GB1329203A - Centrifugal fluid separators - Google Patents

Abstract

1329203 Centrifugal separator GLACIER METAL CO Ltd 1 Feb 1972 [3 Feb 1971] 3778/71 Heading B2P A fluid flow driven centrifugal separator comprises a hollow rotor 2, Fig. 1, including a distribution region 10 for receiving an incoming mixture of denser and less dense fluids, e.g. water and oil, to be separated, the region 10 having outlets 12, 14 respectively to a separating chamber 11 and a driving chamber 13, the separating chamber having respective outlet passages for separated denser and less dense fluids. The fluid mixture is supplied to the region 10 via passages 3, 4, 6, 7, in the separator stator 1 and passages 8, 9 in the rotor 2. The outlets 12, 14 from the region 10 are in the form of circumferentially distributed sets of nozzles which may be adjustable, e.g. by the provision of automatic control means sensitive to viscosity, to control the distribution of mixed fluid flow to the chambers 11 and 13. The chamber 13 has two driving nozzles 19, 20 through which the denser fluid is discharged providing a tangential reaction force for driving the rotor. The less dense fluid is discharged from the separating chamber 11 via passages 24, 23, 25, 26 and the denser fluid via tubes 28 which open into the driving chamber 13. The tubes 28 may be replaced by an annular duct. In place of the nozzles 12 a split-collar type valve, Fig. 2, may be used to control the flow of fluid to the separating chamber 11. The valve has an adjustable member 31 which can be pre-set by nuts 44 to vary the size of the mixed fluid passage 32. Alternatively, an automatically adjustable valve member 34, Fig. 3, biassed by a spring 35 is used to control the size of the passage 32, the downward drag on the valve being more pronounced the higher the viscosity of the fluid flowing down the passage 23.