Centrifugal Type Patents (Class 96/208)
  • Patent number: 11724016
    Abstract: A venous air capture chamber for use in dialysis, includes an upwardly extending fluid inlet terminating in first and second fluid inlet ports (102). The first and second fluid inlet ports (102) are opposedly positioned on the fluid inlet at an angle of about 180°. The venous air capture chamber also includes a fluid outlet (104) at the bottom of the chamber body. The venous air capture chamber provides improved fluid dynamics, reducing both stagnant flow and turbulence. The venous air capture chamber also provides for bidirectional flow of fluid through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Mozarc Medical US LLC
    Inventors: Zhigang Li, Mark Daniels, Thomas E. Meyer, Huande Liu
  • Patent number: 11661953
    Abstract: A pump includes a housing which forms a suction chamber and a discharge chamber therein; a suction nozzle which is disposed in one side of the housing, and communicates with the suction chamber; a discharge nozzle which is disposed in the other side of the housing, and communicates with the discharge chamber; a partition wall which partitions the suction chamber and the discharge chamber, and has a communication hole, which communicates the suction chamber and the discharge chamber, that is formed at a central portion; and a plurality of baffles which are disposed inside the suction chamber, and guide fluid introduced through the suction nozzle to the communication hole, wherein the plurality of baffles have different lengths and are separated apart from each other in a circumferential direction in an upper side of the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youjoon Song, Minsu Son, Seungjo Baek
  • Patent number: 11492927
    Abstract: An oil tank system (100) for a gas turbine engine is provided. The oil tank system (100) includes an oil tank (102) having an upper tank portion (112) and a lower tank portion (114), a waisted section (118) being provided between the upper tank portion (112) and the lower tank portion (114). Oil is received by a de-aerator (104) of the system (100) which supplies de-aerated oil to the upper tank portion (112). The waisted section (118) includes an upper face (119) configured to catch oil drips from above the waisted section (118) and to guide oil to a lower face (121) of the waisted section (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Mark P. Reid
  • Patent number: 10272373
    Abstract: A return filter is provided in a tank, for removing bubbles from hydraulic oil before returning the hydraulic oil to the tank. A vortex forming portion that includes a spiral-shaped blade member is provided in an outflow portion that has a substantially cylindrical shape and communicates with a hollow portion of a filter element. Thus, a vortex forms in the hydraulic oil flowing through the outflow portion and bubbles contained in the hydraulic oil are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: YAMASHIN-FILTER CORP.
    Inventors: Meiho Taku, Makoto Ishizuka, Tatsuhiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 10246983
    Abstract: A method for the subsea transport of a multi-phase production fluid from a wellhead to a point remote from the wellhead, the multi-phase production fluid comprising a water phase, an oil phase and a gas phase. The method includes introducing the multi-phase production fluid into a pipeline, the pipeline extending from proximate the wellhead to a point remote from the wellhead; imparting rotational motion to the multi-phase production fluid; wherein the rotational motion of the multi-phase production fluid separates the water phase from the oil phase and the gas phase and reduces the pressure drop along the pipeline. A system for the subsea transport of a multi-phase production fluid from a wellhead to a point remote from the wellhead and a method for reducing hydrate formation during the subsea transport of a multi-phase production fluid from a wellhead to a point remote from the wellhead are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nedwed, Xiaolei Yin
  • Patent number: 9039819
    Abstract: A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Micronic Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly P. Rock
  • Patent number: 9028204
    Abstract: The centrifugal pump assembly comprises a device for separating gas from the fluid to be delivered, which is arranged on the suction side. The gas separation device is provided with an impact body (2) which at least partly is arranged in the suction-side flow path (11) of the fluid to be delivered, and on the housing side is arranged at a distance to the suction port of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventor: Bent Døssing
  • Publication number: 20150114227
    Abstract: A gas/liquid separator (120) is provided. The gas/liquid separator (120) includes a separator shell (121) forming an internal chamber (125), a neck (128) formed in an end of the separator shell (121), a separator tube (126) extending into the separator shell (121), with a proximal end (131) forming an output port (123) and with a distal end (132) extending into the internal chamber (125), and an input port (122) formed between the separator tube (126) and the neck (128). The distal end (132) of the separator tube (126) is located in a central interior region of the separator shell (121) wherein liquid phase material accumulates in the internal chamber (125) and is not drawn out of the gas/liquid separator (120) by the separator tube (126).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Norgren Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Brooks, Richard Edwards, Simon Gass
  • Patent number: 8945289
    Abstract: A separator with a helix assembly that includes a plurality of segments disposed end to end and forming an intermediate casing. Each of the segments has a tubular portion with a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge and a helical portion extending from the second circumferential edge. The tubular portions of the segments form an intermediate casing, while the helical portions of the segments form a spiral helix. The helix assembly further includes an inner casing concentrically disposed within the intermediate casing and coupled to the spiral helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: OneSubsea, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald J. Hill
  • Patent number: 8657940
    Abstract: Assembly to separate a multiphase flow, comprising at least one compact separation unit chosen among an in-line deliquidiser and an in-line phase splitter, said compact separation unit is arranged to receive the multiphase flow for separation thereof to a gas flow and a mainly liquid containing flow, an outlet for gas, arranged to receive the gas flow from the compact separation unit and possible additional gas flows, one or more conduit separators, arranged to receive the mainly liquid containing flow from the compact separation unit and any additional liquid containing flows, having an outlet for liquid from the at least one conduit separator in a low-lying part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Eivind Aarebrot, Jan Høydal
  • Patent number: 8632625
    Abstract: A gas trap includes a sample enclosure, a bubbler enclosure, an agitator, and a brushless, DC motor. The sample enclosure has a liquid inlet, a gas sample outlet, and a sample enclosure wall with a sample enclosure wall portion and a shared wall portion. The bubbler enclosure has a bubbler air inlet, a bubbler air outlet, and a bubbler enclosure wall with a bubbler enclosure wall portion and the shared wall portion. The sample and bubbler enclosures are fluidly coupled through the shared wall portion so that sufficiently pressurized bubbler air entering through the bubbler air inlet maintains the drilling fluid in the sample enclosure at a level determined by the location of the bubbler air outlet when the liquid inlet and the bubbler air outlet are both submerged in the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pason Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Alexander DeGreeve, Sean William Lyons Unrau, Marceau Ernest van Beurden, Ryan Henricus van Beurden
  • Patent number: 8632624
    Abstract: A fluid trap apparatus includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of composite fluid into the apparatus. The composite fluid contains at least a first fluid and a second fluid. An outer wall defines an interior chamber. A flow diffuser is interposed within the interior chamber. The flow diffuser directs the flow of the composite fluid to circulate through the interior chamber. The first fluid and the second fluid separate as the composite fluid circulates through the interior chamber. A method of separating a first fluid from a second fluid includes introducing a flow of composite fluid into a separate chamber. A pressure gradient is created within the separation chamber. A flow diffuser is interposed in a flow path between an inlet and an outlet. The flow diffuser directs the flow of the composite fluid within the separation chamber. The first fluid and the second fluid are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David E. Cassidy, Eric E. May, Garrett Austin Sheffer
  • Patent number: 8631947
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a cyclone separator for a vacuum toilet system, with a casing; an input-side swirl generator, whose input openings impart a swirl to the inflowing fluid; a separating wall arranged in the casing, which encloses the fluid stream in the cyclone separator ring-like and whose interior cross section tapers downstream; and a collection tank in the casing for receiving and accumulating constituents separated out of the fluid. In addition, the invention relates to a wastewater tank and vacuum toilet system having such a cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Lutzer
  • Patent number: 8596469
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a cyclone separator for a vacuum toilet system, with a casing; an input-side swirl generator, whose input openings impart a swirl to the inflowing fluid; a separating wall arranged in the casing, which encloses the fluid stream in the cyclone separator ring-like and whose interior cross section tapers downstream; and a collection tank in the casing for receiving and accumulating constituents separated out of the fluid. In addition, the invention relates to a wastewater tank and vacuum toilet system having such a cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Lutzer
  • Patent number: 8574351
    Abstract: A two phase gas-liquid separation apparatus is provided that shapes the flow in a flow shaping line. Shaping the two-phase flow allows centrifugal force to send the heavier, denser liquid to the outside wall of the flow shaping line and allows the lighter, less dense vapor or gas to occupy the inner wall of the flow shaping line. With the gas positioned on the inner wall of the flow shaping line, an exit port on the inner wall will allow for the majority, if not all, of the gas, along with a low amount of liquid, to be sent to a conventional separator. A high ratio of vapor/liquid at a flow rate much lower than the total flow rate within the flow shaping line is sent to the conventional separator. This allows for efficient separation of the vapor from the liquid with the use of a smaller conventional separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Haven Technology
    Inventors: David James Elms, Gregory Allen Hudspeth
  • Publication number: 20130247764
    Abstract: An inlet device (17) for a gravity separator (18) for separating a fluid mixture including gas and liquid. The inlet device (17) includes an inlet nozzle (1) for the fluid mixture, a distribution chamber (2) connected to the inlet nozzle for distributing the fluid mixture to one or more axial cyclones (3) constituting an integral part of the inlet device (17) and being connected to the distribution chamber (2). The axial cyclones (3) are provided with a bottom inlet opening, a top outlet opening (9) for the gas rich fluid stream, a swirl inducing element (21), one or more openings (24) to allow liquid to leave the axial cyclones (3), and to be drained to a level below the inlet device (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cameron Systems AS
    Inventors: Dag Kvamsdal, Knut Sveberg, Mauritz Talseth
  • Publication number: 20130180402
    Abstract: A deaerator includes a case defining a vortex chamber and a fluid inlet for allowing a mixture of lubricating liquid and air to pass through the case into the vortex chamber. An air outlet allows air flow out of the deaerator, and a liquid outlet allows lubricating liquid flow out of the deaerator. A porous diffuser is positioned proximate the liquid outlet for slowing the flow of lubricating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Timothy A. Johnson, Michael R. Blewett
  • Publication number: 20130108972
    Abstract: A separator assembly (1c) in the form of a flare tank for separating and igniting gas from non-gaseous components of a fluid stream (such as a well return). The separator assembly (1c) comprises: at least one degasser (4) having a fluid stream inlet (41) for introducing the fluid stream (well return) into a vessel (40) of the degasser (4) at a reduced velocity, and optionally a degasser gas pressure relief system (60) and non-gaseous component filter (40); a tank (3) having a settling compartment (30) and a suction compartment (31); and a flare (5c) for igniting gas leaving the degasser (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: AUSTRALIAN RIG CONSTRUCTION HOLDINGS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Guido Stangherlin, Allan Douglas Bougoure
  • Patent number: 8419833
    Abstract: A two phase gas-liquid separation apparatus is provided that shapes the flow in a flow shaping line. Shaping the two-phase flow allows centrifugal force to send the heavier, denser liquid to the outside wall of the flow shaping line and allows the lighter, less dense vapor or gas to occupy the inner wall of the flow shaping line. With the gas positioned on the inner wall of the flow shaping line, an exit port on the inner wall will allow for the majority, if not all, of the gas, along with a low amount of liquid, to be sent to a conventional separator. A high ratio of vapor/liquid at a flow rate much lower than the total flow rate within the flow shaping line is sent to the conventional separator. This allows for efficient separation of the vapor from the liquid with the use of a smaller conventional separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Haven Technology
    Inventors: David James Elms, Gregory Allen Hudspeth
  • Patent number: 8361208
    Abstract: A separator with a helix assembly and methods for fabricating the helix assembly. In some embodiments, the helix assembly includes a plurality of segments disposed end to end and forming an intermediate casing. Each of the segments has a tubular portion with a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge and a helical portion extending from the second circumferential edge. The tubular portions of the segments form an intermediate casing, while the helical portions of the segments form a spiral helix. The helix assembly further includes an inner casing concentrically disposed within the intermediate casing and coupled to the spiral helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald J. Hill
  • Patent number: 8302779
    Abstract: A fluid handling assembly is for a fluid machine that includes a casing and a shaft disposed within the casing so as to be rotatable about a central axis. An impeller is mounted on the shaft and has an inlet and a rotary separator is mounted on the shaft and has axially spaced apart inlet and outlet ends and an interior separation chamber. The separator is coupled with the impeller such that the separator and the impeller generally rotate as a single unit about the shaft axis and fluid within the separation chamber flows from the separator outlet end directly into the impeller inlet. Preferably, the separator includes a plurality of generally radially-extending blades disposed proximal to the separator inlet end and spaced circumferentially about the axis, the plurality of blades being configured to accelerate fluid flowing into the separator inlet end during rotation of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: William C. Maier
  • Patent number: 8273165
    Abstract: A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Micronic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly P. Rock
  • Publication number: 20120090467
    Abstract: The invention relates to a separation system comprising a flow inlet (16). The separation system comprises a swirl valve (100), arranged to receive and control the flux of a fluid flow via the flow inlet (16) and to generate a swirling flow, swirling about a central axis (11). The separation system further comprises a separation chamber (40) positioned downstream with respect of the swirl valve (100) to receive the swirling flow from the swirl valve (100), wherein the separation chamber (40) comprises a first and second flow outlet (41, 42). The first flow outlet (41) is positioned to receive an inner portion of the swirling flow and the second outlet (42) is positioned to receive an outer portion of the swirling flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TWISTER B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Betting, Cornelis Antonie Tjeenk Willink
  • Patent number: 8087293
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-gas-water multi-phase flow adjusting apparatus, which mainly comprises an inlet accelerating pipe section, a vortex flow guide spiral pipe, a gas circuit exit connection pipe section, a liquid receiving cone, a mixed liquid relief exit connection pipe section and a sampler exit connection pipe section, and which has the function for changing at intervals the flow pattern, the flow state and the components of the oil-gas-water multi-phase flow. The invention also relates to an oil-gas-water multi-phase flow rate measuring apparatus and its measuring method. The measuring apparatus comprises a blind three-way mixing means, a pressure differential type flow measuring device, a single-? phase volume fraction meter, a dual-? phase volume fraction meter, an oil-gas-water multi-phase flow adjusting apparatus and a computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Haimo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Dou, Jinsong Wan, Ligang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8025713
    Abstract: An adjustable type guide vortex gas-liquid separating apparatus is provided, it comprises a case, a vortex flow guide spiral pipe, a mist eliminator, an adjusting valve and a ? ray phase volume fraction meter. Its separating method is to make the oil-gas-water multiphase flow move in vortex, and thus to realize the gas-liquid separation, then to measure the gas content of the separated liquid phase by using the ? ray phase volume fraction meter and to send out control information as judged by the magnitude of the gas content in the liquid phase, so as to control the opening of the adjusting valve of the gas circuit, thus to achieve adjustment of the gas-liquid separation effects, and to control the gas content of the liquid phase to a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Haimo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Dou, Jinsong Wan, Ligang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7993425
    Abstract: The present invention provides a free vortex air-oil separator that may be used in systems for separating oil from air oil mixtures. The free vortex air-oil separator comprises a free vortex chamber having a first chamber wall, a second chamber wall located axially aft from the first chamber wall and a rim located in a radially outer region from an axis of rotation, a plurality of vent holes in the rim and a cavity formed by the first and second chamber walls, and the rim, wherein a free vortex is created when there is a flow into the cavity through the plurality of vent holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bala Corattiyil, Duane Howard Anstead, Mark Eden Zentgraf, Stephen Anthony Wilton, Ramon Themudo, Gary Paul Moscarino, Kenneth Lee Fisher
  • Patent number: 7988768
    Abstract: A dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining at least one valve chamber, the rigid portion further defining an air separation chamber, the air separation chamber when in an operating position including an inner surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and configured to cause a dialysis fluid to spiral around the inner surface toward the fluid outlet, such that air is removed from the dialysis fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Atif M. Yardimci, James C. Laird
  • Patent number: 7935179
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exhausting gas from a coating material. The coating material is fed in the bottom part area of a drum (3) rotating around an essentially vertical axis inside a vacuum tank (1), whereby the rotating motion of the drum causes the coating material to rise up the inner wall of the drum and to discharge from the upper edge of the drum as a thin film against the inner wall of a vacuum tank, wherefrom the coating material flows downwards. The coating material is arranged to rise up the wall of the drum stepwise, so that the coating material will form a thin veil-like film on at least two different step levels (10-12), whereupon the gas bubbles in the coating material will break and be discharged from the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Heikki Vatanen, Timo Nurmiainen, Jukka Koskinen, Ilpo Honkanen
  • Patent number: 7905946
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for separating a fluid are provided. The apparatus can include a separator and a collector having an internal volume defined at least in part by one or more surfaces narrowing toward a bottom portion of the volume. The separator can include an exit port oriented toward the bottom portion of the volume. The internal volume can receive a fluid expelled from the separator into a flow path in the collector and the flow path can include at least two directional transitions within the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Mark M. Weislogel, Evan A. Thomas, John C. Graf
  • Patent number: 7883570
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating components of a fluid containing liquid and gas comprises a housing having at least one elongate channel. Each channel has an inlet end, an outlet end and rounded walls enabling the fluid flowing through the channel to flow substantially free of turbulent flow. Each channel defines a spiral path through the housing and acts to separate the fluid flowing through the channel into a gas-depleted outer portion and a liquid-depleted inner portion. The apparatus includes a liquid outlet port for the gas-depleted outer portion and a gas outlet port for the liquid-depleted inner portion. The housing may include a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the inlet end of the channel. The mixing chamber may include a surface the fluid impacts against. The apparatus may include a chamber at the outlet end of the channel. The chamber may have a gas outlet port closer to the outlet end of the channel than the liquid outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Star Oil Tools Inc.
