EP1534437A2 - Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin - Google Patents

Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin

Info

Publication number
EP1534437A2
EP1534437A2 EP03765636A EP03765636A EP1534437A2 EP 1534437 A2 EP1534437 A2 EP 1534437A2 EP 03765636 A EP03765636 A EP 03765636A EP 03765636 A EP03765636 A EP 03765636A EP 1534437 A2 EP1534437 A2 EP 1534437A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
solids
gas
housing
pin
swirl
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP03765636A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1534437B1 (en
Inventor
Thomas Shawn Dewitz
Hubertus Wilhelmus Albertus Dries
Andreas Ekker
Jan Kater
Richard Addison Sanborn
Weiming Peng
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Original Assignee
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV filed Critical Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority to EP03765636A priority Critical patent/EP1534437B1/en
Publication of EP1534437A2 publication Critical patent/EP1534437A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1534437B1 publication Critical patent/EP1534437B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B04C5/181—Bulkheads or central bodies in the discharge opening
    • 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
    • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
    • B04C3/04—Multiple arrangement thereof
    • 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
    • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
    • B04C3/06—Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
    • 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
    • B04C5/103—Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber
    • 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
    • B04C5/12—Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits
    • B04C5/13—Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow
    • 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
    • B04C5/24—Multiple arrangement thereof
    • B04C5/28—Multiple arrangement thereof for parallel flow

Definitions

  • the invention is related to an improved swirl tube separator.
  • the invention is also related to an improved design for a third stage separator comprising the improved swirl tube separators .
  • Such third stage separators may for example be used in a fluid catalyst cracker (FCC) process.
  • Third stage separators remove to an acceptable level the fine particles still present in the gas stream leaving the fluid catalyzed cracker regenerator just up-stream of an expander turbine or flue-gas boiler. It has been found that third stage separators may also find application in other processes, wherein finely divided solid particles are to be separated from entraining gases. Examples of such processes are direct iron reduction processes, coal gasification processes, coal based power plants and calcining processes, such as aluminium calcining. Third stage separators as for example described above comprise a plurality of parallel-arranged swirl tube separators.
  • Swirl tube separators are cylindrical cyclones with an axial entry for a solids-gas mixture and are for example described in EP-B-360360, US-A- 4863500, US-A-5681450, GB-A-1411136 and US-A-3541766.
  • a swirl tube separator unit is described comprising of a gas outlet tube placed axially in the upper part of a vertically tubular housing, wherein an axial directed gas inlet means is provided by the annular space between the gas outlet tube and the vertically arranged tubular housing and wherein in said annular space swirl imparting means are arranged.
  • FIG 2 of EP-B-360360 a swirl tube separator is shown having a vortex stabilizer comprising a pin placed on a base element. It is believed that the vortex will be kept in the center of the tubular housing because the lower end of the vortex will terminate on the pin.
  • US-A-4810264 discloses a cyclone separator having a tangentially arranged inlet for gas and solids. Below the gas outlet conduit an adjustable vortex stabiliser in the form of a flat plate or a disc is positioned below this stabiliser a vortex finder is positioned. According to this publication the distance between vortex stabiliser and the gas outlet opening is frequently adjusted such to vary the particulate content of the gas exiting through the gas-outlet opening.
  • US-A-1753502 discloses a pneumatic dust collector. The dust collector consists of a cyclone having a tangentially arranged gas-solids inlet opening. From the gas outlet conduit a stem extends to a disk positioned below the gas outlet opening.
  • EP-A-052042 discloses a swirl tube separator provided with anti-erosion means fixed on the interior wall of the housing of the separators.
  • US-A-4795561 discloses a cyclone separator provided with a tangential arranged gas-solids inlet, a cylindrical housing with a closed bottom and a valve at the bottom of the cylindrical housing.
  • the valve is fixed to a pin.
  • the opposite end of this pin is located in the gas outlet conduit present at the upper end of the cylindrical housing. The pin thus mechanically positions the valve and the movement of the valve within the separator.
  • US-A-4072481 discloses a device for separating a gas from a mixture of a liquid, solids and gas.
  • the inlet for the mixture is tangential.
  • a so-called stand provided with a plate at its upper end is present at some distance below the outlet for the gaseous phase.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a swirl tube separator having improved separation efficiency and which has a lesser tendency to operate with a non-symmetric vortex.
  • the invention is directed to the following swirl tube separator.
  • Swirl tube separator for separating solids from a gas-solid containing feed comprising a tubular housing, an axial inlet for introducing a gas- solids mixture at one end of said housing, wherein said axial inlet for introducing the gas-solids mixture is provided with swirl imparting means, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co- axial positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, wherein along the axis of the tubular housing a vortex extender pin is present.
  • the invention is also directed to a multi separator consisting a plurality of the above described swirl tube separators.
  • the invention is also directed to the use of the swirl tube separator and/or the multi separator.
  • the above swirl tube separator shows improved separation efficiency in combination with a more stable operation than swirl tube separators not having the above-described pin.
  • This stable operating condition is also observed and advantageous when a multitude of swirl tube separators operate in parallel, wherein the solids outlet opening of each individual swirl tube separators is in fluid communication with the common solids collecting space of the vessel, such as shown in US-A-5538696 and in the above referred to article .
  • the actual location of the vortex extender pin along the axis of the tubular housing is not critical as long as the pin runs along a certain length of the axis.
  • the pin may be located at the solids outlet opening and/or at the gas outlets opening or extend from the gas outlets opening to the solids outlet opening.
  • the length (1) of the pin along the axis may be as long as possible. Applicants found that longer pin lengths (1) are advantageous for achieving a better separation efficiency. However very long pins will suffer from mechanical failure if they are not supported along their length. These supports in the tubular housing are on the other hand not preferred because they negatively influence the separation efficiency. The maximum length will thus be determined by for example the strength of the pin material, its tendency to vibrate and the nature of the pin supports chosen. For this reason pins extending from within the gas outlet conduit are preferred because fixation can be performed inside the gas outlet conduit only, resulting in a minimal disturbance of the vortex along the pin within the tubular housing.
  • Preferred pins which are fixed in the gas outlet conduit and which run along 100 % of the axis may advantageously be also supported at its lower end. More preferably such long pins extend to a position below the tubular housing to allow the lower support to be placed somewhat spaced away from said housing. The length of such pins may be up to twice the length of the axis. Hollow pins may suitably be used because they are more rigid.
  • the pin is preferably fixed within the gas outlet conduit.
  • the pin is also fixed in the tubular housing. Fixation is preferably performed by means of a vane-body placed in the gas outlet conduit. This vane body will, in use, convert the swirling motion of the gas being discharged from the tubular housing (2) in the gas outlet conduit into a pressure increase downstream of the vane body. Thus a swirl tube separator provided with such a vane body will have a reduced pressure drop.
  • the pin runs along at least 20%, more preferably along at least 30% of the axis.
  • the pin may run up to 100% of the axis.
  • the axis is defined from the inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit to the opposite end of the tubular housing.
  • tubular housing is here meant the part having a constant diameter, thus excluding any tapered parts.
  • the opposite end is either the solids outlet opening in case of a reverse flow swirl tube or the gas-solids inlet opening for a co-current swirl tube.
  • the pin may be longer than the axis itself. The length may be limited at its upper end in order to minimize vibration of the pin. Alternatively the pin will need to be fixed such that vibration is avoided.
  • the axial inlet of the swirl tube will be provided with swirl imparting means such that in the tubular housing sufficient swirling movement is effected to separate the solids from the gas through centrifugal forces.
  • the axial inlet may have a tubular design or an annular design depending on, for example, the position of the gas outlet conduit. If the swirl tube separator is of the co-current type the gas outlet conduit is positioned at the opposite end of the tubular housing relative to the gas-solids inlet. The gas solids inlet is then preferably a centrally placed conduit placed coaxial with the housing and provided with swirl imparting means. The above-defined axis will run from the swirl imparting means to the gas inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit.
  • the gas-solids inlet is preferably positioned in the annular space between the gas outlet conduit and the wall of the housing.
  • a swirl tube is also referred to as the reverse flow type.
  • the axial gas solids mixture inlet will be positioned at one end of the tubular housing and the solids outlet will be preferably positioned at the opposite side of the housing.
