) in fluid connection with the first outlet, and connected to the vessel ( 2 ) via a gas mixing device ( 17 ),

an upper side of the flow channels being in fluid communication with the inlet ( 3 ) for forming a flow path for the mixture from the upper to a lower part of flow channels,

the second outlet ( 13 ) is situated at an upper part of the separator device in fluid communication with the upper part of the flow channels, a flow path for gas and the second fraction of the mixture extending from a lower part to an upper part of the flow channels,

the inlet ( 3 ) is situated in a side of the vessel ( 2 ) for entering the mixture into the upper part of the vessel ( 2 ) a sideways direction, and

an outlet of the gas mixing device is connected to the inlet ( 3 ) for mixing air into the mixture prior to the mixture entering into the vessel ( 2 ),

the level sensor ( 25 ) being situated in an upper part of the separator device, the first outlet ( 12 ) being situated in a lower part of the separator device and comprising a controlled valve ( 26 ) which receives as an input a control signal generated by the level sensor ( 25 ).