Patents Assigned to EnXL LLC
  • Publication number: 20230277959
    Abstract: A method of separating the components of a multi-phase fluid includes directing a flow of the multi-phase fluid into the lower inlet end of an inclined elongate separator vessel and then gradually forward and upward toward a weir plate proximate an upper outlet end, thereby allowing the multi-phase fluid to separate into a gas/vapor component and a liquids component, with the gas/vapor component flowing upward and forward along an inclined top inner surface and the liquids component further separating under gravity into a lower mixed oily water portion and an upper stratified portion defined by a clear water component, a partially oily water component, and a skim oil component. The method includes causing the skim oil component to flow over an upper edge of the weir plate that defines the liquid level in the separator vessel and into a skim oil section, and then withdrawing each the gas/vapor, skim oil, and clear water components from the separator vessel through separate outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230271110
    Abstract: A method of separating a flow of multi-phase fluid includes directing the flow through the inlet opening of an enclosed tubular body comprising a tubular sidewall with opposed end walls, one or more axial outlet apertures formed through the end walls, and one or more radial outlet apertures formed through the tubular sidewall at locations spaced from the inlet opening. The method also includes directing the flow of multi-phase fluid onto one or more swirl plates positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet apertures, with the swirl plates having angled surfaces configured to impart a cyclonic motion to the flow so as to initiate separation of the constituents of the multi-phase. The method further includes directing the gas constituent axially outward through the axial outlet aperture and directing the oil constituent and the water constituent radially outward from the tubular body through the one or more radial outlet apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11679343
    Abstract: A separation system for separating components of a flow of multi-phase fluid includes an elongate separator vessel oriented on an incline to define a lower inlet end having an inlet for receiving the fluid flow, a raised outlet end, and an inclined top inner surface extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The system includes a lower weir plate positioned above the inlet end and an upper weir plate positioned below the outlet end having an upper edge defining a liquid level within the separator vessel, thereby allowing a lighter fluid component to flow over the upper edge into a upper section located forwardly of the upper weir plate. The system also includes a clear water pipe with a withdrawal opening positioned below the upper weir plate. The incline of the separator vessel is adjustable in accordance with the composition of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ENXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11673074
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ENXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11285405
    Abstract: A separation system for separating components of a flow of multi-phase fluid includes an elongate separator vessel oriented on an incline to define a lower inlet end having an inlet for receiving the fluid flow, a raised outlet end, and an inclined top inner surface extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The system includes a lower weir plate positioned above the inlet end and an upper weir plate positioned below the outlet end having an upper edge defining a liquid level within the separator vessel, thereby allowing a lighter fluid component to flow over the upper edge into a upper section located forwardly of the upper weir plate. The system also includes a clear water pipe with a withdrawal opening positioned below the upper weir plate. The incline of the separator vessel is adjustable in accordance with the composition of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220072449
    Abstract: A separation system for separating components of a flow of multi-phase fluid includes an elongate separator vessel oriented on an incline to define a lower inlet end having an inlet for receiving the fluid flow, a raised outlet end, and an inclined top inner surface extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The system includes a lower weir plate positioned above the inlet end and an upper weir plate positioned below the outlet end having an upper edge defining a liquid level within the separator vessel, thereby allowing a lighter fluid component to flow over the upper edge into a upper section located forwardly of the upper weir plate. The system also includes a clear water pipe with a withdrawal opening positioned below the upper weir plate. The incline of the separator vessel is adjustable in accordance with the composition of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210339168
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11065559
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11007458
    Abstract: A separation system for separating the components of a multi-phase fluid includes at least three tanks coupled together in series, with each tank enclosing a column of multi-phase fluid and having a tubular center riser that is divided into a distribution section and a gathering section, and with each center riser being configured to established a fluid circulation pattern having a radially-outward travel first leg, a vertical travel second leg, and a radially-inward travel third leg within the corresponding column of multi-phase fluid that is configured to separate at least one of a gas component, an oil component, and a particulate matter component from a water component of the multi-phase fluid, and with the height of the columns of multi-phase fluid in the first tank and the second tank being substantially equal to each other and determined by the height of a pour-over opening in the center riser of the third tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210138362
    Abstract: A separation system for separating components of a flow of multi-phase fluid includes an elongate separator vessel oriented on an incline to define a lower inlet end having an inlet for receiving the fluid flow, a raised outlet end, and an inclined top inner surface extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The system includes a lower weir plate positioned above the inlet end and an upper weir plate positioned below the outlet end having an upper edge defining a liquid level within the separator vessel, thereby allowing a lighter fluid component to flow over the upper edge into a upper section located forwardly of the upper weir plate. The system also includes a clear water pipe with a withdrawal opening positioned below the upper weir plate. The incline of the separator vessel is adjustable in accordance with the composition of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200230522
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200114282
    Abstract: A separation system for separating the components of a multi-phase fluid includes at least three tanks coupled together in series, with each tank enclosing a column of multi-phase fluid and having a tubular center riser that is divided into a distribution section and a gathering section, and with each center riser being configured to established a fluid circulation pattern having a radially-outward travel first leg, a vertical travel second leg, and a radially-inward travel third leg within the corresponding column of multi-phase fluid that is configured to separate at least one of a gas component, an oil component, and a particulate matter component from a water component of the multi-phase fluid, and with the height of the columns of multi-phase fluid in the first tank and the second tank being substantially equal to each other and determined by the height of a pour-over opening in the center riser of the third tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson