摘要 |
<p>APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING A FLUID The present invention provides a novel apparatus and process for treating a fluid comprising a less dense liquid component and a more dense liquid component, the components being substantially immiscible in each other, and the less dense component being present as a contaminant. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tank (12), a separator chamber (14) and a holding chamber (16). The separator chamber has an upper portion (26) that converges in an opening (28) leading to a riser tube (30). The configuration of separator chamber (14) results in rapid separation of overflow liquid into an upper layer of the less dense liquid and a lower layer of the more dense liquid and results in rapid restriction in cross-sectional area of the interface between the upper and lower layers. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a second separator chamber (89) and a second holding chamber (90) are included.</p> |