This invention relates to the separation of particulate contaminants from a fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, two sand separators placed in series may be used to separate sand from liquid or gaseous natural gas. This invention has some of its applications in the oil gas industry, particularly for use in separating sand from gas produced by natural gas wells that have been opened by hydraulic fracturing.

This invention relates to the separation of particulate contaminants from a fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, two sand separators placed in series may be used to separate sand from liquid or gaseous natural gas. This invention has some of its applications in the oil gas industry, particularly for use in separating sand from gas produced by natural gas wells that have been opened by hydraulic fracturing.

Disclosed is a separation system including: a chamber comprising: an inlet for receiving a two-phase fluid; a first outlet for draining liquid contained in the two-phase fluid; a second outlet for egress of gas contained in the two-phase fluid; a cylindrical body disposed in the chamber having a plurality of channels through which, during use, the two-phase fluid travels from the inlet to the second outlet, and wherein the liquid within the two-phase fluid coalesces on the walls of the plurality of channels as the two-phase fluid passes through the plurality of channels and the liquid drains through the first outlet.

A filter assembly includes a first screen, defining a first flow passageway, a second screen, defining a second flow passageway, and a third screen defining a third flow passageway. The second screen is positioned between the first screen and the third screen. The first flow passageway is aligned with the third flow passageway and the second flow passageway is offset from the first flow passageway and the third flow passageway.

A steam separation unit for separation of steam from lignocellulosic biomass material in a hydrolysis process includes a treatment vessel including a separation section and a biomass collection section. The separation section is arranged with at least one inlet for receiving at least partly hydrolyzed biomass material mixed with steam and at least one control outlet for discharging the steam from the vessel. A biomass collection section arranged to be filled at least partly with liquid during operation and coupled to the separation section to collect the biomass material after separation from steam, wherein the biomass collection section includes a mixing element for mixing the biomass material with liquid and at least one control valve for discharging biomass material mixed with liquid. A system for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass material including such a separation unit is also presented.

A steam separation unit for separation of steam from lignocellulosic biomass material in a hydrolysis process includes a treatment vessel including a separation section and a biomass collection section. The separation section is arranged with at least one inlet for receiving at least partly hydrolyzed biomass material mixed with steam and at least one control outlet for discharging the steam from the vessel. A biomass collection section arranged to be filled at least partly with liquid during operation and coupled to the separation section to collect the biomass material after separation from steam, wherein the biomass collection section includes a mixing element for mixing the biomass material with liquid and at least one control valve for discharging biomass material mixed with liquid. A system for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass material including such a separation unit is also presented.

A three-tiered funneling type mist collection arrangement for collecting water from mist in air flowing therethrough is disclosed. The mist collection arrangement includes support frame, first funnel disk, second funnel disk, third funnel disk, and mesh member. First funnel disk, second funnel disk, and third funnel disk are mounted on the support frame while being coaxially aligned, such that a first drip cavity, a second drip cavity, and a third drip cavity is coaxially aligned with each other. The second funnel disk has a lesser diameter than the first funnel disk. The mesh member is attached to and extends between a first periphery of the first funnel disk and a second periphery of the second funnel disk, to form a frustoconical structure. Water in mist of surrounding air is collected on the mesh member, which is trickled to the first funnel disk and later to the third funnel disk.

A three-tiered funneling type mist collection arrangement for collecting water from mist in air flowing therethrough is disclosed. The mist collection arrangement includes support frame, first funnel disk, second funnel disk, third funnel disk, and mesh member. First funnel disk, second funnel disk, and third funnel disk are mounted on the support frame while being coaxially aligned, such that a first drip cavity, a second drip cavity, and a third drip cavity is coaxially aligned with each other. The second funnel disk has a lesser diameter than the first funnel disk. The mesh member is attached to and extends between a first periphery of the first funnel disk and a second periphery of the second funnel disk, to form a frustoconical structure. Water in mist of surrounding air is collected on the mesh member, which is trickled to the first funnel disk and later to the third funnel disk.

An air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner has a recovery tank assembly that includes a recovery tank, an inlet stack for receiving the working air stream with extracted liquid and debris entrained therein, an outlet stack for expelling air separated from the working air stream, and a lid assembly. A float is disposed adjacent to a curvilinear exterior side wall of a recovery tank, and the inlet stack and outlet stack are disposed transversely side-by-side in a tank chamber with the outlet stack between the float and the inlet stack. A bottom of the lid assembly defines an open bottom cavity within the tank chamber and above an outlet of the inlet stack. A lower surface of the lid assembly at the open bottom cavity inclines upward and outward from above the outlet of the inlet stack to an outermost side wall of the lid assembly.

An air/liquid separation system for an extraction cleaner has a recovery tank assembly that includes a recovery tank, an inlet stack for receiving the working air stream with extracted liquid and debris entrained therein, an outlet stack for expelling air separated from the working air stream, and a lid assembly. A float is disposed adjacent to a curvilinear exterior side wall of a recovery tank, and the inlet stack and outlet stack are disposed transversely side-by-side in a tank chamber with the outlet stack between the float and the inlet stack. A bottom of the lid assembly defines an open bottom cavity within the tank chamber and above an outlet of the inlet stack. A lower surface of the lid assembly at the open bottom cavity inclines upward and outward from above the outlet of the inlet stack to an outermost side wall of the lid assembly.