Oil seal liquid separator, and method of separating liquid therewith

Abstract

A separator that uses both centrifugal force and gravity can effect the near-complete separation of liquid particles entrained in a gaseous stream having a high flow rate and velocity. The separator includes a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation, a baffle axially disposed in the conduit, a wire mesh disposed circumferentially around the baffle, and an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around the wire mesh. The entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream enters the separator through a separator first end, and exits the separator from a separator second end as an essentially liquid-free gaseous stream. By virtue of using the baffle, mesh, and filter to effect the separation of the entrained liquid particles, the separator can effect near-complete liquid removal, yet without imposing any significant back pressure.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A separator for separating a liquid entrained in a gaseous stream, said separator comprising: 
 a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation;    a baffle axially disposed in said conduit, said baffle capable of imparting a rotational flow to the liquid-containing gaseous stream;    a wire mesh disposed circumferentially around said baffle, said wire mesh capable of collecting the rotating liquid; and    an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around said wire mesh, said absorbant filter capable of absorbing the collected liquid.    
     
     
         2 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said baffle has a helical shape.  
     
     
         3 . A separator according to  claim 2 , wherein said baffle has a pitch of from about 30° to about 50°.  
     
     
         4 . A separator according to  claim 3 , wherein said pitch is about 45°.  
     
     
         5 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said baffle has a diameter of about 4 inches.  
     
     
         6 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said mesh comprises stainless steel.  
     
     
         7 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorbant filter comprises polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . A liquid seal pressure relief system, said system comprising: 
 i) a liquid seal comprising a sealing liquid, a seal inlet, and a seal outlet, said seal inlet being in fluid communication with a conduit for conveying a gaseous flow, and    ii) a separator in fluid communication with said seal outlet, said separator capable of separating said sealing liquid that is entrained in the gaseous flow during a pressure relief situation, said separator comprising: 
 a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation, said conduit comprising a conduit inlet in fluid communication with the seal outlet, and a conduit outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere;  
 a baffle disposed axially in said conduit, said baffle capable of imparting a rotational flow to the liquid-containing gaseous stream;  
 a wire mesh disposed circumferentially around said baffle, said wire mesh capable of collecting the rotating liquid; and  
 an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around said wire mesh, said absorbant filter capable of absorbing the collected liquid.  
   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said entrained sealing liquid is a liquid hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said liquid hydrocarbon is kerosene.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said gaseous stream comprises natural gas.  
     
     
         12 . A method of separating an entrained liquid from a gaseous stream with a separator comprising a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation, a baffle disposed in said conduit, said baffle capable of imparting a rotational flow to said gaseous stream, a wire mesh disposed at an outer circumference of said baffle, and an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around said wire mesh, said method comprising: 
 passing said entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream through a first end of said separator;    imparting a rotational flow to said entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream;    collecting said rotating liquid with the wire mesh so as to separate the entrained liquid from the gaseous stream;    absorbing said collected liquid with the absorbant filter so as to produce an essentially liquid-free gaseous stream; and    passing said essentially liquid-free gaseous stream from a second end of the separator.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said entrained sealing liquid is a liquid hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said liquid hydrocarbon is kerosene.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said gaseous stream comprises natural gas.  
     
     
         16 . A method of separating an entrained liquid from a gaseous stream, said method comprising: 
 imparting a rotational flow to said entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream;    routing said rotating liquid so as to separate the entrained liquid from the gaseous stream; and    absorbing said routed liquid so as to produce an essentially liquid-free gaseous stream.