  • the solids outlet opening is positioned at the opposite side of the tubular housing relative to the gas outlets conduit.
  • the tubular housing can extend into a tapered part at this end resulting in a smaller solids outlet opening. More preferably however an open ended tubular housing is used such that solids, which accumulate at the wall of the housing, can be discharged freely from the housing at the solids outlet opening.
  • the design of the solids outlet may be simply provided by the open ended tubular housing at the opposite end.
  • the solids outlet of the co-current type separator may be suitably positioned in the space between the centrally positioned gas outlet conduit and the wall of said housing as for example described in US-A-5690709.
  • the invention is especially directed to a swirl tube separator of the swirl tube design, having an axial gas- solids inlet and a gas outlet conduit both positioned at the same end of the tubular housing.
  • the solids outlet is preferably provided by the open ended tubular housing at the opposite end.
  • the invention is also directed to the case that the gas-outlet and the solids-outlet are positioned at the same end of the tubular housing, hence opposite to the inlet. Preferably no plates or other obstructions are placed in said solids outlet opening.
  • the inner diameter (d2) of the tubular housing of a swirl tube separator may range from 0.15 to 1.5 m.
  • this diameter (d2) is preferably between 0.15-0.3 m.
  • the higher diameter range, up to 1.5 m, may be applied in swirl tubes, which are used in a FCC configuration as described in US-A- 5328592.
  • the distance (d3) between the lower end of the tubular housing and the inlet of the gas outlet conduit, also referred to as the axis, has been found to be an important design parameter to achieve an even more optimal separation efficiency.
  • the ratio d3/d2 is preferably between 1,5 and 5, more preferably between 2 and 5 and even more preferably between 2.5 and 4. A greater distance d3 can result in that the vortex is not stabilised, while a shorter distance can result in lower separation efficiency.
  • the diameter (d4) of the inlet of the gas outlet conduit is preferably between 0.3*d2 and 0.6*d2.
  • the swirl tube separator according to the invention may suitably be used for various types of gas-solid separations. Especially when a low emission of solids per volume is required the separator may advantageously be used.
  • the separator according to the invention is advantageously used to separate solids having a diameter ranging between 1*10 ⁇ 6 m and 40*10 ⁇ m from a gas stream.
  • the gas stream usually has a solids content of between 100 and 500 mg/Nm ⁇ .
  • the cleaned gas leaving the improved separator can have emission levels of below 50 mg/Nm ⁇ anc [ even below 30 mg/Nm ⁇ .
  • the invention is also related to an improved third stage separator comprising a number of the above described cyclonic separators according to the present invention, which cyclonic separator tubes are operating in parallel and are mounted between two tube sheets in a pressure vessel.
  • third stage separators that can be modified by adding a pin as described above are described in US-A-3541766, US-A-5690709, US-A-5372707, US-A-5514271, and
  • the axial gas inlet of the swirl tubes will be in fluid connection with a gas-solids inlet space between the tube sheets, which is in turn fluidly connected to the gas-solids inlet of the third stage separator.
  • the open bottom ends of the housing of the different swirl tubes are in fluid connection with a solids collecting space in the lower part of the pressure vessel, also called the catch chamber.
  • the catch chamber is further provided with a solids outlet.
  • the gas outlet conduit is in fluid connection with a clean gas collecting space, which is in turn fluidly connected to a clean gas outlet of the third stage separator.
  • the number of swirl tube separators units present in the third stage separator will depend on the flow rate of the feed. Typically between 1 and 200 swirl tube separation units are present in one pressure vessel.
  • the tubular housing may be positioned vertical, under an angle or even horizontal.
  • the solids outlet is positioned at the lower end of the tubular housing if said housing is positioned vertical or under an angle of between 0 and 90°.
  • Figure 1 is a state of the art swirl tube separator.
  • Figure 2 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the invention having a pin extending from the gas outlet conduit.
  • Figure 3 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the invention having a pin extending from the solids outlet opening.
  • Figure 4 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the present invention wherein a pin is present along the entire axis.
  • Figure 5 is a co-current swirl tube separator wherein a pin is present along the entire length of the axis .
  • Figure 6 shows a vessel provided with a number of the swirl tube separators according to the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a state of the art axial swirl tube consisting of a tubular housing 1, a gas-solids inlet opening 9, swirl imparting means 10 located in the annular space between tubular housing 1 and gas outlet conduit 4.
  • the tubular housing 1 is connected to a frusto conical part 8, which terminates at the solids outlet opening 3.
  • the gas outlet conduit is provided with a gas inlet opening 7.
  • On the axis 5 a vortex stabilizer plate 12 and a vortex stabilizer pin 11 is present.
  • Figure 2 shows a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 1 wherein along the axis 5, which axis runs from the gas inlet opening 7 to the solids outlet opening 3, a vortex extender pin 6 is present.
  • the pin 6 is fixed inside the gas outlet conduit 4 by means of a swirl body 13.
  • the swirl body 13 is such that in use the swirling motion of the gas flowing in said tube 4 is decreased.
  • the swirl body extends from the gas outlet tube 4 some distance to a position below the gas inlet opening 7 (not shown) . More preferably less than 75% of the length of body 13 extends from the tube 4.
  • the other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 2 except that the vortex extender pin 6 is located at the solids outlet opening 3. Furthermore no frusto conical part 8 is present.
  • the pin 6 is fixed by means of fixation rods 14.
  • Fixation rods 14 are preferably designed not to influence the rorating flow of solids and gasses that may occur at that position.
  • the other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 3 wherein along the entire length of the axis a pin 6 is present.
  • the pin is fixed in the gas outlet conduit 4.
  • a small horizontal plate 15 may be present at the lower end of the pin 6. Because pin 6 extends to a considerable distance, preferably at a distance of more than 80% of the axis below the gas inlet opening 7, a long vortex will result. In order to let such an extended vortex end at a predetermined location such a plate may be used. Preferably such a plate 15 is small in order not to disturb the solids being discharged from the tubular housing.
  • the other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a co-current swirl tube separator, wherein gas-solids inlet 9 is arranged at one end of the tubular housing 1 and the solids 3 and gas outlets conduit 4 are arranged at the other end of the tubular housing 1.
  • swirl imparting means 10 are present. These means 10 may as shown consist of a central body on which vanes are positioned.
  • the solids outlet opening 3 is formed by the annular space between tubular housing 1 and the gas outlet conduit 4.
  • the pin 6 is fixed at both swirl means 10 and via swirl means 13 inside the gas outlet conduit 4. This double fixation is advantageous in order to limit vibrations of the pin.
  • the swirl body extends from the gas outlet tube 4 some distance to a position above the gas inlet opening 7 (not shown) .
  • FIG. 1-5 shows a vessel 16 provided with a number of the swirl tube separators 17 according to the present invention.
  • the vessel is provided with a gas-solids inlet conduit 18, which is fluidly connected to a space 19, which is closed from the rest of the vessel by tube sheets 20 and 21. This space 19 is fluidly connected to the individual gas-solids inlet openings 9 of the swirl tube separators 17.
  • the gas outlet conduit 4 is fluidly connected with a gas outlet collecting space 22 and the solids outlet opening is fluidly connected with the solids collecting space 23.
  • the gas outlet collecting space is connected to a gas outlet 24 and the solids collecting space 23 is connected with a solids outlet 25.

