The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 10, 1994
K T Liu, Cerritos, CA (US);
William Rieken, Bakersfield, CA (US);
J P Anduiza, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
G E Kouba, Placentia, CA (US);
Abstract
A self-regulating apparatus and method for measuring the components of a multiphase petroleum stream includes initially stratifying an incoming petroleum stream into substantially liquid and gas streams. The initial fluid stratification allows a flow-splitting separation to occur as the streams first enter a vertical separation tube. By positioning the inflow line eccentric to the vertical separation tube, a liquid vortex is created by the incoming liquid component to further enhance the liquid/gas separation. The liquid component is then drawn off by a liquid flow line also eccentrically positioned on the vertical separator, thereby minimizing the energy dissipation of the liquid vortex. Both the gas and liquid components can then be individually measured before being recombined at a common outflow port for discharge.