Centrifuge with partial wear resistant basket

• US 6,267,250 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Leung, Wallace Woon Fong, Frohlich, Nicholas R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reifsnyder, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/616,504
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 210/369, 210/377, 210/360.1, 210/380.1, 210/380.3, 210/384, 210/388, 494/36, 209/444
• US Class Current: 210/369
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/02 Filtering elements having a conical form
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/067 Construction of the filtering drums, e.g. mounting or sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/11 arranged for outward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/39 concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/466 scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 1/2008 with an abrasion-resistant conveyor or drum
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/06 Arrangement of distributors or collectors in centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2001/2033 with feed accelerator inside the conveying screw
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 3/00 Centrifuges with rotary bowls in which solid particles or bodies become separated by centrifugal force and simultaneous sifting or filtering
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 3/02 discharging solid particles from the bowl by means coaxial with the bowl axis and moving to and fro, i.e. push-type centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 3/04 discharging solid particles from the bowl by a conveying screw coaxial with the bowl axis and rotating relatively to the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/12 Inserts, e.g. armouring plates
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/18 formed or coated with sieving or filtering elements filters in general B01D; sieves in general B07B

Abstract

An improved screen basket for use with a centrifuge includes two adjoining screen sections. The first screen section is formed from a wear resistant material and is located proximate to the point at which slurry is introduced into the basket. The length of the first screen section is chosen so that the majority of potential wear caused by the abrasive slurry occurs within the first section of the basket. The second screen section is preferably formed from less expensive materials, such as steel wedge wire. The second screen section smoothly joins the first screen section and provides for further dewatering or separation of the accelerated slurry so that a dry cake is produced by the centrifuge.

Claims

1. A vibrating centrifuge for use in separating a solids-liquid slurry, the vibrating centrifuge comprising:

A. a basket rotatably mounted within the centrifuge, the basket having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and a plurality of apertures and comprising;

a first section disposed proximate to the first end, at least a portion of the first section formed from a plurality of wear resistant elements configured and arranged within the first section so as to define a plurality of slots in fluid communication with respective ones of the apertures; and

a second section disposed proximate to the second end and joining the first section, the second section formed from a plurality of wire members configured and arranged within the second section so as to define a plurality of channels in fluid communication with respective ones of the apertures;

B. means for rotating the basket about an axis;

C. means for vibrating the basket; and

D. means for feeding the solid-liquid slurry to the centrifuge so that the slurry enters the basket at the first section,

wherein the liquid portion of the slurry passes through the slots of the first section and the channels of the second section and the solids portion is retained on the inner surface of the basket and is conveyed toward the second end in response to the vibrating means.

2. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the basket further comprises an end plate mounted at the first end substantially within a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation and configured to face the slurry as it enters the basket.

3. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 2 wherein the basket further comprises a solid wear ring mounted proximate to the first end along the inner surface wherein the end plate and wear ring are configured to receive the slurry as it first enters the basket.

4. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 3 further comprising at least one accelerating vane mounted at the first end substantially orthogonal to the inner surface.

5. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 4 wherein the at least one accelerating vane extends substantially perpendicular from the end plate toward the second end of the basket.

6. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 4 wherein the at least one accelerating vane is forwardly curved relative to the direction of rotation of the basket.

7. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 4 wherein the wear resistant elements of the first section are formed from a material having an average weight loss in the range of 0.6 to 308 mm³ under the ASTM G-65 wear test.

8. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 4 wherein the wire members of the second section are formed from a material having an average weight loss that is less than 0.6 mm³ under the ASTM G-65 wear test.

9. The vibrating centrifuge of claim 1 wherein

the wear resistant elements of the first section have a constituent wear resistant property,

the wire members of the second section have a constituent wear resistant property, and

the constituent wear resistant properties of the wire members which form the second section is less than the constituent wear resistant property of the wear resistant element which from the first section.