GB2177951A

GB2177951A - Process and equipment for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media

Info

Publication number: GB2177951A
Application number: GB08617182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zsigmond Kaplar; Istvan Belhazy; Gyorgy Turi
Original assignee: BANYASZATI FEJLESZTESI INTEZET; Kozponti Banyaszati Fejlesztesi Intezet
Current assignee: BANYASZATI FEJLESZTESI INTEZET; Kozponti Banyaszati Fejlesztesi Intezet
Priority date: 1985-07-16
Filing date: 1986-07-15
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: GB8617182D0; DE3623892A1; FR2589755A1; SE8603080D0; HUT41655A; SE8603080L; HU193792B; FI862816A; FI862816A0

Abstract

In a process and apparatus for separating the individual phases of a polyphase flowing medium, the medium is forced to flow along a helical path with increasing velocity in a field of centrifugal force and the individual phases are separated according to their distances from the axis of the centrifugal field of force and, in accordance with the invention, the medium is forced to a potential whirling motion while the discrete phases are separated from each other with the aid of stripping channels (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process and equipment for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media The invention relates to a process and an equipment for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media. The so-called aerocyclones for separating the phases of mixtures consisting of gases and solid particles are generally known. Mixtures consisting of solid granular materials and liquids are generally separated in phases by using the so-called hydrocyclones. Hydrocyclones can be well used for separating the single phases of liquids forming a mixutre if the phases do not form emulsions with each other and have different densities.With both cyclone types the media to be separated are allowed to flow in a centrifugal field of force, while the effect of the centrifugal field of force is used to be utilized, in so far as phases of higher density are displaced to a larger extent than those of lower density.

Although different cyclones work well in practice the deficiency became obvious that they are unable to separate absolutely clean phases due to strongly disturbed conditions of flow prevailing therein. Problems connected to flow conditions result from geometric design. At the same time, disturbed streams cause always energy losses, partly influencing negatively efficiency, partly deteriorating quality of separation.

With cyclones cross-section and direction of flow are changing suddenly in certain places resulting in an asymmetric flow. Asymmetric flow formed in course of charging is forced into a symmetric space in the cylindrical part of the cyclone, thereafter in the lower conical part and in the outlet pipes without the possibility of becoming symmetrical. In the previous tract, namely, energy losses are so high, that the remaining fraction of energy suffices but for maintaining the asymmetric flow on the symmetric geometry, it is not capable to cover the energy needed for conversion Flow becomes slightly better on the lower tract of the conical part of the cyclone where it is forced to advance on a path of ever decreasing radius, while velocity of circulation is continuously increasing to the debit of potential energy.

Velocity of circulation increases as long as potential energy is fully converted to kinetic energy, naturally covering also the losses of energy conversion. Now radius of the flow path cannot decrease further because energy for this purpose does not stay at disposal. As a consequence a so-called flow-pipe will be formed, which can end neither in liquid nor in gas in compliance with the laws of physics.

In case if the radius of the lower cross-section of the cyclone is larger than that of the flow-pipe, the flow-pipe egresses from the cyclone; however if it is smaller it is streaming upwards and leaves through the upper so-called vortex-pipe, supposed that the radius thereof is larger than that of the flow-pipe. In case, if proportion of the lower and upper outlet cross-sections is properly chosen, flow-pipe will leave both at the bottom and the top and exiting its environment it carries the outer medium in both direction.

That means that the flow produces the flow-pipe in the lower region of the cone, at the expense of the conversion of the potential energy of the fraction of energy staying still at disposal, advancing inward from outside.

Considering that generally in the cyclones two phases of different character are co-streaming, e.g. air and solid matter or water and solid matter, under the effect of centrifugal force the phase of higher density tends to the wall of the cyclone. The phase arriving at the cyclone wall, the solid matter, becomes concentrated in the lower region of the cone; accordingly, flow-pipe is established on the solid matter, i.e. it ends thereon. In view of the fact that on the surface of the flow-tube materials can neither enter or leave, the flow-pipe will be formed exclusively by the phase-elements elements of gas or liquid which were partaking in formation, as well as those grains of the solid matter which were carried on from the concentrated grains by the resistance of gas or liquid.It goes without saying that all the grains which could not be centrifuged ab ovo will also be the elements of the flow-pipe.

