CA1091202A - Centrifugal cleaner - Google Patents
Centrifugal cleanerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1091202A CA1091202A CA304,698A CA304698A CA1091202A CA 1091202 A CA1091202 A CA 1091202A CA 304698 A CA304698 A CA 304698A CA 1091202 A CA1091202 A CA 1091202A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- outlet
- slit
- side wall
- enclosure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
- B03B5/00—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating
- B03B5/62—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by hydraulic classifiers, e.g. of launder, tank, spiral or helical chute concentrator type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
- B04C5/08—Vortex chamber constructions
- B04C5/085—Vortex chamber constructions with wear-resisting arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
- B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
- B04C5/15—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations with swinging flaps or revolving sluices; Sluices; Check-valves
Landscapes
- Cyclones (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The invention provides improvements in vortex separ-ators for separating the rejects from the accepts in a particle-laden fluid, the separator including, in preferred embodiments, a replaceable inner wall lining minimizing maintenance costs while raising separating efficiency, and in addition, includes means for submitting the rejects to a size reduction process, an elutriation process, a dilution process, and a throttling process, all in one compact unit.
The invention provides improvements in vortex separ-ators for separating the rejects from the accepts in a particle-laden fluid, the separator including, in preferred embodiments, a replaceable inner wall lining minimizing maintenance costs while raising separating efficiency, and in addition, includes means for submitting the rejects to a size reduction process, an elutriation process, a dilution process, and a throttling process, all in one compact unit.
Description
1091ZO'~
T~e present inventi~on relates to i~mprovements in separ-ators and more particularl~, relates to irnprovements in methods and apparatuses for separat~ng certain particles from other par-ticles in a particle-containing fluid.
Apparatuses are known in t~e art for separating certain particles from other part~cles - such apparatuses are known as, for example, centrifugal cleaners, ~ortex separators, and the ` like. Generally, t~e particles to be separated are undesirable ` and o~ten oversized and~or relatively heavy compared to the more desirable particles. Usually, the particles to be removed con-stitute a relatively small proportion of the overall weight of particles present in the particle-containing fluid.
As aforementioned, apparatuses such as vortex separa-~ tors employed in the prior art for the treatment of the particle-j containing fluid are well known and generally, the particle-containing fluid is introduced into a chamber in the form of a high velocity vortex, the main part of the fluid containing the desirable particles being withdrawn from one end of the chamber and the remaining part o~ the fluid containing the undesirable 2Q particles being withdrawn from t~e other endof the cham~er.
The apparatuses receive wide use, for example, in the cleaning of paper pulp stock and various mineral mixtures.
One problem encountered with the prior art cleaners is the erosion of the inner wall lining by the particle-laden fluid which results in high maintenance costs and lo~er separa-ting efficiency. ~hile certain cleaners are equipped with linings which can be machined out and replaced, the attendant costs have discouraged their use.
In addition, in prior artvol~tex separators which use an elutriation process, a lower plate is normally lowered a substantial amount so that a re~ect end of t~e separator is open to the elutriation chamber.
,-0~
It is an object o~ t~e p~esent inyention to prov~de improvements in a method and apparatus for cleanin~ a particle-~ carrying fluid and for separating a particular class of par-; ticles therefrom.
rn a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for separating undesired par-ticles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the apparatus com-prising a chan~er having a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said c~amber, a ~irst discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, and a restricted outlet atthe other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent said first end for introducing a par-ticle-laden fluid into said chamber and imparting a vortical flow thereto, lining means to protect from erosion the inner : surface of said chamber, and a reject control and closure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclosure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, an annular enclosure surrounding said slit, the inter-nal bottom surface of said enclosure being formed by a rela-tively blunt upright conical abrasive surface having an inverted conical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by the extension of said restricted lower end towards said surface such that the size of re~ected material passing through sa~d slit is controlled and the material held at the opening of said passage, while orbiting around said opening, is worn by said abrasive surface to a size which will allow the same to pass through said slit, In a further embodiment of the yresent invention there is prov~ded, in an apparatus for separating undesired particles from liquids and liquid suspensions wherein the apparatus .
109120~
includes a c~ambex havin~ a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitud~nal axis, an ~nlet ad~acent one end o~ said chamber, a ~irst discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, and a restri:cted outlet at the other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent sa~d first end for introducing a particle-laden fluid into said chamber and imparting a vortical flow thereto, the improvement comprising separate removable lining means interiorly of andadjacent to said side wall to protect from erosion t~e inner surface of said chamber, said lining means having a con~iguration substantially similar to that of the chamber, whereby said lining means is adapted to fit into juxtaposition ~ith said side wall of said chamber. .
In a still further preferred embod;ment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for separating unde- ¦
s~red particles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the appar-atus comprising a side ~all d~sposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said chamber, a first discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, a restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent said first end for receiving a particle-laden fluid and imparting a Yortical flow thereto, a reject control and closure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclo-sure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, an annular enclosure surroundin~ said slit, the internal bottom surface of sa~d enclosure being formed by a relatively blunt upright conical abrasive surface having an inverted conical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by t~e extension o~ said restricted lower end towards said surface suc~ that the size of rejected material passing through sal`d slit ~s controlled and the material held at 105~ZO~.
the opening of said passage, while or~iting around said open~n~, is worn by said `a~ras~ve surf~ce to a size which will allow the same to pass through sa~d slit, and centri~ugal throttling means at the lo~er outlet to reduce t~e ~luid pressure of the rejected fluid, said throttling means Be.ng adapted to receive an inlet flo~ whose direction .is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
Having thus generally described the invention, refer-ence will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in wh~.ch:
FIGURE 1 is a s.ide elevational view, partially in section, of an embodiment of a centrifugal cleaner incorporating the improvements of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a portion of the cleaner of Figure l; I .
FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of a component of the cleaner;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the nozzle; and FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.
Referring to Figure 1, the device as shown comprises a headpiece 12, an upper barrel portion 13, a lower conical por-tion 14, a reject-elutriator 15, and a reject-centrifugal nozzle .
16.
The headpiece 12 has a stock inlet portion 17 designed to restrict a fluid entering under pressure so as to convert a considera~le part of the pressure energy into velocity energy, thereby causing a h~gh velocity vortex indicated by arrows 18 to lO91ZO~
occur in barrel port~on 13 and to travel down into conical por-tio~ 14. Inwardly of the headp~ece is a c~l~ndr~cal partition portion 19, often re~erred to as a vortex ~inder, which also serves as the central outlet discharge for the cleaned accepted stock (termed "accepts").