Landscapes

  • Cyclones (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)

Abstract

Swirl tube separator for separating solids from a gas-solid containing feed comprising a tubular housing, an inlet for introducing a gas-solids mixture at one end of said housing, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co-axial positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, wherein along the axis of the tubular housing a vortex extender pin is present.

Description

SWIRL TUBE SEPARATOR
Field of invention
The invention is related to an improved swirl tube separator. The invention is also related to an improved design for a third stage separator comprising the improved swirl tube separators . Such third stage separators may for example be used in a fluid catalyst cracker (FCC) process.
Background of invention
The removal of finely-divided solid particles from entraining gases is necessary in almost any system in which the gas is to be passed through a fluid dynamic device containing gas-deflecting walls, such as an expansion turbine at an expander, to prevent erosion damage to such systems. Additionally, if the entraining gas is ultimately to be discharged to the atmosphere, the removal of particulate matter is also important from an environmental conservation standpoint. Emission levels of below 50 mg/Nm^ are sometimes required because of these environmental restrictions. Suitable separators for removal of finely divided solid particles from entraining gases are so-called third stage separators as for example described in Hydrocarbon Processing, January 1985, 51-54. Third stage separators remove to an acceptable level the fine particles still present in the gas stream leaving the fluid catalyzed cracker regenerator just up-stream of an expander turbine or flue-gas boiler. It has been found that third stage separators may also find application in other processes, wherein finely divided solid particles are to be separated from entraining gases. Examples of such processes are direct iron reduction processes, coal gasification processes, coal based power plants and calcining processes, such as aluminium calcining. Third stage separators as for example described above comprise a plurality of parallel-arranged swirl tube separators. Swirl tube separators are cylindrical cyclones with an axial entry for a solids-gas mixture and are for example described in EP-B-360360, US-A- 4863500, US-A-5681450, GB-A-1411136 and US-A-3541766. In EP-B-360360 a swirl tube separator unit is described comprising of a gas outlet tube placed axially in the upper part of a vertically tubular housing, wherein an axial directed gas inlet means is provided by the annular space between the gas outlet tube and the vertically arranged tubular housing and wherein in said annular space swirl imparting means are arranged. In figure 2 of EP-B-360360 a swirl tube separator is shown having a vortex stabilizer comprising a pin placed on a base element. It is believed that the vortex will be kept in the center of the tubular housing because the lower end of the vortex will terminate on the pin.
It has been found that when such a cyclone separator is used on a feed containing a substantial amount of solids, such as is the case in a third stage separator, non-axial symmetric vortex development can occur. Such a non-preferred operation results in that the cyclone does not separate solids as optimally as required. Furthermore erosion of the inside of the tubular part of the cyclone has been observed.
US-A-4810264 discloses a cyclone separator having a tangentially arranged inlet for gas and solids. Below the gas outlet conduit an adjustable vortex stabiliser in the form of a flat plate or a disc is positioned. On this stabiliser a vortex finder is positioned. According to this publication the distance between vortex stabiliser and the gas outlet opening is frequently adjusted such to vary the particulate content of the gas exiting through the gas-outlet opening. US-A-1753502 discloses a pneumatic dust collector. The dust collector consists of a cyclone having a tangentially arranged gas-solids inlet opening. From the gas outlet conduit a stem extends to a disk positioned below the gas outlet opening. EP-A-052042 discloses a swirl tube separator provided with anti-erosion means fixed on the interior wall of the housing of the separators.
US-A-4795561 discloses a cyclone separator provided with a tangential arranged gas-solids inlet, a cylindrical housing with a closed bottom and a valve at the bottom of the cylindrical housing. The valve is fixed to a pin. The opposite end of this pin is located in the gas outlet conduit present at the upper end of the cylindrical housing. The pin thus mechanically positions the valve and the movement of the valve within the separator.
US-A-4072481 discloses a device for separating a gas from a mixture of a liquid, solids and gas. The inlet for the mixture is tangential. A so-called stand provided with a plate at its upper end is present at some distance below the outlet for the gaseous phase.
The object of the present invention is to provide a swirl tube separator having improved separation efficiency and which has a lesser tendency to operate with a non-symmetric vortex.
Summary of invention
The invention is directed to the following swirl tube separator. Swirl tube separator for separating solids from a gas-solid containing feed comprising a tubular housing, an axial inlet for introducing a gas- solids mixture at one end of said housing, wherein said axial inlet for introducing the gas-solids mixture is provided with swirl imparting means, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co- axial positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, wherein along the axis of the tubular housing a vortex extender pin is present.
The invention is also directed to a multi separator consisting a plurality of the above described swirl tube separators. The invention is also directed to the use of the swirl tube separator and/or the multi separator.
Detailed description of the invention
Applicants found that the above swirl tube separator shows improved separation efficiency in combination with a more stable operation than swirl tube separators not having the above-described pin. This stable operating condition is also observed and advantageous when a multitude of swirl tube separators operate in parallel, wherein the solids outlet opening of each individual swirl tube separators is in fluid communication with the common solids collecting space of the vessel, such as shown in US-A-5538696 and in the above referred to article . The actual location of the vortex extender pin along the axis of the tubular housing is not critical as long as the pin runs along a certain length of the axis. Applicants have found that the pin may be located at the solids outlet opening and/or at the gas outlets opening or extend from the gas outlets opening to the solids outlet opening. Thus two separate pins, one extending from the top and one from the bottom and both along the axis of the tubular housing, are to be considered as a possible embodiment of the present invention. It appears that the vortex is extended and operates more stable when using a swirl tube separator according the invention.