Summing up what has been said, a pure gas-or liquid phase could not be separated in the cyclone not even if the grains could be fully centrifuged from the environment of the flow-pipe, as the flow-pipe ending or partly ending on the concentrated solid matter carries on the grains in the second of its formation.

There is another phenomenon with the cyclones counter-working to the separation of the pure phase, namely that the upper offtake part is generally shorter than the height of the cylindrical part and the pressure of the environment prevails therein, as a consequence, the phase flowing therethrough is flowing out freely.

In such a manner a mixed phase of considerable quantity is discharged to the atmosphere before the centrifugal field of force could select the solid grains.

A further deficiency of the cylones lies in that they can be applied for condensing, separation in phases and classification relatively successfully only if free discharge is achieved at both outlet orifices. However, losses of discharge consume the remaining part of energy. In other words: in the cyclones the energy having been fed at the inflow channel as a sum of the potential and kinetic energy is fully consumed.

Summing up what has been said: efficiency of the cyclones is far behind the requirements to be meet by modern equipments as their design is disadvantageous both in respect to energetics and fluid mechanics.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate said deficiencies. The task of the invention is to develop a process and an equipment for separating the single phases of poly-phase streaming media which enable considerable improvement of quality of separation with the simultaneous reduction of energy requirement.

The invention is based on the recognition in so far as disturbance-free turbulent flow can be assured only by establishing a boundary surface along the flow-surface of the flow-space. Said flow-surfaces represent such surfaces through which elements of the streaming medium flowing in a vortex cannot transgress, in other words, the surfaces along which these elements are streaming. Now if the flow-space is delimited by a continuous flow-surface or vortex crater, the vortex-part within the flow-surface will show exactly the same behaviour in respect to flow as prior to separation supposed that energy supply is maintained on the same qualitative and quantitative level. When limiting the flow-space outside and inside with the said flow-surfaces, energy losses can be reduced to the minimum.Now, if the denser phase accumulated at the outer surface is removed by the aid of a so-called "stripping" channel which is also confined by flow-surfaces, energy losses will be minimal at discharge. In such a manner quality of separation can be considerably improved and balance of energy will be most advantageous.

We have also recognized that inflow losses can be considerably reduced and practically full symmetry of the flow can be assured already at the inflow if at the upper end of the vortex-space, all round and everywhere through the unit cross-section, during the unit of time media always in identical quantities are allowed to pass.

Based on said recognitions, primary task can be solved by means of a process for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media in course of which the medium is forced to a flow along a helical path with increasing velocity in a field of centrifugal force and the individual phases are separated according to their distances from the axis of the centrifugal field of force and in which, in accordance with the invention, the medium is forced to a potential whirling motion while the discrete phases are sepa rated from each other with the aid of stripping channels confined by the flow-surfaces of the vortexspace.

With a preferred mode of realization of the process according to the invention the stripping channels are fitted to the vortex-space by considering energetics and fluid mechanics.

It is considered as advantageous if the polyphase medium is allowed to enter at an acute angle tangentially through a concentric inflow channel connected radially from outside to the vortex-space and being coaxial therewith.

Further, it is advantageous if the carrier phase is forced to a reverse motion in the flow-pipe formed along the axis of the vortex-space and thereafter led out.

The secondary task can be solved by means of an equipment for separating the single phases of poly phase streaming media, which has a house provided with an inflow orifice and an outflow orifice which is formed with a narrowing cross-section and confines a vortex-space having the shape of a body of revolution and with which, in accordance with the invention, the surface confining the flow-space follows the flow-surface of the potential vortex.

With a preferred embodiment of the equipment according to the invention an inflow channel used to be applied, being connected to the end of larger cross-section of the flow-space along a concentric inflow orifice; the channel is helical and has a linearly decreasing cross-section.

It is considered as advantageous if the equipment is provided with an inflow channel with rectangular cross-section the radial dimension of which is constant and the generatrices are running parallel with the axis of the house.