During the travel of the liquid of the vortex 18 down-wardly, the larger and heavier particles therein, including those w~t~ a lo~ sur~ace area to weight ratio, are thrown or moved outwardly to the ~all of the barrel under the centrifugal and shear forces induced by the vortex, and then travel down-wardly to the bottom of conical portion 14. ~lso in lower ; conical portion 14, the more central portions of the vortex, which contain the cleaner, smaller, lighter and relatively high surface to weight ratio particles, are reversed in direction and are turned up~ardly to form an upwardly extending inner vortex as indicated by arrows 20, th~s inner vortex being ~ a diameter at least su~ficient to fill the ~tlet opening of portion 19; the velocity of the above vortices ~ill generally be such that a low pressure gas cone 21 will be formed axially of the device. Such a gas cone will ordinarily extend upwardly into the outlet por-tion 19 and at its lower end the cone will ordinarily extend down to the bottom of the rejects-elutriator 15. Thus, the larger and heavier particles ~termed "rejects") are thrown onto the wall of the barrel 13 and cone 14 and slide down over the internal surface of these portions until they reach 22, the rejects outlet from the cone and/or the reject inlet to the rejects-elutriator 15, and which consists of an annular slit-like passage designated by reference numeral 15 and which will be described below in greater detail.
The design geometry of the barrel and cone portions are well known in the art, Heretofore, however, previous material ~(~9lZO~
and component-part desi~n o~ these portions h~s ~led to sub-stantially reduce the h~ ma~ntenance cost and/or the loss o~
cleaning efficiency arising ~rom the erosion o~ the internal surfaces of ~arrel 13 and conical port~on or cone 14 as the particles, mentioned a~ove, slide downwardly against these sur-faces. This is particularly true for applications where very abrasive particles are included in the heavier particles thrown against and sliding on these internal surfaces. In some of the previous attempts the harrel and more generally the cone ~ave been made of erosion-resistant materials, particularly - ceramic materials such as carborundum and alundum. These mate-rials, ho~ever, are very expensive and subject to breakage.
Even when less expens~ve materials were used, such as nylon and steel, there was a tendency to keep these still expensive parts in use until they failed structurally; in the meantime, however, the eroded internal surfaces were contr~but~ng to a lowering of the cleaning efficiency of the centrifugal device due to a tur-bulence caused by the roughened surfaces.
According to one embodiment o~ the invention, the internal surfaces of the barrel and/or cone portions can be kept relatively smooth inexpensively. A detailed application of such a structure in the present invention can be described as follows.
Re~erring to Fi~ure 1, ~arrel 13 and cone 14 portions are combined to form a barrel-cone section yenerally designated by reference numeral 23 which in turn consists of two parts, an outer barrel-cone shell 24 and an inner barrel-cone replaceable lining or sleeve 25.
The sleeve is made o~ an isocyanate resin such as polyurethane rubber, hereina~ter re~erred to as urethane. Ure-thane is particularly suitable as an abrasive liner and may be lO91ZUZ
used as a relati~ely thin slee~e since ~t ~s relativel~ inex-pensive and can be changed or replaced as frequently as is necessary to maintain h~g~ cleaning e~iciency. A hardness range for the uret~ane of about 75A to a~out 75D Durometer has been found to yield good results. A thickness range for the lining or sleeve wall of about one-quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch ~ill cover most applications; for a rela-t~vely small diameter ~arrel, e.g. 4 - 6 inches, a thickness of 3~8 inch is adequate. To prevent theurethane from moving or extruding at the end of the sleeve, the sleeve is recessed at both ends as identified by reference numerals 26 and 27 so it will mate more securely with the other more rigid parts of the unit and, when necessary, these sections may be reinforced with steel embedded in the plastic to prevent distortion. Various parts of the sleeve can be varied in thickness to conform to the various cleaner s~zes and allo~ use of universal parts for these varied sizes; this is particularly true at the lower end towards the re~ects outlet cone tip 28 where a universal reject unit is used. Other types of ru~ber (e.g. natural rubber) and resin ~e,g. nylon) can also be used for replaceable sleeve 25.
The barrel-cone shell 24 is sufficiently perforated to allow any liquid~gas to escape which might ~rm or accumulate at the interface between the lining and the shell. The perfora-tions are indicated at 29. When urethane linings are used with a solid shell 24, liqu~`d accumulates at this interface (probably due to osmotic action) in suffic~ent quantities to cause the lining to separate from the shell and to cause blisters. The extent of this phenomenon varies with the type o~ urethane.
The extent o~ the perforation will ~ary not ~ly with the t~pe of urethane but also with the degree of bonding present at the interface. Loose bonding, as would be the case here ~or a lW12(~
replacement sleeve, ~ould ~e~u~re ~ewer perforat~ons in the shell as the liquid could travel alon~ t~e ;nter~ace and exit from the nearest perforat~on or aperture. The upper perfora-tion lim~t depends essentially on structural strength and cost.
Generally, one to ~our 1~8th inch diameter holes per square foot have been found adequate. Since the shell provides the main structural strength it can be made out of any of the conven-tional structural materials. Fi~erglass has been found to be a relatively inexpensive and suitable material; per~orated steel plate and mesh has also been used. If the material used for the lining or sleeve is not susceptible to the above blistering phenomenon, the perforations have been found useful for separa-ting the lining from the shell when the sleeve has to be replaced. To that extent, perforations greater than 1/8 inch diameter may be desira~le so that larger, less pointed, devices can be inserted in the perforations when so used to push and separate the lining from the shell; alternatively, fluid pres- !
sure could be applied through these holes.
While the conical piece of the main cleaner may have straight sides or at least straight vertical elements for the greater part of the cone, a pre~erred embodiment employs a cone ~here vertical elements curve inwardly, that is, towards the lower portions of the cone, the walls slant more and more dir-ectly downward than at the upper portions.
The barrel and cone sections may also consist of sepa-rate parts ~i.e. an outer shell barrel and outer shell cone and their separate inner sleeves) joined together by a clamp or flange and the replaceable sleeves too may consist of separate parts. This i5 of importance mainly when repairing prior art cleaners or adapting them to the various features of this inven-tion.
