Importance

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Abstract

For separating an emulsion comprising substantially a heavier and a lighter liquid there is used a plurality of superimposed, liquid-filled, shallow separation chambers which have a lower outlet for separated heavier liquid, an upper outlet for separated lighter liquid, and an emulsion-inlet remote from the outlets. The separation chambers are maintained under an overpressure by causing the heavier and the lighter liquid, separated in the chambers by self-separation under the action of gravity, to pass from the chambers via a respective one of two pressure-holding vessels containing a respective heavier or lighter liquid. The emulsion is fed batchwise into at least one separation chamber at a time, at a temperature greater than the temperature of the liquid already present in the chamber, and in a volumetric amount which is less than the volume of the chamber. While supplying the emulsion to the chamber, the lighter-liquid outlet of the chamber is held closed while the outlet for the heavier liquid is held open, so that the emulsion fed to the chamber displaces a corresponding amount of solely heavier liquid from the separation chamber. The emulsion inlet of the chamber is then closed and its outlet for lighter liquid is opened, whereat separated lighter liquid in the chamber is forced out through an associated outlet by causing a corresponding amount of separated heavier liquid to flow from the pressure-holding vessel containing the heavier liquid back into the separation chamber.

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First Claim