From a constructional point of view it is more advantageous to locate the pin at the gas inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit, wherein the pin extends into the tubular housing. The pin may then be suitably fixed with fixing means inside the gas outlet conduit.
It has been found preferred to use a pin having a minimal length such that the vortex is sufficiently guided. The length (1) of the pin along the axis may be as long as possible. Applicants found that longer pin lengths (1) are advantageous for achieving a better separation efficiency. However very long pins will suffer from mechanical failure if they are not supported along their length. These supports in the tubular housing are on the other hand not preferred because they negatively influence the separation efficiency. The maximum length will thus be determined by for example the strength of the pin material, its tendency to vibrate and the nature of the pin supports chosen. For this reason pins extending from within the gas outlet conduit are preferred because fixation can be performed inside the gas outlet conduit only, resulting in a minimal disturbance of the vortex along the pin within the tubular housing. Preferred pins which are fixed in the gas outlet conduit and which run along 100 % of the axis may advantageously be also supported at its lower end. More preferably such long pins extend to a position below the tubular housing to allow the lower support to be placed somewhat spaced away from said housing. The length of such pins may be up to twice the length of the axis. Hollow pins may suitably be used because they are more rigid.
The pin is preferably fixed within the gas outlet conduit. Optionally the pin is also fixed in the tubular housing. Fixation is preferably performed by means of a vane-body placed in the gas outlet conduit. This vane body will, in use, convert the swirling motion of the gas being discharged from the tubular housing (2) in the gas outlet conduit into a pressure increase downstream of the vane body. Thus a swirl tube separator provided with such a vane body will have a reduced pressure drop.
Preferably the pin runs along at least 20%, more preferably along at least 30% of the axis. The pin may run up to 100% of the axis. The axis is defined from the inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit to the opposite end of the tubular housing. With tubular housing is here meant the part having a constant diameter, thus excluding any tapered parts. Furthermore the opposite end is either the solids outlet opening in case of a reverse flow swirl tube or the gas-solids inlet opening for a co-current swirl tube. The pin may be longer than the axis itself. The length may be limited at its upper end in order to minimize vibration of the pin. Alternatively the pin will need to be fixed such that vibration is avoided.
The axial inlet of the swirl tube will be provided with swirl imparting means such that in the tubular housing sufficient swirling movement is effected to separate the solids from the gas through centrifugal forces.
The axial inlet may have a tubular design or an annular design depending on, for example, the position of the gas outlet conduit. If the swirl tube separator is of the co-current type the gas outlet conduit is positioned at the opposite end of the tubular housing relative to the gas-solids inlet. The gas solids inlet is then preferably a centrally placed conduit placed coaxial with the housing and provided with swirl imparting means. The above-defined axis will run from the swirl imparting means to the gas inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit.
If the gas outlet conduit is positioned at the same end of the tubular housing as the gas solids inlet, then the gas-solids inlet is preferably positioned in the annular space between the gas outlet conduit and the wall of the housing. Such a swirl tube is also referred to as the reverse flow type. The axial gas solids mixture inlet will be positioned at one end of the tubular housing and the solids outlet will be preferably positioned at the opposite side of the housing. Preferably the solids outlet opening is positioned at the opposite side of the tubular housing relative to the gas outlets conduit. Optionally the tubular housing can extend into a tapered part at this end resulting in a smaller solids outlet opening. More preferably however an open ended tubular housing is used such that solids, which accumulate at the wall of the housing, can be discharged freely from the housing at the solids outlet opening.
If the gas outlet is positioned at the same end as the gas-solids inlet (reverse flow swirl tube) the design of the solids outlet may be simply provided by the open ended tubular housing at the opposite end. The solids outlet of the co-current type separator may be suitably positioned in the space between the centrally positioned gas outlet conduit and the wall of said housing as for example described in US-A-5690709.
The invention is especially directed to a swirl tube separator of the swirl tube design, having an axial gas- solids inlet and a gas outlet conduit both positioned at the same end of the tubular housing. The solids outlet is preferably provided by the open ended tubular housing at the opposite end. The invention is also directed to the case that the gas-outlet and the solids-outlet are positioned at the same end of the tubular housing, hence opposite to the inlet. Preferably no plates or other obstructions are placed in said solids outlet opening.
Most of the dimensions of the swirl tube are conventional, such as sizing of the gas/solids inlet, gas outlet and the tubular housing. Preferred dimensions of the swirl tube separator according to the invention are given below. The inner diameter (d2) of the tubular housing of a swirl tube separator may range from 0.15 to 1.5 m. When the swirl tube separator is used to separate solids having a diameter ranging between 1*10~6 m and
40*10~" m from a gas stream this diameter (d2) is preferably between 0.15-0.3 m. The higher diameter range, up to 1.5 m, may be applied in swirl tubes, which are used in a FCC configuration as described in US-A- 5328592.
The distance (d3) between the lower end of the tubular housing and the inlet of the gas outlet conduit, also referred to as the axis, has been found to be an important design parameter to achieve an even more optimal separation efficiency. The ratio d3/d2 is preferably between 1,5 and 5, more preferably between 2 and 5 and even more preferably between 2.5 and 4. A greater distance d3 can result in that the vortex is not stabilised, while a shorter distance can result in lower separation efficiency.
The diameter (d4) of the inlet of the gas outlet conduit is preferably between 0.3*d2 and 0.6*d2.