~09lZOZ
The uniyersal re~ect~elut~iator for this part~cular embodiment consists o~ the ~ollow~n~ sections~aspects:
(a) a universal flange assemBly, which consists of an end grip portion 30 which presses or is pressed against the low~r part of the shell, an elutriating liquid ~- inlet 31 and a sealing rins or collar 32, held by 30 or bonded directly to or screwed into shell 24 these portions may be separate parts or molded in one part as s~o~n (and referred to as 33) using conventional r 10 structural materials, urethane being a preferred material;
(b) a universal reject-elutriator body or annular enclo- .
sure 34 made preferably o~ urethane of about 70 - 80 .
D and which contains the rest of the elutriating liquid tangential inlet plus a special chamber recessed in the upper part ~f the main chamber for blending the elutri-ating and chamber liquids; alternatively, the elutriating ¦ .
inlet may connect directly with the above-mentioned special chamber; ¦
(c) a universal dimple or core plate 35, which serves as the bottom of the chamber and also forms a part of the one tangential outlet 36 for the rejects; (the plate at the : same time serves as the top of the reject centrifugal .
nozzle and the top of the tangential inlet 36 to the reject-centrifugal nozzle 16). The central part of : plate 35 consists of an outer relatively blunt upright cone 37 against which the vortical liquid impinges and an inner, and a more fully central s~all inverted conical portion 38 which serves to centre the vortex 20 and gas core 21. The inner and outer conical por-tions may ~e all one piece or ~n separate pieces; they _ g _ ~091~
also ma~ be of separate mater~als or o~ the same material ~e.g. uret~ane); the inner part, ~or example, may be made of ceramic. The nature of the material is important in situations where the abrasive property of the material can be used to good advantage to reduce the size of the re~ect material as it orbits in this gap. The plate also defines or sets gap 22 through which the reject and elutriating flows must pass. The width of this gap may be changed by remov-ing a portion of tip 28 or extending it and/or adding or removing material spacers from the top side of recess 27.
It will be noted that both the reject flow from the main cleaner section and the back-flow o~ the elutriating liquid into the ma~n cleaner section is controlled by the gap or annular slot 22 between the tip 28 of the conical sleeve and the surface of the d~mple plate 35. Prior art designs use this gap only for the flow of the rejects and whenever elutriation is added the dimple plate is lowered 3 - 12 inches so that the whole area of the reject end of the conical portion 14 is open to the elutriation chamber. This latter method of elutriation was not used because it was felt that elutriation would not work in a restricted area and~or w~th a restricted inflow/backflow to the conical section. Applicant, on the other hand, has found after much experimentation that thisis not so and in addition to yielding a very compact elutriation chamber, the method and device allows for a better distribution of elutriating liquid between the backflow and the reject flow out of the chamberi in particular, the rejects have a lesser tendency to thicken and to block the outlets from the chamber, similarly less dilution of the backflow takes place with the result that the acceptsleaving - 10 - ~
lO~ZO;~
through outlet 19 have a higher consistency. ~Jower rejects consistency and higher ~ccepts consistency are both highly desir-able objectives. Further, th~s compact, relatively inexpensive design makes it possihle to provide every cleaner with adjust-able elutriation and reject d;lution all in the same device.
As shown in the drawings, the elutriating liquid enters tangentially and is combined with the liquid (in the elu-triator) in a special recessed or arched section in the upper part of the elutriator chamber. By blending the elutriating liquid with chamber liquid in a separate area, the turbulent mixing of the two liquids is minimized thereby preserving the elutriating effect. However, as mentioned in certain situa-tions, the tangential aspect may be eliminated and the connec- !
tion may be made directly to this arched section.
In prior art methods involving the use of a core-trap or plate, the re~ect flo~ leavesthe ~hamber through one out-let in a direction whic~ is at right angles to the central axis of the chamber. Applicant, on the other~and, has found that it is possible and advantageous for the reject flow to leave the chamber through the outlet in a direction which is parallel to the central axis of the chamber. The axial direction allows for a more overall compact design. The tangential outlet or ramp 36 also serves as tangential inlet or ramp to the reject-centrifugal nozzle 16 descr~bed below. The size of the single inlet to the nozzle can be varied by an adjustable orifice to allow for an adjustment in the rate of flow. With this more compact elutriator it is important not to use too high a flow of elutriating liquid as at high inlet flows, turbulence is created which destroys the elutriating action. One method of adjusting this flow is to begin with no flow and then to increase it gradually until an examination shows (a) the rejects fraction in the accepts is accepta~le or has not increased unduly and (b) the accepts fraction in the re~ects is at a minimum. A typical acceptable flow is in the order of one gallon per minute. The above re~ect-elutriator embodiment is hereinafter referred to as the "low-flow reject elutriator".
For situations where a higher degree of elutriation Cat higher flo~s) is dPsired, the re~ect-elutriator may be modi-fied as hereinafter described and as such it is referred to as the "high-flow reject elutr~ator".
Applicant's re~ect centri~ugal nozzle 16 consists of the following sections:
Ca) a universal reject-centrifugal nozzle body 16 prefer-a~ly made o~ urethane of about 70 - 80 D reinforced with steel. In the preferred embodiment, a top plate 35, described above under (c), in con~unction with the re~ect-elutriat~on chamber15, wh~re it serves as the bottom to that chamber, also serves as the roof of the inner nozzle. Part of the outer wall of the nozzle 16 contains an openin~ 39 into which the above-mentioned ramp spills; for ease of manufacture and re-duced cost, the outer walls and floor of the ramp are contained in the outer body~cage 40 and the outer sur-face of the nozzle serves as the inner wall for the ramp cr channel leading up to opening 39. Thus, the inner chamber of the nozzle is contained by the bottom surface of plate 35 and a floor which is spaced from this surface by, for example, approximately ~" with walls extending approximately ~ to 2/3 around the cir-cumference of the chamber and the rest of the circum-ference consisting of opening 39. Nozzle body 16 is circular and can rotate within cage 40; in the center ~O91;~()Z
of the floor of the nozzle chamber is an openin~
through which the rejects leave to enter tube 41 which carries the reject flow away from the body of the overall enclosure. Tube 41 could, if desired, be connected to a common closed reject header or to a separate closed conduit or the flow allowed to reject freely into the atmosphere.
