Abstract: An apparatus for separation of the fluid flow flowing through a pipeline into a light fraction and a heavier fraction has a tubular casing (2) arranged to constitute a section of the pipeline proper, a spin element (5) for rotation of the fluid flow at the upstream end of the casing (2), and a discharge element (12) downstream of the spin element (5) having opening (13) for discharge of the light fraction and possibly entrained heavier fraction. The apparatus also has a control separator (25) connected to the discharged element (12) and arranged to separate entrained heavier fraction from the light fraction, and a control system including a level transmitter (42) indicating the level of separate heavier fraction in the separator, and a level control unit (43) connected to the level transmitter (42) and to a drain valve (40, 41) in a separator outlet (28) for the light fraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for handling fluids returning from a well. The fluids are introduced into a separator and a separated gas stream is recovered or recycled. The gas stream may comprise more than one phase. The separated gas stream is urged through a multiphase pump before it is recovered. Alternatively, the return fluids may pass through a multiphase pump before it is introduced into the separator.

Abstract: A mass transfer machine removes dissolved gases or volatile organic compounds from air or a liquid. The mass transfer machine includes a vessel capable of containing a liquid and having a liquid inlet and an air inlet at a near end. It further includes a liquid outlet at a far end. Two or more baffles are located transversely inside of the vessel. The baffle located nearest to the far end of the vessel has a window. Two or more diffusers are located near a bottom surface of the vessel. The diffusers are in communication with the air inlet and have two or more orifices through a wall. An adjustable plate is releasably mounted over the window of the baffle located closest to the far end of the vessel. The plate is adjustable in a vertical direction. In one embodiment, an air source supplies air to the air inlet located on the near end of the vessel. In another embodiment, an air source is connected to the an air exit located on the far side of the vessel.

Abstract: A subsea passive flash gas compression system that includes a first separator that removes high pressure flash gas from a hydrocarbon product, a second separator that removes low pressure flash gas from the hydrocarbon product after the high pressure flash gas has been removed, and an ejector. The ejector includes a high pressure input that is coupled to a high pressure flash gas output of the first separator. The ejector also includes a low pressure input that is coupled to a low pressure flash gas output of the second separator. An output of the ejector is coupled to an outlet pipeline that extends from proximate the sea bottom to the sea surface.

Abstract: A method to separate ethanol from a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol which employs a vessel in which ethanol is humidified from a gas. By adding a gas to a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol in the vessel a gas is utilized to form humidified ethanol. Heat is provided to the solution to replace heat of vaporization of the humidified ethanol to maintain a substantially constant thermal equilibrium condition within the vessel to compensate for the energy of ethanol evaporation. The gas humidified with ethanol is then parted from the vessel to remove ethanol from the solution. The sulfuric acid, substantially devoid of ethanol, is likewise removed from the vessel. The ethanol humidified gas is thereupon separated from the ethanol to provide ethanol and a gas containing ethanol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating pressurized drilling fluid returns from a well having a returns outlet.

Abstract: It is common in oil extraction operations to reinject produced gas and\or water back into hydrocarbon bearing formations in order to maintain formation pressure. Conventional production facilities normally flow all formation fluids to the surface and subsequently reinject the required fluids back into the formation, which can be extremely inefficient due to the high power input required to overcome the large pressure differential between the surface and formation level.

Abstract: In the present process for the preparation of urea, an off-gas stream released during the synthesis of melamine in a high-pressure melamine process which consists predominantly of ammonia and carbon dioxide, is introduced into at least one high-pressure section of a urea stripping plant and is used in the synthesis of urea. The off-gas stream can be used directly without any further treatment.

Abstract: A method of treating pressurized drilling fluid returns from a well having a returns outlet.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for delivering and recycling a liquid such that a substantially air bubble-free liquid flow can be supplied to a process machine and a liquid flow that contains air bubbles can be recycled back into a liquid reservoir for venting away the air bubbles. The method and apparatus is not only capable of supplying air bubble-free liquid to a process machine, but also capable of saving a costly process liquid from being purged out into a waste tank in order to eliminate air bubbles entrapped in the liquid.

Abstract: The invention is a process of degassing and cooling a hot black water slurry. The hot black water slurry is obtained from syngas scrubbers. The black water slurry is cooled and degassed by exposing the black water slurry to a vacuum under conditions sufficient to separate dissolved gases from the black water slurry. These gases are then removed from the black water slurry. These gases can advantageously be recycled in the gasification process.

