Hydroclone for Separating an Immiscible Heavy Phase from a Light Phase Liquid

Abstract

A hydroclone for separating an immiscible heavy phase from a light phase liquid including an upright cylindrical chamber having a tangentially intersecting inlet, an axial light phase outlet at the upper end thereof, a heavy phase outlet in the lower end, an opened top cylindrical interface member within the cylindrical chamber having an exterior diameter providing an annulus area between the interface member and the wall of the cylindrical chamber forming a passageway whereby heavy liquid cast outwardly by centrifugal force of circular liquid flow in the cylindrical chamber flows downwardly to the lower portion of the cylindrical chamber, and means of controlling the discharge of liquid from the heavy phase outlet in response to the level of heavy phase liquid in the cylindrical chamber.