(b) The lower part or cage 40 of the above-mentioned universal reject-elutriator body 34 encloses nozzle 16; thus 34 and 40 are one piece. The wall of inlet 36, to opening 39 in nozzle 16, is curved such that as the nozzle is rotated, the wall of the nozzle approaches or recedes from said wall thereby allowing the inlet opening 26 to vary in size. Thus, by positi`oning the nozzle, the flow of rejects to the nozzle can be controlled ~ simply rotating the nozzle 16.
~c) Clamp 42, which clamps around the nozzle tube 41 and rests up against the bottom of cage 40, thereby pre-vents nozzle 16 from moving upwards under the influence o~ a vacuum effect which can take place on occasion at the outlet of sleeve 25.
It will be noted tP,at the flow enters the chamber, is centrifugally throttled and then leaves the chamber. In a prior art method, tlle reject flow enters the cham~er through one inlet in a direction which is at right angles to the central axis. Applicant has found that it is possible for the flow to enter inlets in a direct~on which is parallel to the central axis of the chamber. As was the case for the elutriation cham-ber, this axial direction allows for a more overall compact and efficient design with less chance of complete flow stoppage as well as a better balanced flow pattern.
10~ 0~
Thus, it is seen that reject-centrifugal noæzle 16 and re~ect-elutriator 15 are contained in the univcrsal overall reject enclosure or cage 34 - 40 which is joined to the univer-sal collar 32 by clamp or retainer coupling 43. The enclosure may be made of conventional structural material (e.g. fiberglass, epoxy urethane formulat~ons, steel, etc.).
A further feature referred to in the above is the manner in which the reject material stopped by the annular slit-like passage or opening 22 between the tip 28 (of sleeve 25) and surface 37 (of plate 35) can be reduced in size (as it orbits in the opening) until it is small enough to pass through the open-ing; this operation or process is effected by making surface 37 an abrasive surface (e.~. by use of ceramic materials). Thus, the opening can be used to control the size of material allowed to enter the reject unit and so reduce the risk of the centri-fugal nozzle becoming plugged.
Looking at the above assembly of reject unit on an overall basis it will be seen to be a universal integrated re~ects processing unit. For, once the rejects enter or are about to enter the unit they are submitted (a~ to a size reduc-tion process, (b) to an elutriation process (i.e. the accepts fraction washed out and returned to the main cleaner), (c) to a dilution process and ~d) to a throttling process (which to a large degree is "plug-free'~; and the degree to which each of the four processes are carried out can be regulated by (i) control-ling the width of gap 22; (ii) the flow of elutriating liquid in through inlet 31; (iii) the degree of throttling by nozzle inlet 36 and (iv) the flow or flow pressure at the outlet and inlet to the main cleaner. The examination mentioned above in connec-tion with the regulation of the elutriating liquid flow can also be used to regulate the other control points.
109~202 In addition, the unit is easily disassem~led by merely removing one clamp and sliding the unit o~f the end of the conical portion of the main cleaner. This particular style of clamp is sold under tAe trade name "MARMON". It is possible also to join the lower part of rejects processing unit to the end grip or collar portion of the cone by a means other than the present style of clamp, e.g. by providing a screw-thread type connection.
As mentioned previously, the above processing unit can be modified so that the elutriating effect can be increased sub-stantially and this was referred to as the "high-flow rejects elutriator". This can be done by increasing space 22 to 4 to 5 inches using one of the prior art design parts, i.e. elutriation ~ater in greater quantities is introduced tangentially into a cylindrical shell-like container into a space shielded by an ex-tension to the end of sleeve 25, the above universal reject assembly consisting of dimple plate and centrifugal nozzle is then moved down and attached to the bottom of the container.
Thus, the advantages of the new reject assembly are combined with those of the old elutriating assemblyto'form a novel and more useful reject system.
Viewing the overall cleaner assembly it will be seen that a number of different sized main cleaner units, comprising headpiece 12, barrel-cone shell 24 and replaceabIe and adjust-able sleeve 25, are adaptable to receive the above universal in-tegrated rejects processing unit. This adaptability is ach-ieved by using dif~erent sleeves having different thicknesses at the entrance to the reject processing unit. For example, a main unit having a 10-inch diameter barrel and a 400 U. S. GPM
capacity could use a sleeve having a thickness of 0.625 inches at the entrance to the reject processing unit yielding a lO~lZ(~;~
satisfactory rejects outlet of 2.250 inches in diameter; simi-larly, for an 8-inch barrel and a 175 U. S. GPM capacity the thickness could be 0.840 inches and the outlet 1.820 inches in diameter; for a 6-inch barrel and a 100 U. S. GPM capacity the thickness could be 1.075 and the outlet 1.350 inches in diameter;
yet in all these sizes the outside diameterof barrel-cone and sleeve would be the same at the point where the universal rejects processing unit combines with the main cleaner unit.
Thus it will be apparent from the above that applicant has provided an overall integrated method and apparatus for sep-arating particles in such a way as to maximize the efficiency of the sepaxation while at the same time minimizing manufac-turing and maintenance costs.
T~e present inventi~on relates to i~mprovements in separ-ators and more particularl~, relates to irnprovements in methods and apparatuses for separat~ng certain particles from other par-ticles in a particle-containing fluid.
Apparatuses are known in t~e art for separating certain particles from other part~cles - such apparatuses are known as, for example, centrifugal cleaners, ~ortex separators, and the ` like. Generally, t~e particles to be separated are undesirable ` and o~ten oversized and~or relatively heavy compared to the more desirable particles. Usually, the particles to be removed con-stitute a relatively small proportion of the overall weight of particles present in the particle-containing fluid.
As aforementioned, apparatuses such as vortex separa-~ tors employed in the prior art for the treatment of the particle-j containing fluid are well known and generally, the particle-containing fluid is introduced into a chamber in the form of a high velocity vortex, the main part of the fluid containing the desirable particles being withdrawn from one end of the chamber and the remaining part o~ the fluid containing the undesirable 2Q particles being withdrawn from t~e other endof the cham~er.
The apparatuses receive wide use, for example, in the cleaning of paper pulp stock and various mineral mixtures.
One problem encountered with the prior art cleaners is the erosion of the inner wall lining by the particle-laden fluid which results in high maintenance costs and lo~er separa-ting efficiency. ~hile certain cleaners are equipped with linings which can be machined out and replaced, the attendant costs have discouraged their use.
