Abstract: An apparatus for separating water from a water-in-oil mixture having an elongated inlet vessel with a lower outlet end and an upper inlet end, the length thereof being a multiple of the largest vessel cross-sectional dimension. A separation vessel having an oil outlet and a divergent water outlet has an inlet passageway in communication with the inlet vessel lower outlet end. At least one electrode is positioned within the inlet vessel by which a mixture flowing therethrough is subjected to an electric field.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating water from a water-in-oil mixture having an elongated inlet vessel with a lower outlet end and an upper inlet end, the length thereof being a multiple of the largest vessel cross-sectional dimension. A separation vessel having an oil outlet and a divergent water outlet has an inlet passageway in communication with the inlet vessel lower outlet end. At least one electrode is positioned within the inlet vessel by which a mixture flowing therethrough is subjected to an electric field.

Abstract: A vertical electrostatic coalescer comprises a first and second electrode surface and a horizontally disposed foraminous surface. The first electrode surface and horizontally disposed foraminous surface are at ground potential. The first and second electrode surfaces share the same planar orientation relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The unique arrangement of the vessel and opposing pairs of first and second electrode surfaces provides for a substantially uniform voltage field around a perimeter of the vessel and an effective voltage field for coalescence within a center of the vessel. A circular-shaped distributor pipe or a distributor housing serves to absorb momentum of the incoming emulsion stream and distribute the stream into an interior of the vessel.

Abstract: A vertical electrostatic coalescer comprises a first and second electrode surface and a horizontally disposed foraminous surface. The first electrode surface and horizontally disposed foraminous surface are at ground potential. The first and second electrode surfaces share the same planar orientation relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The unique arrangement of the vessel and opposing pairs of first and second electrode surfaces provides for a substantially uniform voltage field around a perimeter of the vessel and an effective voltage field for coalescence within a center of the vessel. A circular-shaped distributor pipe or a distributor housing serves to absorb momentum of the incoming emulsion stream and distribute the stream into an interior of the vessel.

Abstract: A flow splitter that divides a two-phase (gas-liquid) inlet stream or a one-phase (liquid-liquid) inlet stream into equal and substantially balanced parts for distribution to an equal number of outlets horizontally oriented and connected to the flow splitter. Because of the design of the flow splitter, no control instrumentation or retention time is required during a split. Openings in each face of the flow splitter help to equalize pressure in the split and allow liquid to fill an end chamber that supports impact forces on a wedge-shaped spreader oriented with its leading edge toward an inlet stream.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating immiscible components of a wet gas stream is formed by an upright cylindrical vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a top with a gas outlet opening therein, a bottom providing a liquid outlet opening and a wet gas stream inlet tangential to the internal wall surface, the inlet being spaced below the top. A helical baffle is secured to the vortex tube internal wall surface and extends from below the top but above the inlet to a lower end spaced above the vortex tube bottom. A plurality of spaced apart vertical outlet fins are affixed to and extending radially from the internal wall surface adjacent the vortex tube bottom, each outlet fin having a top end spaced below the helical baffle lower end.

Abstract: A method of separating gaseous components, heavier liquid components and lighter liquid components of a stream including the steps of conducting the stream between spaced apart electrodes in a treatment vessel, supplying from a voltage source an AC voltage of at least one base frequency F1 to at least one of the electrodes to establish an electric field within the vessel through which the stream passes, modulating the frequency F1 of the AC voltage at a modulation frequency F2, and withdrawing separated gaseous components from an upper portion of the vessel, heavier stream components from a lower portion of the vessel, and lighter liquid components from an intermediate portion of said vessel.

Abstract: This invention teaches a process that includes extraction of gas in which the presence of foam results in the carry over in the outlet gas stream of excessive liquids and/or solids, including the steps of injecting the foam laden gas stream tangentially into a cyclonic separator having an axial gas outlet and a liquid outlet, under conditions in which the inlet stream is subjected to at least about 150 G's, the outlet gas being substantially liquids/solids free and the outlet liquid stream being conveyed for disposal or further processing.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of conducting the emulsion into a treatment vessel, providing an AC voltage source, employing from the source an AC voltage of at least one selected frequency F1 to establish at least one electric filed within the vessel through which the emulsion passes, and cyclically modulating the AC voltage with a method of modulation selected from: (a) amplitude modulation; (b) frequency modulation; and (c) combined amplitude and frequency modulation.

Abstract: A system for separating oil and/or oily coated solids from an oily water mixture. The system includes an upright vessel having an inlet for introducing oily water in a horizontal pattern. The vessel also has a water outlet in a lower portion of the vessel and an oil outlet. An eductor is positioned within a lower portion of the vessel and is arranged to disseminates small gas bubbles in a radial, substantially horizontal pattern and substantially uniformly over the full cross-sectional area of the vessel. The bubbles migrate upwardly against the downward flow of oily water within the vessel and attach to oil droplets and/or oily coated solids augmenting the buoyancy thereof, and thereby enhancing oily contaminant separation from water. A two-stage oil skimmer bucket is located in a top portion of the vessel by which separated oil is collected and discharged through the oil outlet.

Abstract: A method of separating CO2 from a hydrocarbon gas inlet stream that is within predetermined pressure and temperature ranges including the steps of subjecting the inlet stream to fractional distillation providing a bottom product stream and a distillation overhead stream, passing the distillation overhead stream to a membrane unit producing a CO2 by-product stream and a hydrocarbon stream and chilling the hydrocarbon stream to produce a reflux liquid stream and a hydrocarbon gas product.

Abstract: A method of separating CO2 from a hydrocarbon gas inlet stream that is within predetermined pressure and temperature ranges, including the steps of subjecting the inlet stream to fractional distillation providing a CO2 bottom product stream and a distillation overhead stream, passing the distillation overhead stream to the inlet of a primary reflux drum producing a primary reflux liquid stream and a hydrocarbon vapor stream, subjecting the hydrocarbon vapor stream to membrane separation to provide a hydrocarbon product stream and a permeate stream, compressing the permeate stream and recycling the compressed permeate stream to the inlet of the primary reflux drum thereby providing a CO2 liquid product and a hydrocarbon gas product.

Abstract: A system for removing moisture from a wet gas stream including a vessel having a contact area containing deliquescing salts that produces brine as water is absorbed, the brine flowing to a collection area in the bottom of the vessel. A venturi positioned in a wet gas inlet stream produces an area of reduced pressure that is applied to a brine flow path connected to the brine collection area. In this way, the brine is recirculated into intimate contact with the wet gas inlet stream causing the brine to be diluted with water extracted from the wet gas stream.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream employing at least one vortex tube having a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube extends concentrically within the vortex tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector is positioned within the annular area and has a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet tube is affixed to the orifice plate central opening and is configured to divert outlet gas downwardly. In another embodiment, an energy absorbing housing surrounds the vortex tube liquid outlet end.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of passing the emulsion into a treatment vessel, establishing at least one dual frequency electric field within the vessel and selectably varying the electric field at a frequency F1 modulated in intensity at a frequency F2 where F1 is greater than F2.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream employing at least one vortex tube having a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closing the vortex tube first end has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube extends concentrically within the vortex tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area has a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet tube is affixed to the orifice plate central opening and is configured to divert outlet gas downwardly. In another embodiment, an energy absorbing housing surrounds the vortex tube liquid outlet end.

Abstract: A system for separating a mixed phase stream into gas and liquid includes an elongated sloped vessel having a vortex tube cluster therein through which the mixed phase process stream is introduced and by which liquid is extracted from the gas, the vessel having a gas outlet adjacent an upper end of the sloped vessel, a liquid outlet adjacent a lower end of the slope vessel and a weir within the vessel establishing a liquid level above which gas accumulates, the cross-sectional area within the vessel above the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the gas outlet, and the cross-sectional area within the vessel below the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the liquid (oil and water) outlets.

Abstract: A system and a method for separating interdispersed gas and liquid components of an inlet stream includes introducing the inlet steam into a vessel having a dry gas outlet and a liquid outlet, passing the inlet stream into at least one vortex tube supported within the vessel, the vortex tube having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, rapidly rotating the inlet stream within the vortex tube to separate entrained liquid and passing reduced moisture outlet gas from the vortex tube into the interior of the vessel and passing the outlet gas through a mist eliminator within the vessel to provide gas that is passed out the vessel dry gas outlet.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a gas stream employing a vessel having a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. At least one vortex tube is supported within the vessel and has a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube is affixed to the orifice plate in communication with the gas outlet opening and extends concentrically within the vortex tube, the vortex finder tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area, the gas deflector having a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream, the system including a vessel having an interior in communication with a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, at least one vortex tube supported within the vessel interior, the vortex tube having an inlet end and an outlet end and a tubular wall having an internal wall surface through which fluids pass as the gas flows between the vessel wet gas inlet and gas outlet, a vortex generator supported within the vortex tube near the inlet end, the vortex generator causing gas within the vortex tube to rotate to thereby cause at least some of the liquid component to be forced against the interior wall surface of the vortex tube by centrifugal action, a circumferentially positioned liquid outlet in the vortex tube downstream of the vortex generator configured to strip liquid and bypass gas from the stream flowing through said vortex tube, stripped liquid and bypass gas entering a central chamber of the vessel and a rec