It is found advantageous if the inflow orifice is formed with an inner surface which is connected to the surface of the house confining the flow-space.

With another preferred embodiment of the invention outside the inflow orifice a concentric discharge opening and therethrough a helical discharge channel with a widening cross-section are connected to the inflow channel.

With another preferred embodiment the inflow channel has an annular damming surface concentric with the axis of the house and narrowing the inflow orifice from inside.

It is considered as advantageous if the surface of the house confining the flow-space is formed of at least two surface tracts following different flow-surfaces between the inflow orifice and the outflow ori fice.

With another preferred embodiment of the equipment according to the invention on the surface of the house confining the flow-space between the inflow orifice and the outflow orifice there is at least one stripping orifice which is connected to a helical discharge channel having an increasing cross-section.

With another preferred embodiment a concentric outlet pipe is arranged in the axis of the house, the end of which - facing the outflow orifice of the house - discharges into the inner space of the house, while the other end is led out from the house over the inflow orifice.

It was found advantageous, if the equipment was provided with a construction being suitable to put the outlet pipe into an axial motion.

Further, it is considered as advantageous, if between the end of the outflow pipe facing the outflow orifice and the outflow orifice a reset element is arranged, having a flow-surface which is passing over into a co-axial surface matching to the surface of the house and led back to the inside of the outlet pipe.

With another preferred embodiment the reset element is fixed to the actuating rod arranged in the outlet pipe, which again is connected to a construction being suitable to cause an axial displacement.

With a further preferred embodiment of the invention the side of the reset element facing the outflow orifice is provided with a conical indent. In certain cases it may be advantageous if the part of the house confining the flow-space facing the outflow orifice has a concave shape, when seen from the axis of the house.

Lastly, it is considered as advantageous if the end of the house facing the outflow orifice is formed as a reset element and the outflow orifice is formed as a concentric outflow opening connected radially to the surface of the house confining the flow-space.

Compared to known solutions by means of the process and equipment according to the invention quality of separation can be considerably improved simultaneously a significant saving in energy can be also achieved.

It becomes possible to reduce inflow and outflow losses, process of separation can be well controlled.

Further delivery can be facilitated by transferring proper potential energy to the leaving phases.

The invention will be described in detail by means of preferred embodiments serving as example, by the aid of the drawings enclosed wherein: Figure 1 is the longitudinal diagrammatic view of a part of the equipment according to the first example, Figure 2 is the diagrammatic developed planar view of the upper edge of the detail of the equipment according to figure 1 corresponding to the first example, with the diagram showing the mode of charging the medium to be separated, Figure 3 is the diagrammatic front view of the inflow channel of the equipment according to the first example, Figure 4 is the schematic top view of the inflow channel of the equipment according to the first example, Figure 5 is the diagrammatic longitudinal section of a detail of the house of the equipment according to the first example together with the connected inflow channel, Figure 6 shows the schematic longitudinal section of the equipment according to the second example, showing the part facing the inflow channel, Figure 7 is the top view of the equipment according to Figure 6, Figure 8 illustrates partly the front view partly the longitudinal section according to example 3, Figure 9 is the longitudinal view of the end of the equipment according to the fourth example facing the outflow orifice, Figure 10 is the longitudinal sectional view of the end of the equipment according to the fifth example facing the outflow orifice, Figure 11 is the longitudinal sectional view of the end of the equipment according to the sixth example, facing the outflow orifice, Figure 12 is the diagrammatic longitudinal section of the end of the equipment according to the seventh example facing the outflow orifice, Figure 13 is the longitudinal sectional view of the end of the equipment according to the eighth example, facing the outflow orifice, and lastly Figure 14 is partly the front view partly the longitudinal sectional view of the equipment according to the ninth example.

The equipment according to the first example has a house 1 of the shape of a body of revolution which is confined on the top by the plane 3 perpendicular to the symmetry axis 2 of the house 1. Intersection of the inner surface of the house 1 and the plane 3 forms a circle with the radius r,. The wall of the house 1 has an inner surface 31 which is coaxial with the symmetry axis 2, and follows the flow-surface of a potential vortex. In a given case - when seen from the symmetry axis 2 - the surface 31 is concave, though it need not be so. However, it is of utmost importance that cross-section of the house 1 should continuously decrease from the inflow side, plane 3, to the outflow side, not illustrated here.

