GB1422400A - Vortes separator - Google Patents

Abstract

1422400 Multi-cell vortex separators FRACTIONATOR AB 25 Oct 1973 [6 Nov 1972 28 Sept 1973] 49745/73 Heading B2P In a multi-cell vortex separator, e.g. for cleaning fibrous suspension, comprising individual separator units 23 communicating with common inject, accept and reject compartments 7, 8, 6 which are so arranged that the reject and accept compartments 6, 8 are on opposite sides of the inject compartment 7, each separator unit has at least one tangential inject inlet and an at least partially conical vortex chamber 44 which is enclosed by an elongate external casing 25, 32, 37 having sealed axial ends and a uniform external cross-sectional profile over its entire length, and each separator unit extends completely through the compartments 6, 7, 8 in aligned openings 20, 21, 19 and 22 in the walls 4, 5 between the inject compartment 7 and the reject and accept compartments 6, 8 respectively and in the outer walls 2, 3 of the reject and accept compartments so that both axial ends of the separator units are accessible from the outside of the outer walls 2, 3 and the units can be pushed in their longitudinal direction into and out of the compartments through the openings in the compartment walls, the external casing of each separator unit being provided with one or more reject ports 42, inject ports 26 and accept ports 43 communicating, on the one hand, respectively with the reject outlet, the inject inlet and the accept outlet of the vortex chamber of the respective separator unit and, on the other hand, respectively with the reject, inject and accept compartments 6, 7, 8. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the separator units 23 are mounted side by side in a cylindrical vessel 1 having end walls 2, 3 and partition walls 4, 5. Elastic sealing rings 24 are inserted in the openings 19 to 22 and seal against the surface of the separator units 23. The axial ends of each separator unit casing are sealed by preferably transparent end plates 34, 39 retained respectively by a lock ring 35 and a sleeve 40 screwed into the internally threaded ends of the casing. The reject outlet 45 and the accept outlet 46 of each vortex chamber 44 may be sealed by means of threaded plugs 47 and 48 screwable inwardly in threaded bores in the end plates 34 and 39 respectively. The internal thread 36 at the reject end of each separator unit 23 is complementary with the internal thread 41 at the accept end of the unit. For replacement of a separator unit mounted in the vessel 1 with a new unit, e.g. when a unit is clogged, as observed through the end plates 34, 39, the reject and accept outlets in both units are sealed by means of the plugs 47, 48 and one end of the new unit is threadably joined with the opposite end of the unit to be replaced. The latter is then pushed out of the vessel at the same time as the new unit is pushed into place. Thereafter the replaced unit is disconnected from the new unit which can then be put into operation by unscrewing the plugs 47 and 48 outwardly. Thus replacement takes place without leakage of liquid or suspension 'between the compartments 6, 7 and 8 and from the vessel 1 through the end wall openings 19 and 22. The external shape of the separator units may be cylindrical (as shown), elliptical or polygonal. The vessel 1 may alternatively be mounted vertically. The compartments 6, 7 and 8 may be erected side by side but spaced from each other. In a further modification, the compartments may be in the form of concentrically mounted cylinders with the individual separator units extending radially through them. The innermost compartment is accessible and has a diameter at least corresponding to the length of a separator unit for enabling the unit to be replaced. In another embodiment, Figs. 4 to 6 (not shown), a dilution liquid compartment is mounted between the reject and inject compartments. It is sealed from the latter but communicates with the reject compartment through separation unit-receiving-openings in the partition wall between these compartments, some or all of said openings being unsealed. Dilution liquid can thus be supplied to the reject compartment to facilitate discharge of rejects therefrom.