METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES FROM PARTICLE-LADEN FLUID

• US 3,684,093 A
• Filed: 06/23/1970
• Issued: 08/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Ohtomi, Motomi Kono
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Ohtomi, Motomi Kono
• Inventors: Kono, Motomi, Ohtomi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Adee, John
• Application Number:
  US05/049,039
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 210/84,512 55/338-340,345,261
• US Class Current: 210/788
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/02 Construction of inlets by which the vortex flow is generated , e.g. tangential admission, the fluid flow being forced to follow a downward path by spirally wound bulkheads, or with slightly downwardly-directed tangential admissionfluid dynamics in general F15D
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/12 Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits

Abstract

Particles are separated using an apparatus whereby a primary helical flow of the particle-laden fluid is established so as to create radial centrifugal forces whereby particles contained therein are separated and collected. The primary flow is stopped at a point distant from the point of its origin and a secondary helical flow is established in a direction opposite to the primary flow and along the same axis concentric with the primary flow. The secondary flow is isolated from the primary flow at a point distant from its origin and any remaining particles entrapped in the secondary flow are recovered. In a first embodiment, the particles are recovered by injecting a gas into the isolated secondary flow in a tangential, peripheral and counter-axial direction to said secondary flow so as to force the particles back into the stream of the primary flow. In a second embodiment, the particles are removed from the secondary flow by applying of suction to the secondary flow which discharges into the primary flow.

Claims

2. An apparatus for separating particles from a particle-laden fluid which comprises:

a vessel having a cylindrical portion and a conical portion connecting with one end of said cylindrical portion;

an inlet conduit having an opening communicating with said cylindrical portion for introducing a flow of particle-laden fluid tangentially along the cylindrical wall of said vessel at one end, so as to establish a primary helical flow of the particle-laden fluid along the axis of said cylindrical portion;

an outlet conduit having an opening communicating with the tapered end of the conical portion of said vessel for discharging the particles separated from the fluid;

means for stopping the helical primary flow of fluid being positioned at some point distant from the point of origin of said primary flow so as to create a secondary flow of the fluid in a counter-axial direction and defining an annular opening at said distant point substantially coaxial with said primary flow;

a cylindrical passage coaxially disposed with said cylindrical vessel being smaller in diameter than said cylindrical vessel for isolating the secondary flow from said primary flow; and

means for removing at least a portion of any entrained particles in said secondary flow and for transferring said particles directly into said primary flow for further separation and collection comprising a secondary gas supply means being mounted tangentially to said secondary flow cylindrical passage and angularly inclined in the direction of said fluid stop means relative to the axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said secondary gas supply means comprises an outer chamber which is positioned coaxially with the upper portion of said cylindrical passage and sealingly attached thereto, an inlet tube for applying a pressurized gas to the outer chamber from a pressure source, at least one injecting tube attached through the wall of said cylindrical portion in said outer chamber tangentially along the wall and counter-axially to the secondary flow of the fluid through said cylindrical passage.