The surface 31 of the wall of the house 1 confines the flow-space 32 into which the medium to be separated enters along the line of intersection of the plane 3 and the surface 31 forming the circle with the radius r,, as shown by the arrows 4. The direction of entrance indicated by the surface 31 is a curve osculating the surface 31. It goes without saying that entrance requires an annular cross-section with a height of A h. The magnitude of the height A h is determined by the width of the inflow orifice 7 formed along the plane 3 inwardly from the line of intersection of the plane and the surface 31 of the house 1. / fig.5/.

In order to maintain the symmetry required through every elementary cross-section of the inflow orifice 7 identical medium quantities have to pass during the unit of time. For this purpose the inflow orifice 7 communicates with a concentric inflow channel 5 having a rectangular cross-section the generatrices of which are parallel with the symmetry axis 2 and radial dimension s (width) is always constant, while its axial dimension h height reduces from the value h = h to h = 0 during a complete peripher al run of K = 27r r, Ifigure 2/.This requirement can be met in such a manner that the inflow channel 5 is wound around the inner surface of an imaginary cylinder with the radius rf beginning above the plane and with a pitch gradient of a, thereafter the parts below the plane 3 are cut off / figure 3/, wherein h tg oi = tg a 2irr, The outer side of the inflow channel 5 represents an osculating curve of higher order of the cylinder surface with the imaginary radius r,/see Hungarian Patent HU-PS 165 483/ on that part where it leaves the house 1/figure 4/. In the tract of the inflow channel 5 leaving the house 1, ending in an inflow stud not illustrated here, the cross-section continuously decreases up to the contact point of said osculating curve /figure 4/.

On the lower side of the inflow channel 5 in the plane 3 an annular concentric damming surface 6 is to be found /figure 5/.

Accordingly, the concentric inflow orifice 7 is confined by the outer wall of the inflow channel with a radius r, and by the outer edge of the damming surface 6. The damming surface 6 prevents the phase of lower density or carrier phase from entering before the the phase of higher density into the space 32 of the house 1.

The equipment according to figures 6 and 7 differs from the previously described in so far as the outer wall of the inflow channel 5 running parallel with the symmetry axis 2 is prolonged downwards and outwards of the inflow orifice 6 a concentric annular transfer channel 8 is formed which communicates with an outflow channel 9 led helically around the house 1 and having a rectangular cross-section. With this equipment is becomes possible to discharge directly the coarser grains precipitating in the inflow channel 5, as indicated by the arrows 10. As a consequence the coarser grains do not abrade the surface 31 do not prevent segregation of the finer grains in the space 32 accordingly, selectivity and efficiency of the equipment will be improved.This solution is applied preferably for media the phases of which can be separated from each other relatively easily, e.g. mixture of air and solid matter, aqueous suspension etc.

The cross-section of the outflow channel need not be necessarily rectangular, any other profile, e.g. a circular cross-section can be applied.

The outflow channel 9 having a continuously, expediently linearly, widening cross-section increases potential energy of the material flow at the expense of the kinetic energy. In such a manner partly loss at outflow will be reduced partly it becomes possible to deliver the medium to a level lying higher than the level of the equipment.

With the equipment according to figure 8, design of the inflow channel 5 the inflow orifice 7 and the damming surface 6 corresponds to that of the embodiment according to figures 3 to 5, however, the space 32 of the house 1 is confined at the top by the surface 33 osculating the plane 3 and being convex when seen from the symmetry axis 2. The surface, too, follows a flow-surface of the potential vortex having been formed in the flow-space.

The concentric outflow pipe 17 is arranged around the symmetry axis 2 of the house 1 the upper part of which is led out from the house 1 above the inflow orifice 7 and the inflow channel 5, while the lower end discharges into the range of the lower end of the house 1 having a narrower cross-section, but it does not attain the concentric outflow orifice 21 on the lower end of the house widening downwards conically. The lower part of the surface 33 is matching to the outflow pipe 17 and continues in a cylindrical surface. By means of a device not illustrated here, the outflow pipe 17 can be moved in direction of the symmetry axis 2 in both senses; in addition it can be fixed in an optional position within given limits.

