Abstract: In one aspect, a gas release device for removing gas from a bodily liquid in extracorporeal circuitry is described. The device includes an elongate vertical portion and a flared portion that extends outwardly from the elongate vertical portion. The device also includes an inlet port for delivering a bodily liquid into the device, and an outlet port for evacuating the bodily liquid from the device. The inlet port is positioned below the elongate vertical portion and the outlet port is positioned below the flared portion such that bodily liquid traveling from the inlet toward the outlet is forced around the flared portion to cause air bubbles in the bodily liquid to be re-circulated back toward the inlet port.

Abstract: A deaerator includes a case defining a vortex chamber, a fluid inlet for allowing a mixture of lubricating liquid and air to pass through the case into the vortex chamber, an air outlet for allowing air flow out of the deaerator, and a liquid outlet for allowing lubricating liquid flow out of the deaerator. A porous diffuser is positioned proximate the liquid outlet. A plate is positioned adjacent the porous diffuser and has a first surface in contact with the porous diffuser.

Abstract: An atmospheric oil, water and gas separator designed for oilfield applications having ground level inlet, internal water leg, internal piping, a degassing chamber, a horizontal inlet fluid swirl wing distributor that creates centrifugal spiraling of inlet fluids to slow and increase flow residence time, a horizontal swirl wing baffle above the inlet that minimizes oil re-entrainment by preventing turbulence at the oil-water interface, an inverted upper spreader that prevents solids plugging and performance deterioration, an oil conduit extending from the lower surface of the inverted upper spreader to the oil layer to prevent re-entrainment of separated oil in the inlet water turbulent zone, an externally adjustable slide tube for the water leg spillover weir tube, engineered water and oil spillover weirs that prevent separator upsets and overflows, and a water leg adjuster providing fine tuning of the height of the water leg from outside the vessel without shutdown.

Abstract: A high pressure horizontal vessel separator for separating petroleum mixtures. An inlet on one end of the vessel and gas, water, and oil outlets provided on an opposite end, with each outlet having a vortex breaker. The inlet communicating with a momentum absorbing, flow distributing inlet diverter that causes the gas to separate into the top of the main section of the vessel and the fluids to flow to the bottom of the main section. Sediment collects in the bottom of the main section and is removed via a sand trap. Water remains at the bottom of the vessel, and the fluids flow through a perforated baffle then through a bent lamella demister before entering a settling portion of the vessel where gas and water exit via the gas and water outlets and oil flows over an oil weir and exits downstream of the weir via the oil outlet.

Abstract: A horizontal heater treater tank for separating petroleum mixtures. An inlet on one end of the tank and gas, water, and oil outlets provided on an opposite end, with each outlet having a vortex breaker. The inlet communicating with a c-shaped inlet diverter where gas separates into the top of a heating section and the fluids flow to the bottom of the heating section. Sediment collects in the bottom of the heating section and is removed via a sand trap. Water remains at the bottom of the tank, and oil completely surrounds a horizontally oriented u-shaped firetube which heats the oil. The fluids flow through a perforated baffle then a bent lamella separator before entering a settling portion of the tank where gas and water exit via the gas and water outlets and oil flows over an oil weir and exits via the oil outlet downstream of the weir.

Abstract: A beverage production device comprises a beverage production chamber designed to have a liquid interact with a beverage ingredient contained in a capsule, a liquid supply member for supplying liquid to the beverage production chamber, a heating member provided in the liquid supply member for heating the liquid, and an air separating compartment provided in the liquid supply member after the heating member for separating any air or other gas contained in the liquid. The air separating compartment comprises an inlet for introducing liquid into the air separating compartment, a member for breaking the kinetic energy of the liquid introduced through the inlet, a liquid outlet for evacuating liquid from the air separating compartment, and an air outlet for evacuating air from the air separating compartment.

Abstract: A choke assembly comprises an inlet (48) for a multiphase fluid stream, the stream comprising a first relatively heavy fluid phase and a second relatively light fluid phase; a first fluid outlet (116); a choke element (22) disposed between the inlet and the first fluid outlet operable to control the flow of fluid between the inlet and the first fluid outlet; a separation chamber (40, 114) disposed to provide separation of phases in the fluid stream upstream of the choke element; and a second outlet (118) for removing fluid from the separation cavity. The choke assembly is of particular use in the control of fluid streams produced from a subterranean well, in particular oil and gas produced from a subsea well.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for reduction of dissolved oxygen content in seawater from about 8 ppm in the feed seawater to about 10 ppb or less. Significant advantages are achieved by: use of a separator in horizontal alignment to provide high gas-liquid contacting area for separation and de-entrainment within the separator, thereby providing higher throughput; and heating seawater to at least 30° C. and up to 60° C., so as to enhance removal of oxygen from seawater; use of once-through fuel gas as stripping gas and its subsequent combustion for heating the seawater provides for high efficiency and reduction of fouling. The combination of these features allows the amount of residual oxygen in deoxygenated seawater to be reduced to below 10 ppb and as low as 2 ppb.

