Abstract: A device for separation of liquid from a gas-liquid mixture has a vortex tube through which a gas-liquid mixture flows at speeds generating centrifugal forces with accelerations >50 g, which cause liquid droplets to precipitate on the interior walls of the vortex tube. The vortex tube has an inlet facility, particularly inlet nozzles, in the inlet area of the tube for introducing the gas-liquid mixture into the vortex tube and setting the gas-liquid mixture into a rotary motion within the tube. Circular evacuation ports are arranged one behind the other in a direction of flow of the gas-liquid mixture for discharge of the precipitated liquid. The ports each have a constant width s over their length l, wherein the length l of each evacuation port is constructed as to maintain a laminar flow of the precipitated liquid. Each evacuation port forms a maximum angle .alpha. of 10.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the vortex tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleansing fluids which are contaminated with filterable and/or centrifugally separable particles, embraces a centrifugal separator having a plurality of inlets for the admission of fluids to be cleansed, and a plurality of valves connected respectively with the inlets. Solely one valve is continuously variable to control the rate of flow through it between given parameters. All of the other valves have solely either fully open or else fully closed positions. A particle filter precedes the valves, being connected thereto by branch pipes. The discharge from the centrifugal separator is monitored for quantity, and all of the valves can be automatically electronically shut off when a predetermined quantity of cleansed fluid has been obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleansing fluids which are contaminated with filterable and/or centrifugally separable particles, embraces a centrifugal separator having a plurality of inlets for the admission of fluids to be cleansed, and a plurality of valves connected respectively with the inlets. Solely one valve is continuously variable to control the rate of flow through it between given parameters. All of the other valves have solely either fully open or else fully closed positions. A particle filter precedes the valves, being connected thereto by branch pipes. The discharge from the centrifugal separator is monitored for quantity, and all of the valves can be automatically electronically shut off when a predetermined quantity of cleansed fluid has been obtained.

Abstract: A separator element (10) is described, which includes on the side of the incoming flow, before the first hydrophobic filter layer (38) consisting of a microporous membrane with a mean pore size of approximately 15 microns, an outer second hydrophobic filter layer (40) with a mean pore size of approximately 50 microns. With the aid of the second filter layer (40), the larger water drops are first separated from a fluid mixture to be cleaned. The residual small water drops are fully retained at the inner first filter layer (38) and in the sedimentation area (48) they are discharged into the space of the incoming flow.