Portable Oil Separator with Pivoting Vessel for Field Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional separator plants for crude oil emulsions are typically permanent structures that become obsolete when oil deposits are depleted, requiring costly reconstruction or scrapping, and lack portability for efficient relocation to new sites.
Innovation Solution
A portable separator apparatus with a support platform and pivotally connected main separator assembly, allowing for easy transportation, setup, and reconfiguration at different oil field sites, featuring a main separator vessel and auxiliary gas separator vessel with interconnected plumbing for efficient separation of crude oil components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional separator plants are constructed permanently near oil wells, then separation capacity and reliability are improved, but portability and adaptability deteriorate, requiring costly reconstruction when oil deposits are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The separator plant is divided into modular components including a main separator vessel, auxiliary separator mechanism, support platform, and plumbing systems that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation enables the plant to be transported in sections and reassembled at new locations while maintaining separation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support platform incorporates a hinge mechanism that allows the main separator assembly to pivot between a horizontal transport configuration and a vertical operational configuration. This dynamic capability enables easy loading onto transport vehicles and stable installation at operating sites, resolving the contradiction between portability and operational reliability.
2Productivity
If conventional separator plants are built using traditional construction techniques, then manufacturing precision and separation efficiency are improved, but ease of manufacture and relocation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The separator plant employs modular construction with standardized components that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. The main separator vessel, auxiliary mechanisms, and plumbing are designed as discrete modules that maintain separation efficiency while enabling easy transportation and reassembly at new locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from fixed permanent construction to a movable modular configuration, changing the operational parameters of the separator plant. The hinge mechanism enables the system to switch between transport and operational states, maintaining separation efficiency while dramatically improving relocation capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If separator plants are designed for permanent installation, then operational stability is improved, but adaptability to different sites and reuse potential deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides a stable vertical configuration during operation while enabling horizontal positioning for transport. This dynamic design allows the separator plant to achieve operational stability at each site while maintaining adaptability to different locations through easy reconfiguration and relocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with standardized components and pivotable support platform creates a universal separator plant that can be installed at multiple different oil field sites. The same apparatus maintains operational stability at each location while adapting to different site requirements through reconfiguration during installation and removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective separation of crude oil components at oil field sites, facilitating easy relocation and reuse, reducing waste and reconstruction costs by providing a prefabricated, modular solution for oil processing.
Implementation Method 1
The main separator vessel includes a main separator support base and external main separator plumbing... in which components of a conventional 2-phase or 3-phase separator process are housed
Implementation Method 2
The support platform may have an auxiliary separator mechanism mounted thereon, including auxiliary separator plumbing
Data Source
AI summary
A preassembled and portable crude oil processing apparatus includes a support platform with a gas separator vessel covered by a shed structure and an elongated liquid separator vessel pivotally connected to the support platform. The liquid separator vessel includes support structure which supports it an a horizontal transport configuration. The apparatus is loaded onto a flatbed trailer and transported to a crude oil processing site with the liquid vessel in the horizontal configuration. At the processing site, the apparatus is hoisted off the trailer and deposited on the ground, and the liquid separator vessel is pivoted to a vertical configuration supported by the platform and secured in place. Plumbing associated with the gas separator vessel is then interconnected with plumbing associated with the liquid separator, with piping carrying a crude oil emulsion for processing, and with tanks for storing products of the process.