Centrifuge separator

• US 4,373,941 A
• Filed: 02/13/1981
• Issued: 02/15/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernest Lagelbauer
• Original Assignee: Ernest Lagelbauer
• Inventors: Lagelbauer, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Adee, John
• Application Number:
  US06/234,251
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 55/17, 55/400, 55/401, 55/407, 55/408, 55/189
• US Class Current: 55/401
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/14 generated by rotating vanes, discs, drums or brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/24 by centrifugal force centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 59/20 Separation by centrifuging

Abstract

Apparatus for separating material from a flowing gas, isotopes for example, has a stationary vessel 12 with an apertured partition means therein forming two zones. The upper zone is a whirling chamber and contains rotational means to form a rotational flow pattern. The second zone receives the flowing gas through the aperture in the partition means. The lower zone has discharge means for the heavier and lighter materials.

Claims

1. Apparatus for separating a specifically lighter or heavier component from a flowing medium having suspended therein components of different densities, said components including gases and/or particles, the apparatus comprising at least one stationary vessel having an apertured partition means therein forming two zones and establishing an orderly flow pattern for the flowing medium, a first upper zone forming a whirling chamber in which the flowing medium is placed into coaxial rotational flow pattern, rotational means in said first zone for establishing said rotational flow pattern, and a second zone to which the flowing medium enters through the apertures in said partition means said zone having at least two discharge means, one of said discharge means being provided for withdrawing a fluid mixture which is rich in the lighter component and the other of said discharge means being provided for withdrawing a fluid mixture which is rich in the heavier component said partition means having a multiplicity of minute orifices for establishing an orderly flow pattern.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a rotational disc at the bottom of said second zone for stabilizing the rotational flow of the fluid mixture coming through said partition means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disc includes vane means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said partition means comprises a porous disc.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for substantially tangentially injecting fluid medium near the top of said first zone.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 5 including means for precompressing said fluid medium prior to injection into said first zone.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means are contoured and azimuthally spaced passages.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for recycling at least a portion of the separated components.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 including an expander turbine associated with one of said discharge means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for regulating the rate of discharge of components from said discharge means.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 including extension means above said rotational means for minimizing the flow of the heavier component into the stream of the lighter component.

12. Apparatus for separating a specifically lightest component from a flowing medium having suspended therein components of different densities, said components including gases and/or particles, said apparatus comprising a stationary vessel having at least one rotary disc therein at the upper portion of said vessel, each disc having perforations formed therein for passage of the flowing medium and establishing a uniform flow pattern of said flowing medium, said vessel having a porous portion in which a fluid mixture which is rich in the heavier component is withdrawn, and discharge means near the lower portion of the vessel for discharging a fluid mixture which is rich in the lighter component.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, including a rotational disc at the bottom of said vessel for stabilizing the rotational flow of the fluid mixture.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said disc includes vane means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, including means for substantially tangentially injecting the fluid medium about the top of said vessel and above said rotating disc means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said discharge means for said lighter component are contoured and azimuthally spaced passages.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, including means for recycling at least a portion of one of the separated components.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, including means for regulating the rate of discharge of the separated components from said vessel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, including means for reinforcing said vessel.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, in which said rotary disc means is a single disc provided with axial bores near the center.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, including a second rotating disc means having axial bores near its periphery.