In addition, in prior artvol~tex separators which use an elutriation process, a lower plate is normally lowered a substantial amount so that a re~ect end of t~e separator is open to the elutriation chamber.
,-0~
It is an object o~ t~e p~esent inyention to prov~de improvements in a method and apparatus for cleanin~ a particle-~ carrying fluid and for separating a particular class of par-; ticles therefrom.
rn a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for separating undesired par-ticles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the apparatus com-prising a chan~er having a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said c~amber, a ~irst discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, and a restricted outlet atthe other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent said first end for introducing a par-ticle-laden fluid into said chamber and imparting a vortical flow thereto, lining means to protect from erosion the inner : surface of said chamber, and a reject control and closure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclosure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, an annular enclosure surrounding said slit, the inter-nal bottom surface of said enclosure being formed by a rela-tively blunt upright conical abrasive surface having an inverted conical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by the extension of said restricted lower end towards said surface such that the size of re~ected material passing through sa~d slit is controlled and the material held at the opening of said passage, while orbiting around said opening, is worn by said abrasive surface to a size which will allow the same to pass through said slit, In a further embodiment of the yresent invention there is prov~ded, in an apparatus for separating undesired particles from liquids and liquid suspensions wherein the apparatus .
109120~
includes a c~ambex havin~ a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitud~nal axis, an ~nlet ad~acent one end o~ said chamber, a ~irst discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, and a restri:cted outlet at the other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent sa~d first end for introducing a particle-laden fluid into said chamber and imparting a vortical flow thereto, the improvement comprising separate removable lining means interiorly of andadjacent to said side wall to protect from erosion t~e inner surface of said chamber, said lining means having a con~iguration substantially similar to that of the chamber, whereby said lining means is adapted to fit into juxtaposition ~ith said side wall of said chamber. .
In a still further preferred embod;ment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for separating unde- ¦
s~red particles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the appar-atus comprising a side ~all d~sposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said chamber, a first discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, a restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent said first end for receiving a particle-laden fluid and imparting a Yortical flow thereto, a reject control and closure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclo-sure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, an annular enclosure surroundin~ said slit, the internal bottom surface of sa~d enclosure being formed by a relatively blunt upright conical abrasive surface having an inverted conical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by t~e extension o~ said restricted lower end towards said surface suc~ that the size of rejected material passing through sal`d slit ~s controlled and the material held at 105~ZO~.
the opening of said passage, while or~iting around said open~n~, is worn by said `a~ras~ve surf~ce to a size which will allow the same to pass through sa~d slit, and centri~ugal throttling means at the lo~er outlet to reduce t~e ~luid pressure of the rejected fluid, said throttling means Be.ng adapted to receive an inlet flo~ whose direction .is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
Having thus generally described the invention, refer-ence will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in wh~.ch:
FIGURE 1 is a s.ide elevational view, partially in section, of an embodiment of a centrifugal cleaner incorporating the improvements of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a portion of the cleaner of Figure l; I .
FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of a component of the cleaner;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the nozzle; and FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.
Referring to Figure 1, the device as shown comprises a headpiece 12, an upper barrel portion 13, a lower conical por-tion 14, a reject-elutriator 15, and a reject-centrifugal nozzle .
16.
The headpiece 12 has a stock inlet portion 17 designed to restrict a fluid entering under pressure so as to convert a considera~le part of the pressure energy into velocity energy, thereby causing a h~gh velocity vortex indicated by arrows 18 to lO91ZO~
occur in barrel port~on 13 and to travel down into conical por-tio~ 14. Inwardly of the headp~ece is a c~l~ndr~cal partition portion 19, often re~erred to as a vortex ~inder, which also serves as the central outlet discharge for the cleaned accepted stock (termed "accepts").
During the travel of the liquid of the vortex 18 down-wardly, the larger and heavier particles therein, including those w~t~ a lo~ sur~ace area to weight ratio, are thrown or moved outwardly to the ~all of the barrel under the centrifugal and shear forces induced by the vortex, and then travel down-wardly to the bottom of conical portion 14. ~lso in lower ; conical portion 14, the more central portions of the vortex, which contain the cleaner, smaller, lighter and relatively high surface to weight ratio particles, are reversed in direction and are turned up~ardly to form an upwardly extending inner vortex as indicated by arrows 20, th~s inner vortex being ~ a diameter at least su~ficient to fill the ~tlet opening of portion 19; the velocity of the above vortices ~ill generally be such that a low pressure gas cone 21 will be formed axially of the device. Such a gas cone will ordinarily extend upwardly into the outlet por-tion 19 and at its lower end the cone will ordinarily extend down to the bottom of the rejects-elutriator 15. Thus, the larger and heavier particles ~termed "rejects") are thrown onto the wall of the barrel 13 and cone 14 and slide down over the internal surface of these portions until they reach 22, the rejects outlet from the cone and/or the reject inlet to the rejects-elutriator 15, and which consists of an annular slit-like passage designated by reference numeral 15 and which will be described below in greater detail.
The design geometry of the barrel and cone portions are well known in the art, Heretofore, however, previous material ~(~9lZO~
and component-part desi~n o~ these portions h~s ~led to sub-stantially reduce the h~ ma~ntenance cost and/or the loss o~
cleaning efficiency arising ~rom the erosion o~ the internal surfaces of ~arrel 13 and conical port~on or cone 14 as the particles, mentioned a~ove, slide downwardly against these sur-faces. This is particularly true for applications where very abrasive particles are included in the heavier particles thrown against and sliding on these internal surfaces. In some of the previous attempts the harrel and more generally the cone ~ave been made of erosion-resistant materials, particularly - ceramic materials such as carborundum and alundum. These mate-rials, ho~ever, are very expensive and subject to breakage.
Even when less expens~ve materials were used, such as nylon and steel, there was a tendency to keep these still expensive parts in use until they failed structurally; in the meantime, however, the eroded internal surfaces were contr~but~ng to a lowering of the cleaning efficiency of the centrifugal device due to a tur-bulence caused by the roughened surfaces.
According to one embodiment o~ the invention, the internal surfaces of the barrel and/or cone portions can be kept relatively smooth inexpensively. A detailed application of such a structure in the present invention can be described as follows.