The inner surface 31 of the house 1 is connected -after the upper 1/3 - with a concentric stripping orifice 13 which is confined by the surfaces 11,12. The surfaces 11, 12 are also flow-surfaces. The stripping orifice 13 communicates with the helically led outflow channel 9 with the continuously widening crosssection, having been detailed in connection with figures 6 and 7. In our case the channel 9 has a circular cross-section; however, any other cross-section is possible.

After having left the stripping orifice 13 the inner side of the house 1 continues in surface 14 which is also a flow-surface however it is within the imaginary continuation of the surface 31 nearer to the symmetry axis 2.

The channel 9 connected to the stripping orifice 13 is matched to the flow-space 32 (vortex-space) in respect to energetics and fluid mechanics.

Under energetic matching it is meant that potential and kinetic energy of the streaming medium and the sum thereof are identical on both sides of the connection place of the vortex-space and the stripping orifice. Under matching in respect to fluid mechanics it is meant that at the connection absolute value of the resultant velocity of flow as well as dominating circulating velocity are identical on both sides in respect both to magnitude and direction.

Between the lower end of the outflow pipe 17 and the outflow orifice 21 the reset element 16 is arranged having the surface 15 which is matching to the surface 14 of the house 1, in the position according to figure 8 it is parallel therewith, which is formed so as to pass into the cylindrical surface of the rod 34 arranged concentrically in the inside of the pipe 17 and carrying the element 16, via the tract returning to the symmetry axis 2. The lower side of the element 16 facing the outflow orifice 21 is provided with a conical indent 22.

In its lowest position /II/the element 16 is fitting to the lower end of the house 1 in the inside and closes completely the outflow orifice 21, while in its topmost position /1/it is fitted to the lower end of the outflow pipe 17 and closes the latter one. The rod 34 is connected to a device, not illustrated here, enabling the axial motion thereof.

The equipment according to figure 8 operates as follows: The polyphase medium is fed through the inflow channel 5 and the inflow orifice 7 in such a manner that along the periphery during the unit of time always the same quantity is allowed to enter. The damming surface 6 prevents the carrier phase from entering into the flow-space 32 prior to the denser phase.

In the space 32 the medium is set in an ever increasing whirling motion between the surfaces 31,33 practically without any energy loss while the denser phase is dammed to the surface 31 and the thinner phase is concentrated at the surface 33.

At the stripping orifice 13 separation of the partial flow the denser phase between the surfaces 31, 14 following the flow-surfaces is taking place practically without any loss in energy as both the separated part and the part remaining in the space 32 are streaming further between the flow-surfaces and the outflow channel 9 is fitted to the space 32 at the place of connection, as previously described.

There is no reason for not applying more stripping orifices 13 and outflow channels 9 arranged below each other, which are performing separation always along an internal flow-surface each as advancing toward the inside. In such a manner the medium to be separated can be broken down to fractions of optional number.

In the lower part of the house 1 the remaining denser phase of the medium is led between the surfaces 14, 15 to the outflow orifice 21. The thinner carrier phase is reversed by means of the element 16 and led via the pipe 17 as indicated by the arrows 20.

Proportion of denser and thinner phase can be controlled by lifting or sinking the reset element 16 as indicated by the arrow 18. Interval of control can be shortended or prolonged by lifting or sinking the pipe 17 as indicated by the arrow 19.

From the point of view of separation it is highly advantageous if - when advancing from the inflow orifice 7 to the outflow orifice 21 - increasingly finer grains are dammed up in the vicinity of the pipe 17 however, the finer are the grains the lower their velocity of sinking. At the same time the path to be covered for reaching the surface 14 will be shorter and they arrive at a continuously increasing centrifugal field of force. Naturally, this plus effect will also dominate if phases of identical aggregate, e.g. a mixture of water and oil are intended to be separated.

The indent 22 formed on the lower side of the element 16 stabilizes the air vortex-pipe 23 formed in course of the discharge of the denser phase.