The swirl tube separator according to the invention may suitably be used for various types of gas-solid separations. Especially when a low emission of solids per volume is required the separator may advantageously be used. The separator according to the invention is advantageously used to separate solids having a diameter ranging between 1*10~6 m and 40*10~ m from a gas stream. The gas stream usually has a solids content of between 100 and 500 mg/Nm^. The cleaned gas leaving the improved separator can have emission levels of below 50 mg/Nm^ anc[ even below 30 mg/Nm^ .
The invention is also related to an improved third stage separator comprising a number of the above described cyclonic separators according to the present invention, which cyclonic separator tubes are operating in parallel and are mounted between two tube sheets in a pressure vessel. Examples of state of the art third stage separators that can be modified by adding a pin as described above are described in US-A-3541766, US-A-5690709, US-A-5372707, US-A-5514271, and
US-A-6174339. The axial gas inlet of the swirl tubes will be in fluid connection with a gas-solids inlet space between the tube sheets, which is in turn fluidly connected to the gas-solids inlet of the third stage separator. The open bottom ends of the housing of the different swirl tubes are in fluid connection with a solids collecting space in the lower part of the pressure vessel, also called the catch chamber. The catch chamber is further provided with a solids outlet. The gas outlet conduit is in fluid connection with a clean gas collecting space, which is in turn fluidly connected to a clean gas outlet of the third stage separator.
The number of swirl tube separators units present in the third stage separator will depend on the flow rate of the feed. Typically between 1 and 200 swirl tube separation units are present in one pressure vessel.
The tubular housing may be positioned vertical, under an angle or even horizontal. Preferably the solids outlet is positioned at the lower end of the tubular housing if said housing is positioned vertical or under an angle of between 0 and 90°.
Brief description of the drawings The invention will be illustrated by means of Figures 1-6.
Figure 1 is a state of the art swirl tube separator. Figure 2 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the invention having a pin extending from the gas outlet conduit. Figure 3 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the invention having a pin extending from the solids outlet opening.
Figure 4 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator according to the present invention wherein a pin is present along the entire axis.
Figure 5 is a co-current swirl tube separator wherein a pin is present along the entire length of the axis .
Figure 6 shows a vessel provided with a number of the swirl tube separators according to the present invention.
Detailed description of the drawings
Figure 1 shows a state of the art axial swirl tube consisting of a tubular housing 1, a gas-solids inlet opening 9, swirl imparting means 10 located in the annular space between tubular housing 1 and gas outlet conduit 4. The tubular housing 1 is connected to a frusto conical part 8, which terminates at the solids outlet opening 3. The gas outlet conduit is provided with a gas inlet opening 7. On the axis 5 a vortex stabilizer plate 12 and a vortex stabilizer pin 11 is present.
Figure 2 shows a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 1 wherein along the axis 5, which axis runs from the gas inlet opening 7 to the solids outlet opening 3, a vortex extender pin 6 is present. The pin 6 is fixed inside the gas outlet conduit 4 by means of a swirl body 13. The swirl body 13 is such that in use the swirling motion of the gas flowing in said tube 4 is decreased. Preferably the swirl body extends from the gas outlet tube 4 some distance to a position below the gas inlet opening 7 (not shown) . More preferably less than 75% of the length of body 13 extends from the tube 4. The other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 2 except that the vortex extender pin 6 is located at the solids outlet opening 3. Furthermore no frusto conical part 8 is present. The pin 6 is fixed by means of fixation rods 14. Fixation rods 14 are preferably designed not to influence the rorating flow of solids and gasses that may occur at that position. The other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a reverse flow swirl tube separator as in Figure 3 wherein along the entire length of the axis a pin 6 is present. The pin is fixed in the gas outlet conduit 4. A small horizontal plate 15 may be present at the lower end of the pin 6. Because pin 6 extends to a considerable distance, preferably at a distance of more than 80% of the axis below the gas inlet opening 7, a long vortex will result. In order to let such an extended vortex end at a predetermined location such a plate may be used. Preferably such a plate 15 is small in order not to disturb the solids being discharged from the tubular housing. The other reference numbers have the same meaning as in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a co-current swirl tube separator, wherein gas-solids inlet 9 is arranged at one end of the tubular housing 1 and the solids 3 and gas outlets conduit 4 are arranged at the other end of the tubular housing 1. At the gas-solids inlet opening 9 swirl imparting means 10 are present. These means 10 may as shown consist of a central body on which vanes are positioned. The solids outlet opening 3 is formed by the annular space between tubular housing 1 and the gas outlet conduit 4. The pin 6 is fixed at both swirl means 10 and via swirl means 13 inside the gas outlet conduit 4. This double fixation is advantageous in order to limit vibrations of the pin. Preferably the swirl body extends from the gas outlet tube 4 some distance to a position above the gas inlet opening 7 (not shown) . More preferably less than 75% of the length of body 13 extends from the tube 4. It is clear the features shown in either one of the Figures 1-5 may find use in an illustrated swirl tube not having such a feature. For example the swirl tube of Figure 4 may also be provided with swirl means 13 of Figure 2. Figure 6 shows a vessel 16 provided with a number of the swirl tube separators 17 according to the present invention. The vessel is provided with a gas-solids inlet conduit 18, which is fluidly connected to a space 19, which is closed from the rest of the vessel by tube sheets 20 and 21. This space 19 is fluidly connected to the individual gas-solids inlet openings 9 of the swirl tube separators 17. The gas outlet conduit 4 is fluidly connected with a gas outlet collecting space 22 and the solids outlet opening is fluidly connected with the solids collecting space 23. The gas outlet collecting space is connected to a gas outlet 24 and the solids collecting space 23 is connected with a solids outlet 25.

