Fluid separator

1. A fluid separator comprising:

a body;

an inlet;

a first outlet including a vortex finder including a divergent section and a convergent section connected to the divergent section, the divergent section being at least twice as long as the convergent section; and

a second outlet;

wherein a radially outer wall of an axial end of the vortex finder is tapered.

2. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the first outlet are disposed at a first end of the body, and the second outlet is disposed at a second end of the body.

3. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet includes or is connected to a pressure relief valve.

4. The fluid separator of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the pressure relief valve is disposed in the vortex finder.

5. The fluid separator of claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief valve is disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder.

6. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein the divergent section is at least three times as long as the convergent section.

7. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein a maximum inner diameter of the convergent section is substantially the same as a maximum inner diameter of the divergent section.

8. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein a taper angle of the convergent section is at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section.

9. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein a maximum diameter of the divergent section is no more than 20% larger than a length of the divergent section and is at least 80% as large as the length of the divergent section.

10. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder that extends into the body is at least 1.5 times as large as a diameter of the inlet.

11. A method of separating fluid, the method comprising:

providing a fluid separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first outlet including a vortex finder having a divergent section and a convergent section connected to the divergent section, the divergent section being at least twice as long as the convergent section;

providing a combined fluid to the inlet; and

separating a gas from a liquid of the combined fluid such that the gas flows into the divergent section of the vortex finder and the liquid flows to the second outlet;

wherein a radially outer wall of an axial end of the vortex finder is tapered.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the gas flows from the divergent section of the vortex finder to the convergent section of the vortex finder.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein separating the gas from the liquid is at least 99% efficient.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising at least one of restricting and redirecting flow of the combined fluid via the divergent section of the vortex finder.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein separating the gas from the liquid includes creating a column of the gas.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising restricting flow of the combined fluid to the column of the gas via the divergent section of the vortex finder.

17. The fluid separator of claim 1 , wherein the radially outer wall is tapered in opposing directions at the divergent section and the convergent section.

18. The fluid separator of claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a spring and a poppet, wherein the spring applies a biasing force to the poppet to keep the poppet in a closed position.

19. The fluid separator of claim 18 , wherein, in at least the closed position, an end of the poppet extends into the body farther than the vortex finder.

20. The fluid separator of claim 2 , wherein one of:

the convergent section terminates at the first end of the body; or

the divergent section transitions to the convergent section at the first end of the body.