These separation systems are used in for example:
• first and second stage separators for extraction sites
• oil refineries
• down stream plants
• off shore rigs
• ballast water and slop oil treatment facilities
• LNG plants
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The PPI
By the end of the 1950s, Royal Dutch Shell began research to improve oil/water by gravity separation. Following experiments and sophisticated hydraulic calculations, in 1962 the Parallel Plate Interceptor (PPI) was put into use.
The CPI
Where the PPI used parallel horizontally positioned metal plates installed in a chevron configuration, the CPI used plates that were arranged in a plate pack which was installed at an angle of 45°. Another main difference was the use of corrugated plates.
The Tilted Plate Interceptor or TPI. Our vendor replaced the guide chutes by strips, solving the problem of clogged plate packs and at the same time increasing efficiency with 30%.
The rapidly developing off shore activities of oil and gas companies generated demand for smaller separators. On rigs and platforms space is very limited and weight must be saved to the maximum possible extent. The traditional CPI and TPI separators have a relatively small plate surface per m3 of separator basin volume and per m2 of separator basin area. It was necessary to maximise the plate surface compared to the separator basin’s dimensions. This was achieved by developing the Cross Flow Separator or CFI.
Development didn’t stop with the perfection of the CPI/TPI and introduction of the CFI. Our vendor always strive to look further, to develop and to try new ideas. Often this results in a new product or application. In the 1980s, developed such a new application: the Inclined Plate Interceptor or IPI separator.
The IPI separator combines the advantages of the counter current CPI/TPI and the compact CFI into one system.