Claims

C L A I M S
1. Swirl tube separator for separating solids from a gas-solid containing feed comprising a tubular housing, an axial inlet for introducing a gas-solids mixture at one end of said housing, wherein said axial inlet for introducing the gas-solids mixture is provided with swirl imparting means, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co-axial positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, wherein along the axis of the tubular housing a vortex extender pin is present.
2. Swirl tube separator according to claim 1, wherein the pin is present along at least 20% of the axis of the tubular housing, said axis running from the inlet opening of the gas outlet conduit up to the end of the tubular housing opposite said gas outlet conduit.
3. Swirl tube separator according to claim 2, wherein the pin is present along at between 30 and 10Q % of the axis of the tubular housing.
4. Swirl tube separator according to claim 3, wherein the pin is present along 100 % of the axis of the tubular housing.
5. Swirl tube separator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the pin extends from the interior of the gas outlet conduit into the tubular housing and wherein the pin is fixed within the gas outlet conduit by means of supporting means, said supporting means are swirl means which swirl means are positioned such that they decrease the swirling motion of the gas being discharged via the gas outlet conduit.
6. Swirl tube separator according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the inlet for introducing the gas solids mixture and the gas outlet conduit are arranged at one end of the tubular housing and the solids outlet opening is positioned at the opposite end of said housing.
7. Swirl tube separator according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the inlet for introducing the gas solids mixture is arranged at one end of the tubular housing and the solids outlet opening and the gas outlet conduit is positioned at the opposite end of said housing such that the solids outlet opening is positioned in the space between the gas outlet conduit and the wall of said housing.
8. Multi separator provided with a plurality parallel operating swirl tube separators according to any one of claims 1-7.
9. Process to separate solids from a solids laden gaseous mixture having a solids content of between 100 and 500 mg/Nrt to obtain a gaseous stream containing less than 50 mg solids per in a swirl tube separator according to any one of claims 1-7 or in a multi separator according to claim 8.
EP03765636A 2002-07-19 2003-07-17 Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin Expired - Lifetime EP1534437B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03765636A EP1534437B1 (en) 2002-07-19 2003-07-17 Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02077964 2002-07-19
EP02077964 2002-07-19
EP03765636A EP1534437B1 (en) 2002-07-19 2003-07-17 Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin
PCT/US2003/022294 WO2004009244A2 (en) 2002-07-19 2003-07-17 Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1534437A2 true EP1534437A2 (en) 2005-06-01
EP1534437B1 EP1534437B1 (en) 2007-09-12

Family

ID=30470294

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03765636A Expired - Lifetime EP1534437B1 (en) 2002-07-19 2003-07-17 Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1534437B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2006515533A (en)
CN (1) CN100415381C (en)
AT (1) ATE372831T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003256582B2 (en)
BR (1) BR0312777A (en)
CA (1) CA2498522A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60316306T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2293034T3 (en)
MX (1) MXPA05000719A (en)
PT (1) PT1534437E (en)
RU (1) RU2326717C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2004009244A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100408195C (en) * 2006-04-03 2008-08-06 西安交通大学 Cyclone separator with stabilized vortex
RU2326740C1 (en) * 2006-08-14 2008-06-20 Виктор Иванович Кузнецов Separator
WO2008020051A1 (en) 2006-08-18 2008-02-21 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Process to separate particles from a particles-containing gas stream
WO2008145657A1 (en) * 2007-06-01 2008-12-04 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Gas-solids separator
CN105073221B (en) 2013-01-09 2017-06-09 Fmc分离系统公司 Gas desander
JP2018508349A (en) * 2015-03-03 2018-03-29 シエル・インターナシヨネイル・リサーチ・マーチヤツピイ・ベー・ウイＳｈｅｌｌ Ｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌｅ Ｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈ Ｍａａｔｓｃｈａｐｐｉｊ Ｂｅｓｌｏｔｅｎ Ｖｅｎｎｏｏｔｓｈａｐ Improved vortex tube separator
CN109351491A (en) * 2018-10-30 2019-02-19 湖南天际智慧材料科技有限公司 A kind of turbine separates and collects the device of nanometer powder and is made from it powder manufacturing apparatus
CN109550318B (en) * 2018-12-03 2023-11-17 中国石油大学(北京) A gas-liquid separator and its separation method
WO2021137163A1 (en) * 2019-12-31 2021-07-08 Ravands Controls Incorporation Cyclone sand filter
CN112371358B (en) * 2020-09-14 2021-06-11 东北石油大学 Outflow direction and multiphase product adjustable cyclone separation device
KR102508627B1 (en) * 2021-07-19 2023-03-09 한국해양대학교 산학협력단 Variable geometry hydrocyclone for contaminated water treatment with multiple inlets and vortex induction device
EP4268967A1 (en) * 2022-04-29 2023-11-01 ESTA Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG Cyclone separator for separating solids from a process stream

