Apparatus and method for separating immiscible fluid components

1. A separator apparatus for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities, the separator apparatus comprising:

a body comprising an internal flow channel for a mixture of fluid components to be separated, the flow channel having an inlet for receiving the fluid mixture and an outlet;

a rotation generating device for bringing the fluid mixture to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the flow channel as the fluid mixture flows through the flow channel between the inlet and the outlet thereof so as to thereby make immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities included in the fluid mixture to migrate, under action of centrifugal forces, towards mutually different parts of the flow channel;

a first extraction device for withdrawing, upstream of the outlet of the flow channel, a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel,

a bubble introducer configured to introduce, upstream of the first extraction device and at a periphery of the flow channel, micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel, upstream and/or downstream of the rotation generating device, and

a second extraction device for withdrawing, upstream of a section of the flow channel where micro-sized gas bubbles are introduced by the bubble introducer, a peripheral part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel, so as to thereby enhance the separation of said immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities.

2. The separator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation generating device comprises an impeller arranged in the flow channel for bringing the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel.

3. The separator apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the impeller comprises impeller blades having an adjustable inclination.

4. The separator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation generating device comprises fluid injectors arranged to inject fluid jets tangentially into the flow channel so as to thereby bring the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel.

5. The separator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bubble introducer comprises a micro porous member forming part of the wall of the flow channel, and a gas feed configured to feed gas through the micro porous member so as to thereby generate micro-sized gas bubbles.

6. The separator apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the bubble introducer comprises an ultrasonic generator configured to genterate ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic generator being arranged to direct ultrasonic waves to the micro porous member so as to subject it to vibration.

7. The separator apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bubble introducer comprises high pressure nozzles arranged to inject gas jets into the flow channel so as to thereby generate micro-sized gas bubbles.

8. The separator apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the bubble introducer comprises an ultrasonic generator configured to generate ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic generator being arranged to direct ultrasonic waves to the high pressure nozzles so as subject them to vibration.

9. A method for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities, the method comprising:

feeding a mixture of fluid components to be separated through a flow channel from an inlet to an outlet of the flow channel;

bringing the fluid mixture to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the flow channel as the fluid mixture flows through the flow channel so as to thereby make immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities included in the fluid mixture to migrate, under action of centrifugal forces, towards mutually different parts of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel;

introducing, at a periphery of the flow channel, micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel, so as to thereby enhance the separation of said immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities;

withdrawing, downstream of a section of the flow channel where micro-sized gas bubbles are introduced and upstream of the outlet of the flow channel, a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel, and

withdrawing upstream of the section of the flow channel where micro-sized gas bubbles are introduced a peripheral part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel.