Abstract: A cyclone separator (10) of the dewatering type which comprises an elongated separating chamber (12) having an axis of symmetry between opposite first and second ends, the separating chamber being of greater cross-sectional dimension at the first end than at the second end. The cyclone separator further includes at least one inlet (20) which is adjacent the first end and at least one overflow outlet (25) for the less dense component and at least one underflow outlet (24) for the more dense component (24). The cyclone separator has a first section (14) which contains the feed inlet (20) and the first section is of reduced cross-sectional dimension d.sub.2 at its downstream end relative to the upstream end and is characterized in that the ratio of cross-sectional dimension of the overflow outlet for the less dense component d.sub.0 to the cross-sectional dimension of the first section at its downstream end d.sub.2 is as follows 0.25<D.sub.0 /d.sub.2 0.65.

Abstract: A cyclone separator for separating components of a liquid mixture including oil and water phases has oppositely disposed separating chambers with a common intermediate portion positioned between the separating chambers which provides a common inlet and in one embodiment, a common overflow outlet. The oppositely directed underflow outlets can be curved to meet at a common discharge point.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating multi-phase liquid mixtures or at least partially separating a more dense liquid component of the mixture from a less dense liquid component thereof. An outer casing has a cavity therein, an intake port through which the mixture is fed to the apparatus, a first outlet port from which the less dense liquid component is discharged and a second outlet port from which the more dense liquid component is discharged. A cyclone separator is located within the cavity and has a plurality of separating chambers, each chamber having a primary portion which has a greater cross-sectional dimension at one end than at its other end and having a feed inlet, an overflow outlet at the end of the separating chamber of greater cross sectional dimension and an under flow outlet at the other end, and a closure for one end of the cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for separating components of a liquid mixture such as oil from water. The apparatus comprises a cyclonic device (110) and a separating device (150). The cyclonic device has a tangential inlet (112) for inlet of the mixture, an elongate chamber (114) in which, in use, the admitted mixture is subjected to contrifugal action and an outlet (116) from the components of the mixture are in use together taken. The separating device (150) may be a conventional cyclone separator having a separating chamber (154), with an inlet (152) coupled to in use receive the components from the outlet of the cyclonic device (110) for admission to the separating chamber (154), and separate outlets (156, 158) from the separating chamber (154) for respective outlet therefrom of th separated liquid components.

Abstract: A cyclone separator comprising an elongated separating chamber having a longitudinal axis of symmetry between opposite first and second ends, the separator including at least one feed inlet (3) adjacent the first end and at least two outlets (4), (5), the cyclone separator being characterized by the provision of control means (12) which is adapted to vary the cross-sectional dimension of the or one or more of the feed inlets (3).

Abstract: A cyclone separator with an inlet and two outlets for separating oil and water from an oil-water mixture wherein the separation chamber has a large diameter inlet end and a smaller diameter underflow outlet end. The overflow is arranged as an axial outlet at the inlet end of the chamber. The underflow outlet end is provided with a cone shaped portion of increasing diameter in the direction of flow and a choke portion downstream of the cone shaped portion, the choke having a reducing diameter configuration.

Abstract: A cyclone separator for separating a denser liquid component from a less dense liquid component of a multi-phase liquid mixture wherein one phase is in the form of drops dispersed in the other phase, the separator having an elongated, unobstructed separating chamber with a longitudinal axis of symmetry between opposite first and second ends and including at least one feed inlet adjacent the first end and at least one outlet. The inlet is characterized by the provision of a control means for varying the cross-sectional dimension of the feed inlet. Means are provided for determining the concentrations of at least one of the phases in the mixture, and the control means is operated in response to the determination of phase concentration to vary the cross-sectional area of the feed inlet.

Abstract: Cyclone separator having an elongate tapered separating chamber (25) with an axial overflow outlet (34) at the larger diameter end (10a) and an underflow outlet (23) at the smaller diameter end (10b). Inlet to the separating chamber is provided via an axially extending duct (70) which joins the separating chamber at its larger diameter end. The duct is of annular configuration and has a helical flight (90) positioned therewithin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating oil-water mixtures in which the oil is present as droplets so as to comprise the disperse phase, the mean droplet size being greater than 56.7 micron, using a cyclone separator having a swirl coefficient, S, in the rangeS'.ltoreq.S.ltoreq.S.sup.u2, whereS'=-0.46 .phi.+31 or S'=2, whichever is the greater, and S.sup.u2 =0.26 .phi.+31.6, where .phi. is the mean droplet size in micron.The swirl coefficient is defined as ##EQU1## where d.sub.i is the effective diameter at the inlet to the separator d.sub.2 is the nominal separator diameter at a downstream location, and A.sub.i is the total effective inlet area.

Abstract: Method of separating oil-water mixtures in which the oil is present as droplets so as to comprise the disperse phase, the mean droplet size being in the range 22 to 50 micron. Use is made of a cyclone separator having a swirl coefficient in the range 8 to 30, such as greater than 12.5, or at least 13. The swirl coefficient is defined as ##EQU1## where d.sub.i is the effective diameter at the inlet to the separator d.sub.2 is the nominal separator diameter at a downstream location, and A.sub.i is the total effective inlet area.