Gas/liquid separator with controllable variable liquid level

Abstract

A gas/liquid separator for separating an inlet stream of a mixture of a gas and a liquid into a substantially liquid stream and a substantially gaseous stream, the separator having a controllable, variable liquid level, includes an elongate cylindrical body portion having first and second closed ends which define a separation chamber, tangentially oriented inlet and outlet nozzles positioned near the ends of the vessel, and an overflow-discharge nozzle extending from inside of the separation chamber and longitudinally exiting from the separator through the inlet end, proximate to the inlet nozzle. The separator further includes a vent subassembly positioned proximate to the overflow-discharge nozzle. The subassembly includes a nozzle in flow communication with the separation chamber, and a flow-stop device operable between an open condition and a closed condition. The flow-stop device is positioned on the nozzle. The inlet mixture is separated in the separation chamber with at least a portion of the substantially gaseous stream discharging through the vent assembly when the flow-stop device is in the open condition, and with the substantially gaseous stream remaining in the separation chamber increasing an internal pressure thereof and decreasing the liquid level therein, when the flow-stop device is in the closed condition.