초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for centrifugally separating the component species of a mixture, at least one of which species is a fluid, when the mixture includes at least one or more species of specific weight different from that of the fluid. The mixture is fed tangentially into the inlet end of a conve

An apparatus and method for centrifugally separating the component species of a mixture, at least one of which species is a fluid, when the mixture includes at least one or more species of specific weight different from that of the fluid. The mixture is fed tangentially into the inlet end of a converging nozzle, at high speed, to establish an axial helical flow path of the mixture. As the mixture moves along the converging nozzle, generally the lighter species collect in the center and the heavier ones collect at the outside wall. A throat of constant diameter or slightly converging angle may follow the nozzle. As the mixture moves through the throat, the radial separation is maintained similarly as in the nozzle. A diverging diffuser is located downstream of the throat and a throttle valve element is located at least partially within the diverging diffuser. The throttle valve element controls the size of the diffuser gap between the throttle valve element and the diffuser. This controls outlet area and thus flow of the mixture. The lighter species are generally extracted through one or more axially-centered openings in the throttle valve element, while heavier species exit through the diffuser gap. Heavy species can also be collected through one or more openings in the throat wall.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for separating component species of a mixture at least one of which species is a fluid, the mixture including at least one or more species of specific weight different from the fluid, said apparatus comprising: vortex forming means; feeding means for feeding the mixture into said vortex

An apparatus for separating component species of a mixture at least one of which species is a fluid, the mixture including at least one or more species of specific weight different from the fluid, said apparatus comprising: vortex forming means; feeding means for feeding the mixture into said vortex forming means to establish a vortex therein to induce radial separation of the species; diffuser means communicating with the downstream end of said vortex forming means; throttle means for controlling flow of the mixture, said throttle means including a throttle valve element which is disposed at least partially within said diffuser means and which cooperates with said diffuser means to control flow of the mixture including means for providing at least a first outlet and a second annular outlet of variable cross-sectional area; and means for extracting at least one of said species through said throttle valve element. A method of separating component species of a mixture at least one of which species is a fluid, the mixture including at least one or more species of specific weight different from that of the fluid, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the mixture into a converging nozzle; establishing flow of the mixture along a path within said converging nozzle to induce radial separation of the species within said converging nozzle; providing a first annular outlet of variable cross-sectional area for controlling flow of the mixture with a throttle valve downstream of the converging nozzle, the throttle valve including a throttle valve element disposed at least partially within a diverging diffuser and cooperating with the diverging diffuser to control flow of the mixture; and extracting at least one of the species through a second outlet in the throttle valve element.