Re~erring to Fi~ure 1, ~arrel 13 and cone 14 portions are combined to form a barrel-cone section yenerally designated by reference numeral 23 which in turn consists of two parts, an outer barrel-cone shell 24 and an inner barrel-cone replaceable lining or sleeve 25.
The sleeve is made o~ an isocyanate resin such as polyurethane rubber, hereina~ter re~erred to as urethane. Ure-thane is particularly suitable as an abrasive liner and may be lO91ZUZ
used as a relati~ely thin slee~e since ~t ~s relativel~ inex-pensive and can be changed or replaced as frequently as is necessary to maintain h~g~ cleaning e~iciency. A hardness range for the uret~ane of about 75A to a~out 75D Durometer has been found to yield good results. A thickness range for the lining or sleeve wall of about one-quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch ~ill cover most applications; for a rela-t~vely small diameter ~arrel, e.g. 4 - 6 inches, a thickness of 3~8 inch is adequate. To prevent theurethane from moving or extruding at the end of the sleeve, the sleeve is recessed at both ends as identified by reference numerals 26 and 27 so it will mate more securely with the other more rigid parts of the unit and, when necessary, these sections may be reinforced with steel embedded in the plastic to prevent distortion. Various parts of the sleeve can be varied in thickness to conform to the various cleaner s~zes and allo~ use of universal parts for these varied sizes; this is particularly true at the lower end towards the re~ects outlet cone tip 28 where a universal reject unit is used. Other types of ru~ber (e.g. natural rubber) and resin ~e,g. nylon) can also be used for replaceable sleeve 25.
The barrel-cone shell 24 is sufficiently perforated to allow any liquid~gas to escape which might ~rm or accumulate at the interface between the lining and the shell. The perfora-tions are indicated at 29. When urethane linings are used with a solid shell 24, liqu~`d accumulates at this interface (probably due to osmotic action) in suffic~ent quantities to cause the lining to separate from the shell and to cause blisters. The extent of this phenomenon varies with the type o~ urethane.
The extent o~ the perforation will ~ary not ~ly with the t~pe of urethane but also with the degree of bonding present at the interface. Loose bonding, as would be the case here ~or a lW12(~
replacement sleeve, ~ould ~e~u~re ~ewer perforat~ons in the shell as the liquid could travel alon~ t~e ;nter~ace and exit from the nearest perforat~on or aperture. The upper perfora-tion lim~t depends essentially on structural strength and cost.
Generally, one to ~our 1~8th inch diameter holes per square foot have been found adequate. Since the shell provides the main structural strength it can be made out of any of the conven-tional structural materials. Fi~erglass has been found to be a relatively inexpensive and suitable material; per~orated steel plate and mesh has also been used. If the material used for the lining or sleeve is not susceptible to the above blistering phenomenon, the perforations have been found useful for separa-ting the lining from the shell when the sleeve has to be replaced. To that extent, perforations greater than 1/8 inch diameter may be desira~le so that larger, less pointed, devices can be inserted in the perforations when so used to push and separate the lining from the shell; alternatively, fluid pres- !
sure could be applied through these holes.
While the conical piece of the main cleaner may have straight sides or at least straight vertical elements for the greater part of the cone, a pre~erred embodiment employs a cone ~here vertical elements curve inwardly, that is, towards the lower portions of the cone, the walls slant more and more dir-ectly downward than at the upper portions.
The barrel and cone sections may also consist of sepa-rate parts ~i.e. an outer shell barrel and outer shell cone and their separate inner sleeves) joined together by a clamp or flange and the replaceable sleeves too may consist of separate parts. This i5 of importance mainly when repairing prior art cleaners or adapting them to the various features of this inven-tion.
~09lZOZ
The uniyersal re~ect~elut~iator for this part~cular embodiment consists o~ the ~ollow~n~ sections~aspects:
(a) a universal flange assemBly, which consists of an end grip portion 30 which presses or is pressed against the low~r part of the shell, an elutriating liquid ~- inlet 31 and a sealing rins or collar 32, held by 30 or bonded directly to or screwed into shell 24 these portions may be separate parts or molded in one part as s~o~n (and referred to as 33) using conventional r 10 structural materials, urethane being a preferred material;
(b) a universal reject-elutriator body or annular enclo- .
sure 34 made preferably o~ urethane of about 70 - 80 .
D and which contains the rest of the elutriating liquid tangential inlet plus a special chamber recessed in the upper part ~f the main chamber for blending the elutri-ating and chamber liquids; alternatively, the elutriating ¦ .
inlet may connect directly with the above-mentioned special chamber; ¦
(c) a universal dimple or core plate 35, which serves as the bottom of the chamber and also forms a part of the one tangential outlet 36 for the rejects; (the plate at the : same time serves as the top of the reject centrifugal .
nozzle and the top of the tangential inlet 36 to the reject-centrifugal nozzle 16). The central part of : plate 35 consists of an outer relatively blunt upright cone 37 against which the vortical liquid impinges and an inner, and a more fully central s~all inverted conical portion 38 which serves to centre the vortex 20 and gas core 21. The inner and outer conical por-tions may ~e all one piece or ~n separate pieces; they _ g _ ~091~
also ma~ be of separate mater~als or o~ the same material ~e.g. uret~ane); the inner part, ~or example, may be made of ceramic. The nature of the material is important in situations where the abrasive property of the material can be used to good advantage to reduce the size of the re~ect material as it orbits in this gap. The plate also defines or sets gap 22 through which the reject and elutriating flows must pass. The width of this gap may be changed by remov-ing a portion of tip 28 or extending it and/or adding or removing material spacers from the top side of recess 27.
It will be noted that both the reject flow from the main cleaner section and the back-flow o~ the elutriating liquid into the ma~n cleaner section is controlled by the gap or annular slot 22 between the tip 28 of the conical sleeve and the surface of the d~mple plate 35. Prior art designs use this gap only for the flow of the rejects and whenever elutriation is added the dimple plate is lowered 3 - 12 inches so that the whole area of the reject end of the conical portion 14 is open to the elutriation chamber. This latter method of elutriation was not used because it was felt that elutriation would not work in a restricted area and~or w~th a restricted inflow/backflow to the conical section. Applicant, on the other hand, has found after much experimentation that thisis not so and in addition to yielding a very compact elutriation chamber, the method and device allows for a better distribution of elutriating liquid between the backflow and the reject flow out of the chamberi in particular, the rejects have a lesser tendency to thicken and to block the outlets from the chamber, similarly less dilution of the backflow takes place with the result that the acceptsleaving - 10 - ~
lO~ZO;~
through outlet 19 have a higher consistency. ~Jower rejects consistency and higher ~ccepts consistency are both highly desir-able objectives. Further, th~s compact, relatively inexpensive design makes it possihle to provide every cleaner with adjust-able elutriation and reject d;lution all in the same device.