    Inventor: Marcel Obrejanu
  • Patent number: 7871462
    Abstract: A dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining at least one valve chamber, the rigid portion further defining an air separation chamber, the air separation chamber when in an operating position including an inner surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and configured to cause a dialysis fluid to spiral around the inner surface toward the fluid outlet, such that air is removed from the dialysis fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Atif M. Yardimci, James C. Laird
  • Patent number: 7753990
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for reducing entrained and dissolved gasses from a well fluid. The system includes a well fluid, at least one process tank into which the well fluid flows, wherein a first process tank comprises a weir arrangement over which the well fluid spills, a mechanical degasser coupled to the at least one process tank and configured to receive the well fluid, and an aeration device disposed in the at least one process tank that generates bubbles in the well fluid. The present invention also provides a method of reducing entrained and dissolved gases from a well fluid that includes flowing a well fluid into a process tank, exerting a centrifugal force on the well fluid, and generating bubbles in the well fluid in the process tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Freeman, Eric Hand
  • Patent number: 7670702
    Abstract: A liquid-gas separator assembly is used in separating gas bubbles from a liquid coolant which liquid coolant is used in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing containing a central tube which is surrounded by an annular chamber. The annular chamber is defined by the outer surface of the central tube and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing. An inlet line injects a stream of the coolant from the fuel cell stack area of the power plant into the bottom of the central tube in a tangential flow pattern so that the coolant and gas bubble mixture swirls upwardly through the central tube. The swirling flow pattern of the coolant and gas bubble mixture causes the gas bubbles to separate from the liquid coolant so that the gas in the mixture will migrate to the central portion of the swirl tube and the liquid component of the mixture will centrifugally migrate to the inner wall of the swirl tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: UTC Power Corp.
    Inventor: Albert P. Grasso
  • Patent number: 7655078
    Abstract: A bubble separator includes a body with a generally cylindrical shape, an oil induction portion, a gas discharge portion with a generally cylindrical shape, an oil discharge portion, and an upper partition. The oil induction portion is provided on the body, and introduces bubble-containing oil to inside the body. The gas discharge portion is provided extending from a ceiling portion of the body, and discharges separated bubbles to outside the body. The oil discharge portion is provided on the body, and discharges separated oil to outside the body. The upper partition is provided extending from the ceiling portion, and is formed on a periphery of the gas discharge portion. According to the bubble separator of the present invention, the upper partition can prevent bubble-containing oil from directly blowing into the discharge hole of the gas discharge portion and discharging to outside the body together with separated gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Saito, Toshihiro Takahara
  • Patent number: 7645330
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separation apparatus includes a container and a separating pipe located in the container. The container includes an annular wall and two lids covering two ends of the wall. The container has a cavity surrounded by the wall and the two lids. An inlet extends through one lid and an outlet extends through the other lid. The separating pipe is disposed in the cavity of the container and in communication with the inlet and the outlet of the container. A plurality of apertures is defined in a body of the separating pipe and in communication with a space inside the separating pipe and the cavity of the container. The liquid with gas dissolved therein enters into the separating pipe via the inlet of the container. The liquid is degassed by the separating pipe. The de-gassed liquid exits the separating pipe via the outlet of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tien Lai, Zhi-Yong Zhou, Qiao-Li Ding
  • Patent number: 7618482
    Abstract: An oil tank for a dry sump engine has a housing having an upper region and a lower region in which the oil is contained. The lower region has an oil outlet to feed a pump which supplies oil to the engine. The upper region houses a swirl tube connected to an oil inlet for air to separate from the incoming oil. The upper region includes an air outlet and is provided with two dished baffle plates each shaped to form a collector area which slopes towards the swirl tube in order to reduce droplets of condensation formed in the upper region flowing into the lower region. The wall of the swirl tube is heated by the incoming oil to promote vaporization of droplets of condensation collected in the collector area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Richards