Family Cites Families (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1753502A (en) * 1926-12-24 1930-04-08 William G Clark Dust collector
US3675401A (en) * 1970-04-13 1972-07-11 Exxon Research Engineering Co Cyclones to lessen fouling
US3940331A (en) * 1974-11-01 1976-02-24 Rastatter Edward L Vortical cyclone cluster apparatus
US4072481A (en) * 1976-04-09 1978-02-07 Laval Claude C Device for separating multiple phase fluid systems according to the relative specific gravities of the phase
JPS55142556A (en) * 1979-04-26 1980-11-07 Mitsui Eng & Shipbuild Co Ltd Multiple annular type axial-flow cyclone
SU850228A1 (en) * 1979-05-24 1981-07-30 Научно-Исследовательский И Проектно- Конструкторский Институт Целлюлозно-Го Машиностроения Vortex-type cleaner unit
FR2469211A1 (en) * 1979-11-08 1981-05-22 Lab IMPROVEMENTS ON CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS OF THE CYCLONE GENUS
FR2493186B1 (en) * 1980-11-06 1985-07-12 Aussenard Michel CENTRIFUGAL WITH ANTI-ABRASION DEVICE FOR THE SEPARATION OF PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN A GASEOUS FLUID
JPH0234664B2 (en) * 1983-12-14 1990-08-06 Asano Ereko Kk EKITAIKARAKOKEIIBUTSUOBUNRISURUSOCHI
GB8527215D0 (en) * 1985-11-05 1985-12-11 Shell Int Research Solids-fluid separation
JPS62185867U (en) * 1986-05-19 1987-11-26
US4795561A (en) * 1987-01-23 1989-01-03 Aeroquip Corporation Self regulating cyclonic separator
CN87211876U (en) * 1987-08-19 1988-04-06 中国石油化工总公司石油化工科学研究院 centrifugal separation device
GB8805755D0 (en) * 1988-03-10 1988-04-07 Shell Int Research Apparatus for separation of solids from mixture of solids & fluid
GB8822348D0 (en) * 1988-09-22 1988-10-26 Shell Int Research Swirl tube separator
CN2134235Y (en) * 1990-12-08 1993-05-26 河南省鹤壁市环保工程设备厂 Spiral-guide cyclone duster
JPH05131158A (en) * 1991-11-11 1993-05-28 Japan Vilene Co Ltd Cyclone dust collector
RU2021856C1 (en) * 1991-12-05 1994-10-30 Сергей Владимирович Геллер Inertial-swirl separator
RU2071839C1 (en) * 1993-11-23 1997-01-20 Анатолий Николаевич Балалаев Cyclone
US5538696A (en) * 1994-05-02 1996-07-23 Mobil Oil Corporation FCC process and apparatus with contained vortex third stage separator
GB9806683D0 (en) * 1998-03-27 1998-05-27 Notetry Ltd Cyclonic separation apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004009244A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003256582A1 (en) 2004-02-09
CN1668380A (en) 2005-09-14
ES2293034T3 (en) 2008-03-16
BR0312777A (en) 2005-05-03
JP2006515533A (en) 2006-06-01
WO2004009244A2 (en) 2004-01-29
WO2004009244A3 (en) 2004-06-10
PT1534437E (en) 2007-12-18
ATE372831T1 (en) 2007-09-15
RU2005104559A (en) 2005-08-10
CA2498522A1 (en) 2004-01-29
AU2003256582B2 (en) 2006-10-19
MXPA05000719A (en) 2005-04-08
EP1534437B1 (en) 2007-09-12
CN100415381C (en) 2008-09-03
DE60316306D1 (en) 2007-10-25
DE60316306T2 (en) 2008-06-12
RU2326717C2 (en) 2008-06-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7648544B2 (en) Swirl tube separator
US3802570A (en) Cyclone separator
US6398973B1 (en) Cyclone separator
EP0971781B1 (en) Cyclone separator
EP0222436B1 (en) Apparatus and process for separating fluid cracking catalyst particles from flue gas
EP1534437B1 (en) Cyclone separator with a vortex extender pin
JP2004512946A (en) Vertical cyclone separator
WO2010001097A1 (en) Cyclone separator with two gas outlets and separation method
EP0436973B1 (en) Device for separating liquids and/or solids from a gas stream
US20180043292A1 (en) Swirl tube separators
US8287613B2 (en) Gas-solids separator
US3413776A (en) Cyclone separator
EP1557218A2 (en) System for purifying the exhaust gases from blast furnaces
EP0231931B1 (en) A cyclone with forced gas stream whirling
CN1798823B (en) separation device
RU2003133729A (en) FCC REACTOR (FOR CATALYTIC CRACKING WITH PSEUDO-LIFTED CATALYST)
CN2164912Y (en) Inclined tube type cylindric multitube cyclone
RU2231396C2 (en) Apparatus for purifying gaseous media from suspended particles
EP2571622B1 (en) Cyclone separator with two gas outlets and separation method
RU2229346C1 (en) Air cleaning unit
RU1777965C (en) Dust collector
WO1988005336A1 (en) A circulation fluidized bed reactor

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20050111

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: DRIES, HUBERTUS, WILHELMUS, ALBERTUS

Inventor name: PENG, WEIMING

Inventor name: KATER, JAN

Inventor name: HOFFMANN, ALEX CHRISTIANUNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

Inventor name: EKKER, ANDREAS

Inventor name: SANBORN, RICHARD, ADDISON

Inventor name: DEWITZ, THOMAS, SHAWN

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60316306

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20071025

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref document number: 20070403095

Country of ref document: GR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: SC4A

Free format text: AVAILABILITY OF NATIONAL TRANSLATION

Effective date: 20071206

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2293034

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20080613

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20080623

Year of fee payment: 6

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080731

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: MM4A

Free format text: LAPSE DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF FEES

Effective date: 20090417

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080717

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090204

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080717

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090417

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071212

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080717

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20090720

Year of fee payment: 7

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20100331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090731

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20080520

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080717

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080718

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080313

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070912

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20100726

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090717

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60316306

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20110201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20121122

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110718

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20200708

Year of fee payment: 18

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20210717

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210717