As shown in the drawings, the elutriating liquid enters tangentially and is combined with the liquid (in the elu-triator) in a special recessed or arched section in the upper part of the elutriator chamber. By blending the elutriating liquid with chamber liquid in a separate area, the turbulent mixing of the two liquids is minimized thereby preserving the elutriating effect. However, as mentioned in certain situa-tions, the tangential aspect may be eliminated and the connec- !
tion may be made directly to this arched section.
In prior art methods involving the use of a core-trap or plate, the re~ect flo~ leavesthe ~hamber through one out-let in a direction whic~ is at right angles to the central axis of the chamber. Applicant, on the other~and, has found that it is possible and advantageous for the reject flow to leave the chamber through the outlet in a direction which is parallel to the central axis of the chamber. The axial direction allows for a more overall compact design. The tangential outlet or ramp 36 also serves as tangential inlet or ramp to the reject-centrifugal nozzle 16 descr~bed below. The size of the single inlet to the nozzle can be varied by an adjustable orifice to allow for an adjustment in the rate of flow. With this more compact elutriator it is important not to use too high a flow of elutriating liquid as at high inlet flows, turbulence is created which destroys the elutriating action. One method of adjusting this flow is to begin with no flow and then to increase it gradually until an examination shows (a) the rejects fraction in the accepts is accepta~le or has not increased unduly and (b) the accepts fraction in the re~ects is at a minimum. A typical acceptable flow is in the order of one gallon per minute. The above re~ect-elutriator embodiment is hereinafter referred to as the "low-flow reject elutriator".
For situations where a higher degree of elutriation Cat higher flo~s) is dPsired, the re~ect-elutriator may be modi-fied as hereinafter described and as such it is referred to as the "high-flow reject elutr~ator".
Applicant's re~ect centri~ugal nozzle 16 consists of the following sections:
Ca) a universal reject-centrifugal nozzle body 16 prefer-a~ly made o~ urethane of about 70 - 80 D reinforced with steel. In the preferred embodiment, a top plate 35, described above under (c), in con~unction with the re~ect-elutriat~on chamber15, wh~re it serves as the bottom to that chamber, also serves as the roof of the inner nozzle. Part of the outer wall of the nozzle 16 contains an openin~ 39 into which the above-mentioned ramp spills; for ease of manufacture and re-duced cost, the outer walls and floor of the ramp are contained in the outer body~cage 40 and the outer sur-face of the nozzle serves as the inner wall for the ramp cr channel leading up to opening 39. Thus, the inner chamber of the nozzle is contained by the bottom surface of plate 35 and a floor which is spaced from this surface by, for example, approximately ~" with walls extending approximately ~ to 2/3 around the cir-cumference of the chamber and the rest of the circum-ference consisting of opening 39. Nozzle body 16 is circular and can rotate within cage 40; in the center ~O91;~()Z
of the floor of the nozzle chamber is an openin~
through which the rejects leave to enter tube 41 which carries the reject flow away from the body of the overall enclosure. Tube 41 could, if desired, be connected to a common closed reject header or to a separate closed conduit or the flow allowed to reject freely into the atmosphere.
(b) The lower part or cage 40 of the above-mentioned universal reject-elutriator body 34 encloses nozzle 16; thus 34 and 40 are one piece. The wall of inlet 36, to opening 39 in nozzle 16, is curved such that as the nozzle is rotated, the wall of the nozzle approaches or recedes from said wall thereby allowing the inlet opening 26 to vary in size. Thus, by positi`oning the nozzle, the flow of rejects to the nozzle can be controlled ~ simply rotating the nozzle 16.
~c) Clamp 42, which clamps around the nozzle tube 41 and rests up against the bottom of cage 40, thereby pre-vents nozzle 16 from moving upwards under the influence o~ a vacuum effect which can take place on occasion at the outlet of sleeve 25.
It will be noted tP,at the flow enters the chamber, is centrifugally throttled and then leaves the chamber. In a prior art method, tlle reject flow enters the cham~er through one inlet in a direction which is at right angles to the central axis. Applicant has found that it is possible for the flow to enter inlets in a direct~on which is parallel to the central axis of the chamber. As was the case for the elutriation cham-ber, this axial direction allows for a more overall compact and efficient design with less chance of complete flow stoppage as well as a better balanced flow pattern.
10~ 0~
Thus, it is seen that reject-centrifugal noæzle 16 and re~ect-elutriator 15 are contained in the univcrsal overall reject enclosure or cage 34 - 40 which is joined to the univer-sal collar 32 by clamp or retainer coupling 43. The enclosure may be made of conventional structural material (e.g. fiberglass, epoxy urethane formulat~ons, steel, etc.).
A further feature referred to in the above is the manner in which the reject material stopped by the annular slit-like passage or opening 22 between the tip 28 (of sleeve 25) and surface 37 (of plate 35) can be reduced in size (as it orbits in the opening) until it is small enough to pass through the open-ing; this operation or process is effected by making surface 37 an abrasive surface (e.~. by use of ceramic materials). Thus, the opening can be used to control the size of material allowed to enter the reject unit and so reduce the risk of the centri-fugal nozzle becoming plugged.
Looking at the above assembly of reject unit on an overall basis it will be seen to be a universal integrated re~ects processing unit. For, once the rejects enter or are about to enter the unit they are submitted (a~ to a size reduc-tion process, (b) to an elutriation process (i.e. the accepts fraction washed out and returned to the main cleaner), (c) to a dilution process and ~d) to a throttling process (which to a large degree is "plug-free'~; and the degree to which each of the four processes are carried out can be regulated by (i) control-ling the width of gap 22; (ii) the flow of elutriating liquid in through inlet 31; (iii) the degree of throttling by nozzle inlet 36 and (iv) the flow or flow pressure at the outlet and inlet to the main cleaner. The examination mentioned above in connec-tion with the regulation of the elutriating liquid flow can also be used to regulate the other control points.