  • Patent number: 7578870
    Abstract: A fluid separator device allows for introducing air entrained in a liquid flow to a centrifugal pump in a manner that will not allow the pump to become gas bound. One example device designed according to this invention includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet downstream of the inlet. An air chamber is positioned on an opposite side of the inlet from the outlet. An air flow passage allows air from the air chamber to be introduced near a rotor assembly input of a centrifugal pump such that relatively small air bubbles are introduced to the liquid flow through the rotor assembly in a manner that prevents the air bubbles from recollecting into a larger bubble that would otherwise interfere with the centrifugal pump operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • Patent number: 7503950
    Abstract: Assembly to separate out liquid frotfi a multiphase fluid flow, comprising a scrubber, a column, a separator or other conventional separation equipment, combined with a deliquidizer that is connected as a preseparator to the fluid inlet. in that the deliquidizer functions according to a cyclone principle. With the assembly according to the invention the deliquidizer is modified such that it can be combined with conventional separation equipment such that a surprising improved technical effect is achieved. More specific the improved technical effect is achieved for assemblies where the deliquidizer is vertically oriented placed outside conventional separation equipment, with main flow direction upwards or downwards, or with the deliquidizer placed within conventional separation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventor: Trygve H{dot over (a)}land
  • Patent number: 7399412
    Abstract: A guide means of a centrifugal force separator or cyclone separator for separating at least one substance from a gaseous or liquid medium under the action of centrifugal forces has two or more baffle plates (2) with a radius which decreases from the center axis of the guide means, viewed in the direction of rotation of the medium. Between these baffle plates (2) entry openings (16) into the guide means are formed for the medium from which the substance has been largely removed into the guide means. There is a bottom plate (3) on the end of the guide means which projects into the interior of the device. To improve incident flow or inflow of the medium into the guide means, the bottom plate (3) in the area of the entry openings (16) has recesses (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: EJK Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Keuschnigg
  • Patent number: 7290607
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating the gaseous phase from a mixture of fluids used during the subsurface intervention in production or injection wells. The device includes a main pipe (T) provided externally with a helix (E) having a longitudinal opening (F) whose edge (B), which is downstream from the helical flow of liquid (1) and inert gas (2), has a spiral shape pointing towards the center of pipe (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Engineering Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Juan Jose Tovar Depablos
  • Patent number: 7264655
    Abstract: A water stream is treated to remove oxygen before injecting the water into an underground hydrocarbon reservoir. The water-oxygen mixture is separated by centrifugal action using fixed spin blades (20). Oxygen is removed from the center of the conduit through a gas pipe (30) coupled to a vacuum pump (50). Nitrogen may be introduced upstream of the centrifuge to dilute the water-gas solution to improve the efficiency of the gas-liquid separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Duncan Stuart Joynson, Dirk Johan van der Zee
  • Patent number: 7141100
    Abstract: A low flow rotary separator includes a housing that defines a separator chamber and a liquid/gas mixture inlet. A shaft driven by a motor includes a plurality of disks in frictional contact with the mixture to drive the liquid outward against an inner wall of the separator and displace gas to a central region about the shaft. The liquid exits through a liquid outlet valve into a high-pressure storage container. The pressure of the liquid is increased to allow flow into the high-pressure storage container by a pump driven by the shaft. A level control valve closes in response to a predetermined pressure differential between liquid in the feed line and liquid within the separator chamber to allow liquid flow through an outlet check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • Patent number: 7122071
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator uses a helical passageway to impart a spiral motion to a fluid passing therethrough. The centrifugal force generated by the spiraling motion urges the liquid component of the fluid radially outward which forces the gas component radially inward. The gas component is then separated through a gas-permeable, liquid-impervious membrane and discharged through a central passageway. A filter material captures target substances contained in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Yow-Min D. Tsao, Wenshan Lee
