Abstract: A high efficiency small diameter hydrocyclone for separating liquid/liquid constituents of a mixture. An effective separation portion L.sub.e of the hydrocyclone separation chamber begins at a small diameter throat D.sub.T where acceleration and velocity of the mixture cease to increase. This effective portion L.sub.e ends at the underflow outlet from the separation chamber, and has an area to volume ratio that falls within certain limits to thereby promote efficient separation of the mixture, particularly small diameter droplets dispersed therein.

Abstract: Liquid separator and method of separating oil and water components of a liquid mixture wherein the oil component is made up of droplets of a less dense phase in a more dense water phase, using a hydrocyclone for separating the components. A less dense component of the mixture separated by the hydrocyclone is passed from the underflow of the hydrocyclone to a filter device for further separation. A residence vessel may be provided upstream of the hydrocyclone for coalescing the mixture prior to passage into the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A high efficiency hydrocyclone for separating a dispersed liquid phase from a continuous liquid phase in a mixture includes a separation chamber having an effective separation portion L.sub.e that begins where the slope or curve of the portion is less than 2.degree.. The area to volume ratio of this effective portion L.sub.e falls within certain limits which promote more efficient separation, particularly of smaller droplet sizes of the dispersed phase.

Abstract: For separating an oil and water mixture, the mixture is applied to the inlet of a cyclone separator so that the oil emerges from an overflow outlet and the water from an underflow outlet. Sensors measure the purity of the separated water and oil components and under control of a suitable control device, additions are made to the inlet liquid of quantities of oil or water to alter the ratio of oil and water quantities in the inlet mixture in a fashion tending to maintain separation efficiency. The oil and water to be admixed are taken from reservoirs.

Abstract: Cyclone separator for separating liquid components from a liquid mixture, having an axially extending separating chamber (12) with an underflow outlet (22) for outlet of more dense components at one end thereof and an overflow outlet (18) for outlet of less dense components at the other end thereof, the separating chamber having a portion (16) which exhibts a taper, in the direction towards the underflow outlet, the taper angle (half angle to the separating chamber axis) of 11/2.degree. to 3.degree..

Abstract: Liquid separator including a liquid-liquid hydrocyclone (10) and a method for enhancing the operation of the liquid-liquid hydrocyclone in which the mixture to be separated is first passed through a mixing and/or residence vessel (90), such as a cross plate interceptor skimmer.

Abstract: A separation system for separating oil and water components of a liquid mixture wherein the oil component is comprised of droplets of a less dense phase in a more dense water phase. The mixture is fed to separation devices including a hydrocyclone for generally reducing the oil in water concentration to less than 500 ppm. The underflow of the hydrocyclone is passed to a downstream flotation device for further separation as by settling, which may be further assisted by liberating gas in the mixture, in the flotation device, to adhere such gas to oil droplets and thereby carry such droplets to the surface of the device. Pressure of fluids leaving the hydrocyclone may be reduced before entering the flotation device. A residence vessel upstream of the hydrocyclone may be provided to precoalese the mixture prior to entering the hydrocyclone.

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: 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.