VORTOIL HYDROCYCLONE

A compact, highly
efficient liquid/liquid
and solid/liquid
separation system for
both oilfield and
industrial applications.

Liquid/Liquid Separation Technology

Baker Hughes Process Systems (BHPS)

VORTOIL hydrocyclone separators offer
a combination of high performance, small
size, light weight, reliability and low cost
operation unmatched by any other
separation technology.

VORTOIL separators are widely used in

offshore oil production for treatment of
large volumes of produced water, prior to
disposal to the environment. Proven in a
wide variety, of industrial applications, the
use of VORTOIL hydrocyclone systems
has increased by 50% in the last few years.
Our commitment is to continuous research
in order to provide only the highest standard
of service. This ensures that the BHPS
VORTOIL hydrocyclone system delivers
unsurpassed performance in terms of both
efficiency and environmental impact.

Advantages Over Conventional

Separators
The units are compact, lightweight and
can be installed either horizontally or

vertically; with minimal footprint

requirements.
With no moving parts, operation can be
maintenance free. For many applications
operation will require no external power
requirements and minimal controls.
BHPS hydrocyclones are ideal for
modular expansion as process needs
increase. Reduced installation costs and
the ability to increase capacity as needed
are major advantages.
The hydrocyclone operates by generating
extremely high centripetal forces,
achieving separation in seconds,
compared to conventional separators
which may require up to 30 minutes for
separation.
The hydrocyclone process is insensitive
to motion, making it ideal for floating
production systems.
Most operations are successful utilizing
process or inherent feed pressure.
Normally performance-enhancing
chemicals are not required to achieve the
desired results.

There is no environmental pollution.

BHPS VORTOIL hydrocyclones can be
packaged with capacities that depend on
working pressure and flow. Oil water
separation problems need no longer be
a bottleneck to increased production.

Construction And Design Services

Baker Hughes Process Systems VORTOIL
separators are constructed from materials
that process compatibility resistance to
erosion and corrosion. Hydrocyclone
separators are designed for packaging into
pressure vessels. These systems are designed
to meet the requirements of ASME or
BS5500.
We offer process design assistance and can
provide engineered, modular systems.
BHPS units have piping, controls and
other devices such as collection vessels or
solid separators as needed to meet your
separation requirements.

Systems For Every Application

The G Series
The Baker Hughes Process Systems G
Series VORTOIL hydrocyclone range
represents the industry standard for high
capacity deoiling and offers an unrivalled
combination of:
Separation efficiency
Operating turndown
Cost-effective design
Variety of space efficient unit sizes
Modular construction for simple
expansion
Based on the highly successful G
hydrocyclone, we have introduced the Gm
hydrocyclone. Using a high density packing
design the Gm hydrocyclone increases
flow rate up to 30% and results in up to
10% higher oil removal efficiencies.
The Gm hydrocyclone incorporates the
same proven corrosion and erosion resistant
alloy materials, and retains the exclusive
G Series hydrocyclone geometry for
exceptional operation.

Patented geometry to provide

stabilized oil core and
minimized reject rate.
Additional core stabilization
devices are not required.
Easily replacable nonthreaded, erosion
resistant alloy inlet
section optimized to
provide maximum
efficiency, capacity and
turndown.

Wide range of
standard vessel sizes
and materials available
to suit each individual
application.

Patented packaging
concept to give maximum
capacity with minimum
space. Easy access for
maintenance.

Separation Process
BHPS VORTOIL hydrocyclones are the
ultimate development of the hydrocyclone principle, which is based on the
physics of enhanced gravity separation
and free vortex action in an enclosed
space. The hydrocyclone has a cylindrical
inlet followed by a tapered tube. Liquids
enter through tangential inlets. This
creates a high velocity swirling action

Smooth thick walled

construction to minimize
wear and maximize
operating life.

Unique curved wall profile

developed to give maximum
separating forces with minimal
turbulence and droplet
shearing.

and sets up strong centripetal forces

which cause the denser liquid to form
at the outer edge, while the less dense
liquid migrates to form a core at the
center. These centripetal forces
combined with differential pressures set
up across the hydrocyclone allow the
heavy phase to exit at the underflow
while the lighter less dense phase falls
into reverse flow and exits at the opposite
end as the overflow.

Designed to operate at
process pressure thereby
optimizing system design.
Pressure vessel containment
eliminates unwanted
atmospheric emissions.

BHPS VORTOIL hydrocyclones can

achieve greater than 99% removal of oil
from water, and can remove oil droplets
smaller than 10 microns in diameter.
The separator can achieve this
performance while concentrating the
recovered oils into a stream that is less
than 2% of the inlet flow volume. Other
models can separate mixtures of up to
40% oil-in-water, or can be used to
remove water from low viscosity oils.