109~202 In addition, the unit is easily disassem~led by merely removing one clamp and sliding the unit o~f the end of the conical portion of the main cleaner. This particular style of clamp is sold under tAe trade name "MARMON". It is possible also to join the lower part of rejects processing unit to the end grip or collar portion of the cone by a means other than the present style of clamp, e.g. by providing a screw-thread type connection.
As mentioned previously, the above processing unit can be modified so that the elutriating effect can be increased sub-stantially and this was referred to as the "high-flow rejects elutriator". This can be done by increasing space 22 to 4 to 5 inches using one of the prior art design parts, i.e. elutriation ~ater in greater quantities is introduced tangentially into a cylindrical shell-like container into a space shielded by an ex-tension to the end of sleeve 25, the above universal reject assembly consisting of dimple plate and centrifugal nozzle is then moved down and attached to the bottom of the container.
Thus, the advantages of the new reject assembly are combined with those of the old elutriating assemblyto'form a novel and more useful reject system.
Viewing the overall cleaner assembly it will be seen that a number of different sized main cleaner units, comprising headpiece 12, barrel-cone shell 24 and replaceabIe and adjust-able sleeve 25, are adaptable to receive the above universal in-tegrated rejects processing unit. This adaptability is ach-ieved by using dif~erent sleeves having different thicknesses at the entrance to the reject processing unit. For example, a main unit having a 10-inch diameter barrel and a 400 U. S. GPM
capacity could use a sleeve having a thickness of 0.625 inches at the entrance to the reject processing unit yielding a lO~lZ(~;~
satisfactory rejects outlet of 2.250 inches in diameter; simi-larly, for an 8-inch barrel and a 175 U. S. GPM capacity the thickness could be 0.840 inches and the outlet 1.820 inches in diameter; for a 6-inch barrel and a 100 U. S. GPM capacity the thickness could be 1.075 and the outlet 1.350 inches in diameter;
yet in all these sizes the outside diameterof barrel-cone and sleeve would be the same at the point where the universal rejects processing unit combines with the main cleaner unit.
Thus it will be apparent from the above that applicant has provided an overall integrated method and apparatus for sep-arating particles in such a way as to maximize the efficiency of the sepaxation while at the same time minimizing manufac-turing and maintenance costs.
Claims (14)
1. An apparatus for separating undesired particles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the apparatus com-prising a chamber having a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said chamber for introducing a particle-laden fluid into said cham-ber and imparting a vortical flow thereto, a first discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, and a restric-ted outlet at the other end of said chamber, and a reject control and enclosure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclosure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, an annular enclosure surrounding said slit, the internal bottom surface of said enclosure being formed by a relatively blunt upright conical abrasive surface having an inverted con-ical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by the extension of said restricted outlet towards said surface such that the size of rejected material passing through said slit is controlled and the material held at the opening of said passage, while orbiting around said opening, is worn by said abrasive surface to a size which will allow the same to pass through said slit.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a lower portion of a frusto-conical configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said abrasive surface is formed of a ceramic material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus in-cludes separate, removable lining means interiorly of and adjacent to said side wall to protect from erosion the inner surface of said chamber, said lining means having a configur-ation substantially similar to that of the chamber, whereby said lining means is adapted to fit into juxtaposition with said side wall of said chamber.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein there are included perforations in said wall to permit any liquid/
gas formed in the interface between said lining means and said side lining means and said side wall to escape.
gas formed in the interface between said lining means and said side lining means and said side wall to escape.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said lining means is formed of a urethane material.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said chamber includes a lower portion of a frusto-conical configuration.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 or 4 further including elutriating means at an outlet from said enclosure means to recover desired material from the rejected liquid.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 or 4 further including centrifugal throttling means at said outlet to reduce the fluid pressure of the rejected liquid, said throttling means being adapted to receive an inlet flow whose direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 or 4 wherein said chamber is perforated.
11. An apparatus for separating undesired particles from liquids and liquid suspensions, the apparatus comprising a side wall disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis, an inlet adjacent one end of said chamber, a first discharge outlet in an end wall adjacent said first end, a restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber, an inlet adjacent said first end for receiving a particle-laden fluid and im-parting a vortical flow thereto, a reject control and enclosure means concentric with and into which the restricted outlet at the other end of said chamber opens, the entrance to said enclosure being formed by an annular slit-like passage for discharge of rejected material, size control means proxi-mate said restricted outlet comprising a relatively blunt up-right conical abrasive surface having an inverted conical area therein, the height of said slit-like passage being defined by the extension of said restricted lower end towards said surface such that the size of rejected material passing through said slit is controlled and the material held at the opening of said passage, while orbiting around said opening, is worn by said abrasive surface to a size which will allow the same to pass through said slit, and centrifugal throttling means at the lower outlet to reduce the fluid pressure of the rejected fluid, said throttling means being adapted to re-ceive an inlet flow whose direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including lining means on the inner surface of said side wall to protect the same from erosion.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a lower portion of said chamber has a frusto-conical configuration with the narrow end thereof providing said restricted outlet.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said side wall is perforated to permit any liquid/gas formed at the inter-face between said lining means and said side wall to escape.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA304,698A CA1091202A (en) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-06-02 | Centrifugal cleaner |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA304,698A CA1091202A (en) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-06-02 | Centrifugal cleaner |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1091202A true CA1091202A (en) | 1980-12-09 |
Family
ID=4111611
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA304,698A Expired CA1091202A (en) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-06-02 | Centrifugal cleaner |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1091202A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1994012449A2 (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-06-09 | Lanxide Technology Company, Lp | Novel macrocomposite bodies and methods for making the same |
| RU2727494C1 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2020-07-21 | Атлас Копко Эрпауэр, Намлозе Веннотсхап | Liquid separator |
-
1978
- 1978-06-02 CA CA304,698A patent/CA1091202A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1994012449A2 (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-06-09 | Lanxide Technology Company, Lp | Novel macrocomposite bodies and methods for making the same |
| WO1994012449A3 (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-08-18 | Lanxide Technology Co Ltd | Novel macrocomposite bodies and methods for making the same |
| RU2727494C1 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2020-07-21 | Атлас Копко Эрпауэр, Намлозе Веннотсхап | Liquid separator |
| EP3525909B1 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2020-12-02 | Atlas Copco Airpower | Liquid separator |
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