  • Patent number: 7118819
    Abstract: A liquid-gas separator assembly is used in separating gas bubbles from a liquid coolant which liquid coolant is used in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing containing a central tube which is surrounded by an annular chamber. The annular chamber is defined by the outer surface of the central tube and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing. An inlet line injects a stream of the coolant from the fuel cell stack area of the power plant into the bottom of the central tube in a tangential flow pattern so that the coolant and gas bubble mixture swirls upwardly through the central tube. The swirling flow pattern of the coolant and gas bubble mixture causes the gas bubbles to separate from the liquid coolant so that the gas in the mixture will migrate to the central portion of the swirl tube and the liquid component of the mixture will centrifugally migrate to the inner wall of the swirl tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells LLC
    Inventor: Albert P. Grasso
  • Patent number: 7108785
    Abstract: A blood conditioning device having a housing with a helical blood acceleration section which includes a helical flow path for impressing centrifugal forces on the entrained bubbles in the blood to concentrate them towards the center of the flow path, a bubble pick off tube aligned with the centerline of the acceleration section which collects and recirculates the bubbles to the cardiotomy reservoir upstream of the device during operation, and a blood filtration section to intercept the flow of particles in the blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Convergenza Handelsanstalt
    Inventors: Hans Plechinger, Hans-Jürgen Tiedtke, Klaus Stevens
  • Patent number: 7105044
    Abstract: A fluid tank fluid is provided which includes a bubble removing device provided therein to remove bubbles from the fluid. The bubble removing device includes a cyclone chamber for generating a swirling current in the fluid flowing therethrough to separate bubbles from the fluid. At least one outflow port is provided through which the fluid from which the bubbles have been separated flows from the cyclone chamber. And an exhaust port is provided through which the bubbles separated from the fluid are driven from the cyclone chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Konishi, Shotaro Ishii, Kouji Chikaishi, Noboru Kanayama, Tatsuro Nohara
  • Patent number: 6872239
    Abstract: A method for separating phases of a mixture comprising and oil-water together with gas. At least a substantial part of the gas is separated from the emulsion before the emulsion is introduced into a separator tank. The oil-water emulsion from which the gas has been separated is conducted to a liquid-liquid cyclone for further separating the phases of the emulsion. The liquid-liquid cyclone is located inside the separator tank. The emulsion is conducted to the separator tank for separating the oil from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Pål J. Nilsen, Erik A. Wolff
  • Patent number: 6863712
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator uses a helical passageway to impart a spiral motion to a fluid passing therethrough. The centrifugal fore generated by the spiraling motion urges the liquid component of the fluid radially outward which forces the gas component radially inward. The gas component is then filtered through a gas-permeable, liquid-impervious membrane and discharged through a central passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Yow-Min D. Tsao, Wenshan Lee
  • Patent number: 6860921
    Abstract: A tubular separation unit insertable into a caisson or tube for separating liquid from an upward flowing liquid/gas multi-phase stream, and including a centrifugal flow-induced liquid separator having a multi-phase gas/liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas stream outlet; a liquid transfer conduit connected to the liquid outlet of the flow separator; and a pump for pumping liquid, disposed below the separator and including a pump liquid inlet connected to the liquid transfer conduit and through which liquid separated in the separator is received, and a pumped liquid outlet through which separated liquid is, in use, caused to flow selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Hans P. Hopper
  • Patent number: 6827820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a degassing centrifugal apparatus such as a pump and to a process for pumping and degassing a fluid. The apparatus has a rotatable hollow rotor connected to a stationary fluid inlet at one end and a stationary liquid outlet at the opposite end and a gas exhaust in the center thereof. The rotor has at its inlet end a bladed wheel with arcuate blades. The bladed wheel accelerates a fluid flow in said rotor inlet end and causes the fluid to rotate at a peripherical velocity higher than the peripherical velocity of said rotor inlet end. The apparatus is especially useful for pumping and degassing backwater in the production of paper or board in a paper machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: POM Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Paul Meinander