Abstract: A waste treatment device includes a waste holding tank for receiving waste, a solids-gas processor operably connected to the waste holding tank, an aqueous holding tank operably connected to the processor and the waste holding tank and an aqueous purification device operably connected to the aqueous holding tank.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the treatment of an endless web, wherein exhaust vapors, formed in a treatment chamber, are withdrawn together with returned gases with a vacuum from the treatment chamber and are led into a separator to be separated into gas and liquid. The gas is further heated in a vacuum generator and is then returned into the treatment zone, wherein the endless web is led in the treatment zone over rollers with heating devices.

Abstract: An improved, membrane-based method of treating gas evolved during natural gas liquids (NGL) stabilization, to separate the very light hydrocarbon gases, methane in particular, from the heavier hydrocarbons. The membrane acts as a demethanizer and establishes a vapor/liquid equilibrium during phase separation that is different than would otherwise obtain. This can increase NGL production and reduce the weight of C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons in the off-gas from the stabilizing phase separators.

Abstract: A process of removing carbon dioxide from a liquor in a vessel comprises the step of continuously passing a portion of the liquor into a sidestream and introducing discrete bubbles of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm diameter of nitrogen rich gas into the liquor before returning it to the vessel in which the nitrogen acts to adsorb carbon dioxide from the liquor and is then expelled from the liquor as an off-gas. The process also includes introducing a gas to be dissolved in the liquor into the sidestream as discrete bubbles having a diameter of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm.

Abstract: An improved, membrane-based method of treating gas evolved during gas/oil separation, to separate the very light hydrocarbon gases, methane in particular, from the heavier hydrocarbons. The membrane acts as a demethanizer and establishes a vapor/liquid equilibrium during phase separation that is different than would otherwise obtain. This can increase oil production and reduce the weight of C.sub.4+ hydrocarbons lost in the associated gas.

Abstract: A process for treating a purge vent stream from a polymer manufacturing operation, the vent stream containing a polymer, such as ethylene or propylene, and a purge gas, such as nitrogen. The invention involves three separation steps: condensation, flash evaporation and membrane separation. The steps are integrated together in such a way as to provide a good separation between the components, and to avoid creation of secondary streams that need additional treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining continuous flow in a closed loop test system, of a multiphase composition such as that utilized and obtained from oil and gas wells and the like. The method and system provide a test structure whereby a study of the changes in a multiphase composition (gas/liquid/solid) flow can be studied. Specifically, the method and apparatus provide for pressure boosting the gaseous components of the multiphase composition after separation from the liquid and solid components of the system. A hydrostatic head through which the liquid and solid components flow provides the necessary potential energy-kinetic energy exchange such that when the pressure boosted gas is recombined with the downcomer liquid/solid components, continuous flow of the multiphase composition is maintained. Pressure and temperature controls permit the accurate maintenance of pressure, temperature and flow conditions so as to imitate a real-world environment for multiphase composition flow.

Abstract: A process for removing inorganic components from water is disclosed. The process involves gas stripping followed by membrane separation treatment of the stripping gas. The stripping step can be carried out using one or multiple gas strippers and using air or any other gas as stripping gas. The membrane separation step can be carried out using a single-stage membrane unit or a multistage unit. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed. The process is particularly suited for treatment of contaminated groundwater or industrial wastewater.

Abstract: A process for removing components from liquid is disclosed. This process involves batchwise gas-stripping followed by membrane separation treatment of the stripping gas. The stripping step can be carried out by circulating the batch repeatedly around the loop formed by the tank and the stripper for sufficient time until the desired degree of component removal is achieved. An additional tank can also be used to avoid mixing treated and untreated liquid streams. The membrane separation step can be carried out using a single-stage membrane unit or a multistage unit. The process is particularly suited for treatment of industrial streams that are small intermittent streams and vary in composition and concentration.

Abstract: A system for processing a product with a solvent containing volatile constituents, the system including a pressure chamber for receiving the product, a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber, a solvent recirculating system for admitting the solvent at a predetermined pressure into the chamber, the solvent recirculating system including a heater for maintaining the temperature of the chamber at the saturation temperature of the solvent, gas liquid separator for separating the gas and liquid components of the solvent discharged from the chamber, a first closed loop system connected to the separator to return the gas constituent to the chamber and a second closed loop system connected to the separator to return the liquid component to the chamber.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing dissolved organics from an aqueous composition, said composition comprising water, carbon dioxide and dissolved organics, and said composition having a pH of 6.5 or less and an inlet organics concentration. The process comprises the steps of feeding said aqueous composition to a centrifugal separation zone, preferably to a hydrocyclone, depressurizing said composition in said centrifugal separation zone to regasify at least a portion of said carbon dioxide. An aqueous product stream is removed from the centrifugal separation zone wherein the concentration of said organics is less than said inlet organics concentration. The process is particularly useful in the cleanup of industrial wastewater, and also for removing organics from water produced in petroleum production operations.