A device for the continuous separation of crude oil into its major constituent phases has no moving parts and is adapted for attacment to a pressurized conduit conveying said crude oil. The device, which operates in a substantially vertical orientation, is comprised of two concentric cylindrical chambers and an internal tube which conjointly define inner and outer annular spaces. A helical surface disposed within the outer annular space achieves isolation of a water/sand mixture which is expelled from the device. A series of contact surfaces located within the inner annular space separates oil from gas. The gas phase emerges from the internal tube. The oil phase exits from a lower region of the device.

In-line separator for crude oil

Spiral contactor for solvent extraction column

Liquid-liquid contact

Mass transfer process, in which, in at least two contact stages, and at least two liquid or gaseous phases are brought into contact with one another, at least one component being transferred between the phases and the phases moving countercurrently. The flow through at least one of the contact stages is batchwise for one phase and continuous for another phase. The phases flow through contact stages which are formed by trays in a column, which trays are opened periodically so that the phase which flows through the column in a batchwise manner flows to the next tray.

Batch-continuous countercurrent mass transfer process

A separator apparatus for separating fluid may include a fluid inlet port into which the fluid in which gas and liquid may be mixed flows while being pressurized, a lower body which has a partition wall formed in an internal space of the lower body that fluid-communicates with the fluid inlet port, and an upper body which may be assembled to an upper opening portion of the lower body, and has a first gas discharge port that fluid-communicates with the internal space of the lower body to discharge gaseous fluid flowing into the lower body, wherein the partition wall divides the internal space of the lower body into a central portion and an outer peripheral portion on a basis of an axis thereof.

George J. Langmyhr

Papers

Countercurrent extraction method and apparatus