Abstract: An example deaerator assembly includes a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet. A conduit configured to communicate a deaerated coolant is located within the housing. A mixture of coolant and air is deaerated as the mixture is communicated from the housing inlet to the housing outlet within the housing and outside the conduit.

Abstract: A device for capturing gas included within a produced-water stream is described. Gas and water pressure coordination is not required. Controls prevent liquid entry to the gas system and prevent gas entry into the water system. A gas/liquid separator receives an inner vessel lower end. A separator inlet receives a combined fluid stream. A liquid line passes into the inner vessel and down into the separator below the inlet so that liquid separated from the combined stream will flow up the liquid line. Motor valves are in the liquid line and in a gas line. The gas line extends from the inner vessel upper end. The gas line conveys gas from the inner vessel upper end to a gas collection system. A top float in the inner vessel activates the gas line motor valve. A bottom float in the inner vessel activates the liquid line motor valve.

Abstract: A subsea system includes a multiphase pump, configured to transfer a multiphase fluid and a multiphase separator, configured to separate the multiphase fluid into solid, liquid, and gaseous phases. The multiphase separator includes a solid-liquid separation device, which is configured to facilitate separation of the solid phase and the liquid phase from the multiphase fluid. The multiphase separator includes a gas-liquid separation device, which is configured to facilitate separation of the gaseous phase and the liquid phase from the multiphase fluid. The multiphase separator includes a liquid reservoir, which is configured to contain a volume of the liquid phase to be used as a lubricant for the multiphase pump. Finally, the multiphase separator includes a liquid outlet, which is configured to transfer the liquid phase from the liquid reservoir to the multiphase pump.

Abstract: An air eliminator including a housing having first and second portions, the housing defining: a chamber, an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and an axis extending from the first portion to the second portion, a float assembly connected to the first portion of the chamber for releasing air from the chamber, and degassing disks stacked within the chamber along an axis, wherein each disk includes a plurality of rings such that the degassing disks cause micro gas pockets in water passing through the chamber to combine into relatively large and buoyant air pockets that collect and pass along the axis to the float assembly for release.

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.

Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of dissolved oxygen from hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbons streams include kerosene and jet fuels. The process includes mixing the hydrocarbons streams with an oxygen free gas to form a gas-liquid mixture. The mixture is allowed to disengage into a gas stream and a liquid stream, thereby removing dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: An example deaerator assembly includes a deaerating member disposed within a housing. The deaerating member includes an apertured stem extending from a pedestal. The apertured stem is configured to communicate air away from a mixture of air and coolant when the mixture of air and coolant is communicated about the apertured stem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture. In one embodiment water containing methane is passed through an agitation chamber with a plate at the chamber's proximal and distal ends. Both plates have orifices permitting the mixed fluid to pass into and out of the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid rotates about its axis of flow through the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid passes through a separation chamber having a plurality of baffles that promote separation of the methane from the methane/water mixture. In one embodiment, the separated methane is removed from the water in a collection chamber that facilitates gravity separation of the mixed fluids. In one embodiment, liquid hydrocarbon is removed from water.

Abstract: The cyclone is for separating gas from a gas laden liquid stream by pressure reduction of the liquid stream. The cyclone has a cylindrical casing, having a tangentially directed inlet arrangement for the gas laden liquid stream, a lower outlet line for liquid and an upper outlet line for vapor and gas. The inlet arrangement is connected to a common supply source (BLPR), and has at least two insertion pipes. The flow in at least one of these insertion pipes is controlled by at least one valve that depends upon an order of flow from the common supply source to maintain a flow velocity above a critical value.

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.

Abstract: A number of pocketed apparatus for separating various materials are described. A pocketed cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber, which includes interior chamber walls, an inlet connected to the cyclone chamber, and one or more pocket separators, located on the interior chamber walls, is described. A substance may be introduced through the inlet into the cyclone chamber so as to create a rotational force sufficient to generate a cyclone in the cyclone chamber. Forces generated by the cyclone will cause heavier material in the substance to move towards the interior chamber walls when in use. The one or more pocket separators define one or more pockets that trap heavier material in the substance when in use.

Abstract: Provided herein is a conditioning apparatus that includes a geometrical configuration having an inlet flow deceleration conduit and a cyclonic tube to effectuate both liquid-gas separation and droplet coalescence. The apparatus is typically positioned at the inlet of a separator vessel used for removing water and gas from extracted crude oil containing entrained water and gas. The apparatus promotes droplet coalescence and gas separation for mixed fluids flowing into an existing water and oil separation device.