Abstract: The induced vortex particle separator is a device for separating solid particulate matter from a liquid containing such particulate matter. The liquid enters a housing through an inlet port and is driven about a helical vane to form a helical flow path. Upon exiting the helical vane, the liquid is received within a central portion of the housing where a centralized structure including an annular stator and an inverted diffuser cone drive the liquid to form a free vortex. Under centrifugal force, the solid particulate matter is separated from the liquid and flows, under the force of gravity, into a lower region of the housing. Due to a negative pressure differential, the liquid is driven upwards within an inner cylindrical shell mounted within the housing to flow into a siphon for output through an outlet port.

Abstract: The induced vortex particle separator is a device for separating solid particulate matter from a liquid containing such particulate matter. The liquid enters a housing through an inlet port and is driven about a helical vane to form a helical flow path. Upon exiting the helical vane, the liquid is received within a central portion of the housing where a centralized structure including an annular stator and an inverted diffuser cone drive the liquid to form a free vortex. Under centrifugal force, the solid particulate matter is separated from the liquid and flows, under the force of gravity, into a lower region of the housing. Due to a negative pressure differential, the liquid is driven upwards within an inner cylindrical shell mounted within the housing to flow into a siphon for output through an outlet port.

Abstract: The compound/curvilinear immiscible liquid separator has a separator section with an outer, elongated, cylindrical shell aligned vertically opening into an upper transition section and vapor dome at the top and a lower transition section and solid/heavy crude containment section at the bottom. A center column is disposed in the axial center of the separator section and a plurality of serially connected curved plates are disposed between the outer shell and center column to define an elongated curvilinear flow path having reverse flow pathways. An oil-water-gas mixture is introduced into the separator section under pressure past heating coils and through the curvilinear path, the lighter density oil entering and being removed from the top of the center column, and heavier sludge and brine collecting in the containment section. Gases bubble up through the center column and are removed from the vapor dome.

Abstract: The compound/curvilinear immiscible liquid separator has a separator section with an outer, elongated, cylindrical shell aligned vertically opening into an upper transition section and vapor dome at the top and a lower transition section and solid/heavy crude containment section at the bottom. A center column is disposed in the axial center of the separator section and a plurality of serially connected curved plates are disposed between the outer shell and center column to define an elongated curvilinear flow path having reverse flow pathways. An oil-water-gas mixture is introduced into the separator section under pressure past heating coils and through the curvilinear path, the lighter density oil entering and being removed from the top of the center column, and heavier sludge and brine collecting in the containment section. Gases bubble up through the center column and are removed from the vapor dome.

Abstract: In combination, a flow control bypass basin for receiving rainfall runoff water from a surface, an immiscible liquids separator downstream of the bypass basin, and a drain. The bypass basin passes the initial, dirty and oily, portion of the rainfall runoff to the separator and bypasses subsequent runoff water instead to the drain. The bypass basin includes a tank, an inlet in communication with the tank's interior, a primary outlet from the bypass basin to the separator, and a bypass outlet from the bypass basin to the drain, with the bypass outlet being located a substantial height above the primary outlet. Interposed between the bypass outlet and the interior of the tank is a riser tube having a mouth disposed in the lower portion of the tank and an upper end closed to the interior of the tank but open to the bypass outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing articles of a first liquid from a second liquid using law, the first liquid, such as oil, having a greater buoyancy than the second, such as water, with both liquids being immiscibly combined into a flowing fluid mixture. Surges in the mixture's flow are dampened, and the mixture is constrained to have a limited horizontal flow velocity through the tank of the apparatus. A separator chamber with a plurality of parallel subchannels formed by spaced vertical plates has a geometry that reduces and controls the Reynolds number of the subchannels and controls the velocity through the subchannels, causing the flow therethrough to be substantially non-turbulent. A first gate inhibits the flow of sediment into the separator chamber. The flow path length through the separator chamber is such that the particles will have sufficient time to rise above a downstream exit, near the bottom of the separator chamber, and into a holding chamber.