Keeping a solid focus on your fine-particle separation needs

In a market where numerous industries require separation of fine solids from liquid matter and each situation is unique, we know your solution needs to be thorough and complete. We keep a solid (and fluid) focus on hydrocyclone applications throughout all phases of separation.

KREBS® CP Vessels, in a nutshell, are simply pressurized containers that hold from a few up to hundreds of small, high-capacity cyclones. As a system, the vessel uniformly distributes the feed with one feed inlet, and collects the overflow and underflow with one outlet for each. The hydrocyclones are closely packed inside a three-chamber vessel, with stainless steel plates separating the overflow and underflow from the feed chamber.

It all boils down to separation

Our customers always ask about separation. And we tell them our CP Vessels can make separations as fine as 5 microns, depending on their slurry characteristics. 

Typically, we talk in terms of D98, or the point where 98% of solids at a certain size are removed. For example, at an inlet concentration of 1% solids with sand and water, our 50mm (2-in) gMAX Cyclone will remove 98% of 2.65-specific-gravity solids that are 12 microns and larger.

Sample separation capabilities

Specified to your unique application

We establish vessel size based on your application’s total flow rate. We then determine proper hydrocyclone size by the separation you require for your application. With this information, we help you choose the exact vessel size and geometry, and the correct number of properly sized cyclones, based on the specific gravity of your solid and liquid materials, the viscosity, and the desired particle size to be recovered

Desander vessels are even more efficient when incorporated with our high-capacity gMAX cyclone technology. The advanced gMAX hydrocyclone requires fewer cyclones for optimal performance, and will produce finer and sharper separations.

Versatile for a number of industries

CP Vessels are ideal for the removal of fine solids in the automotive, chemical, power and petroleum industries, as well as in food, steel, mining and machining. Our CP vessels are extremely efficient and have a wide range of applications for oil refinery and petrochemical processes. Applications are categorised into three separation types.

Removal of solids from water:

• Waste water grit removal and clean-up
• Coke fines removal from cutting water and calciners
• Intake water and fire suppression water systems
• Solids and oil removal from desalter system

Removal of solids from hydrocarbon streams

• Catalyst removal
• Wash solids from tank residues
• Refinery amine system to separate solids, metals and coke fines
• Hydrocracker and fluid unit feed to separate coke fines from HGO/LGO product streams
• Removing organic from electrolyte and raffinate in SX applications

Removal of oil and hydrocarbons from water

• Waste water clean-up
• Hydrocarbon recovery
• Oil removal from desalter brine
• Coke blowdown/sour water treatment
• Treat feed to sour water stripper
• Removing oil from wash-down and runoff water

In the automotive paint industry, our CP Vessels efficiently and effectively remove very fine solids from the paint, including weld balls and car sealant, resulting in a much better paint job. Prior to the advent of cyclones, automobile manufacturers and body shops used bag filters, which would blind over, allowing such solids to pass through and affect the paint job quality. 

The vessel accommodates many individual hydrocyclones, each uniformly fed using one common feed nozzle, providing consistent operation of all units. The system includes a single feed inlet, and single overflow and underflow outlets.

Cyclones used within the CP Vessels range in size from 13 mm to 76 mm (0.5-in to 3-in in diameter, depending upon your application.

Using computer simulation, we are able to accurately predict your desander vessel’s performance, ensuring the ideal system for your application and eliminating the need for onsite testing. Our use of cyclone “blanks” allows for operational flexibility, where flow rates may change from the original design conditions.

We construct CP Vessels of carbon steel and stainless steel as standard. We also build vessels to withstand high temperatures and pressures, and be certified per ASME requirements or specific customer specifications.

CP Vessels have are easy to install and maintain, due to flanged connections and a removable cover for inspection and/or maintenance. We can supply isolation valves at the inlet, if desired, to allow isolation of the vessel for internal inspection. An automatic valve controls discharge of the underflow steam, to purge solids as required.

As an option, CP Vessels can be built with an open underflow. This design allows for easy visual inspection and includes a sloped underflow launder directly attached to the vessel to allow discharge of solids.

Our CP Vessels have a mounting lug design attached to the vessel shell and the design also provides legs. The support saddles are only supplied on the W model Desanders.