The K Series
The more challenging oil/water separations
are made possible with the super-efficient
Baker Hughes Process Systems K Series
VORTOIL hydrocyclone. The K Series is
the first choice for oil removal at lower
pressures and temperatures.
Benefits include:
High efficiency at low pressure operation
Removes smaller oil droplets
(<5 microns)
Lower temperature operation
Compact pressure vessel design
Suitable for use with centrifugal pumps
The patented K Series hydrocyclone offers
a significant improvement in oil removal
efficiency over other hydrocyclone designs.
Comparative trials have shown the K Series
to be up to 50% more effective, while
maintaining a superior turndown at lower
operating pressures.
For lower temperature applications, such as
those found typically in offshore applications,
the Kl hydrocyclone is a lightweight, synthetic
design, which combines efficiency and durability
at a lower cost.
K Series hydrocyclones have also been
developed for small industrial applications.
The Kl hydrocyclone can be supplied as an
individual stand-alone unit, or as part of a total
system depending on individual requirements.

Industry Applications
Oil Production:
Produced water treatment for discharge
or reinjection
Free-water knockout/ preseparation
Natural gas liquids dehydration
Refining & Chemical Processing:
Deoiling feed to strippers
API separator replacement
Desalter water discharge
Sewage and Waste Treatment:
Oil removal from wastewater
Environmental:
Oil/organics removal from groundwater
Oil removal from wastewater pits
Baker Hughes Process Systems VORTOIL
hydrocyclones can provide improved
performance with reduced operating and

maintenance costs. A variety of performance

prediction methods can be used to quickly
determine the suitability of a VORTOIL
hydrocyclone system for your application. In
addition, BHPS maintains a selection of pilot
equipment available for rental and on-site
testing. Please contact your local Sales office
for more information about VORTOIL
products and services.

K Series hydrocyclone package, 180,000

BWPD, designed for platform retrofit.

G Series hydrocyclone package, skid mounted,

180,000 BWPD.

Typical Onshore Separation PFD

Compression
Gas
Export

Compression

Metrol
3 Phase HP
Production Separator

Metrol
Gas
Dehydration

Metrol
Knock Out
Drum

Metrol
3 Phase LP
Production Separator

Production
from Wells

Petreco
Electrostatic
Dehydrator
Krebs
Wellhead
Desander

Wemco
Silver Bands
Wemco
Pacesetter

To
Soilds
Treatment

Vortoil
SubSep
Downhole
Separator

Crude
Export

Wemco
Depurator

Booster

Produced Water
for Reinjection or
Disposal

Well
Fluid
Inlet

Booster

Typical Compact Offshore Separation PFD

Compression

Compression

Gas
Export

Metrol
2 Phase
Production
Separator

Production
from Wells

Metrol
Gas
Dehydration
Metrol
Knock Out
Drum

Krebs
Wellhead
Desander
To
Soilds
Treatment

Metrol
3 Phase
Production Separator

Petreco
Electrostatic
Dehydrator

Vortoil
PreSeparator

Deoiler

Crude
Export

Wemco
Silver Bands

Vortoil
Vortoil
Deoiler

Vortoil
SubSep
Downhole
Separator

Wemco
ISF Single
Cell

Booster

Well
Fluid
Inlet

Produced Water
for Reinjection or
Disposal

Recycle

BFCC
Anti-Biofouling
Unit

Typical Water
Injection PFD

Chemical
Injection

Injection
Water

Metrol
Deaerator
Tower

Metrol
Sea-Screen
Coarse
Filter

Injection
Pump

Metrol
Auto-Felt
or
Dual-Media
Fine
Filter
Metrol
Polishing
Filter

Seawater
Caisson
Lift Pump
and
Dosing Ring

Metrol
Sea-Cell
Booster
Pump

Specifications

Effect Of Median Droplet Size On Hydrocyclone Efficiency

Separation Efficiency (%)

Median Droplet Size (microns) vs Sep. Eff. (%)

100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Median Droplet Size (micron)

3 2 Portion Geometry hydrocyclone*
VORTOIL G Series hydrocyclone
VORTOIL K Series hydrocyclone
* From published data

Western Hemisphere Region Headquarters

Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Eastern Hemisphere Region Headquarters

Rugby, England, U.K.

Post Office Box 40757

Houston, TX 77240-0757
Phone: (713) 937 2400
1(800) 575 2477(BHPS)
Fax: (713) 937 2401

Swift House, Cosford Lane

Rugby, Warwickshire
CV21 1QN, England
Phone: (44) 1788 555 666
Fax: (44) 1788 555 667

Calgary, Canada
Phone: (403) 571 8442
Fax: (403) 571 8444

Sales Offices
Bad Homburg, Germany
Paris, France
Phone: (49) 6172 12930
Fax: (49) 6172 28260

Phone: (33) 1 44 95 80 80
Fax: (33) 1 45 63 10 21

Caracas, Venezuela
Phone: (58 2) 277 2236
Fax: (58 2) 277 2401

Aberdeen, Scotland

Moscow, Russia

Jurong, Singapore

Phone: (44) 1224 428 633

Fax: (44) 1224 771 021

Phone: (70) 98 945 3080

Fax: (70) 95 212 7352

Phone: (65) 861 4880

Fax: (65) 862 3183

Copyright 1998 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved. VORTOIL is a registered trademark of Baker Hughes Incorporated.