GB1454797A - Homogenizing and separating method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1454797 Mixing apparatus; centrifugal separators TEC GROUP Inc 21 Jan 1974 [22 Jan 1973] 39373/73 Headings B1C and B2P A homogeneous mixture of fluids (e.g. gas and liquid), solids, or a fluid and a solid is produced at a mixing and pumping station 100 and conveyed to a separating station 104 where it is centrifuged to at least partially separate the mixture into relatively high and low specific gravity portions which are led off through lines 114, 116. Separation at the station 104 is augmented and flow is stabilised by inclusion in the line, 102, between the stations 100, 104 of serially arranged transition and enlarged sections D-E and 108 so that relatively high gravity masses at high pressure and relatively low gravity masses at low pressure form at outer and central zones B, C respectively. The transition section may include an annular manifold. The pumping station 100 includes an axial flow pump 10 which may be single or multistage and comprises, in each stage, a cylindrical impeller rotor 12 having three integral inwardly directed impeller blades 14. The rotor 12 is journalled in a housing 18 and driven, e.g. from a motor not shown, through gearing 20, 22. A seal is formed between the rotor and the housing by mating of a ring 40, releasably secured on the rotor by pins 46 and a retaining ring, and rings 50, 52 secured to the housing. Additive is collected from a housing chamber 38 by a scoop-vaned ring 84 and directed through a peripheral groove 88 and ports 78 in the ring, valves 80 and outlets 64 in blunt downstream trailing edges 60 of preferably each of the blades, said blunt edges engendering low pressure regions and hence additive drawing suction behind the blades. Each valve comprises a ball 80 centrifugally released, in response to rotor speed, from a seat, in opposition to a force of a spring 82. The housing chamber 38 may be charged through a conduit 92. The separating station 104 also includes an axial flow pump the impeller blades of which are similar to the pump in station 100 but are of modified lead and pitch and do not include additive outlets. The station 104 pump has a lower pumping rate and provides for centrrifuging. The speeds of the pumps at 100, 104 are separately controllable.