With the equipment according to figure 8 only the inflow channel5 the surface 31 the surfaces 11, 12 and the outflow channel 9 are to be provided with a wear-resistant coating. With the equipment according to figures 6 and 7 only the inflow channel 5, the transfer channel 8 and the outflow channel 9 are to be coated with a wear-resistant material.

The equipment according to figure 9 differs from that according to figure 8 in so far as on the level corresponding to the topmost position of the element 16 /1/the surface 14 is radially widened in order to be able to separate the carrier phase with a higher grade of purity by the surface 15 of the element 16.

With the solution according to figure 10, below the level corresponding to the topmost level /1/ of the element 16, quite up to the outflow orifice 21 a widened /hollow/ surface 24 is formed, being concave when seen from the symmetry axis 2, with the purpose to discharge a carrier phase of higher purity.

With the solution according to figure 11 the outflow orifice 21 is formed by a lateral concentric stripping orifice 26 which is formed similarly as the the stripping orifice 13 described in connection with figure 8, and it is provided with an outflow channel 27 being similar to the outlet channel 9 but having a rectangular cross-section.

The lower part of the house 1 is similarly formed as the reset element 16 described in connection with figures 8 to 10, with the difference that axial position cannot be changed and the inner surface 15 leads in the described manner the carrier phase into the inside of the pipe 17. In this case no rod 34 is arranged in the inside of the pipe 17, so the air vortex-pipe 25 may occupy its place. In this case control can be realized partly by lifting or lowering of the pipe 17, partly by changing the throttle of the channel 27.

With the solution according to figure 12 there is no outlet pipe 17 the space 32 is confined on the top but by the structurally formed flow-surface, namely the plane 3 according to figure 5. In this case flow extends to the possibly smallest inner radius, within which the air vortex-pipe 25 is formed. Stripping orifice 27 and outlet channel 27 are identical with those according to figure 11 while the outlet orifice 21 is similar to that according to figures 8 to 10. Carrier phase is leaving through the outlet orifice 21 in this case, too.

The solution according to figure 13 differs from that according to figure 12 in so far as the stripping orifice 28 is connected also to the surface 15, said orifice being similar to the stripping orifice 13 according to figure 8 with the difference that the surface 12 is reaching to the symmetry' axis 2 and forms the bottom of the air vortex -pipe 25. The orifice 28 forms the outflow orifice, while the outlet channel 29 is similar to the channel 9 according to figure 8. With this solution, carrier phase is leaving through the channel 29, in which potential energy is increasing at the expense of kinetic energy so conditions of delivery are advantageous.

Lastly, figure 14 presents an example for the case that every single partial flow, that means that not only the phases separated by the 13,26 and by possible further intermediary but also the carrier phase, can be discharged by means of a similar outlet channel 9,27,29 etc. each. With the solution according to figure 14 the air-vortex pipe 25 is staying under the environmentai pressure owing to the communication through the bore 30 formed in the middle of the plane 3 confirming the space 32 from above.

Claims

1. Process for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media in course of which the medium is forced to flow along a helical line with an increased velocity in the centrifugal field of force and the single phases are separated according to their distance measured from the axis of the centrifugal field of force, wherein the medium is forced to a potential whirling motion while the single phases are separated from each other by means of stripping channels confined by the flow-surfaces of a vortexspace.

2. Process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that stripping channels are matched to the vortexspace in respect to energetics and fluid mechanics.

3. Process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the polyphase medium is allowed to enter through a concentric inflow channel connected to the vortex-space radially from the outside and coaxially therewith at an acute angle and tangentially.

4. Process as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a carrier phase is forced to return in the flow-pipe formed along the axis of the vortex-space and is led so away.

5. Equipment for separating the single phases of polyphase streaming media having a house of the shape of a body of revolution provided with an inflow orifice and an outflow orifice confining a flowspace and formed with a narrowing cross-section, wherein the surface of the house confining the flowspace is following the potential vortex surface.

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the end of increased cross-section of the flow-space communicates with a helical inflow channel connected along the concentric inflow orifice and having a linearly narrowing cross-section.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that it has an inflow channel with a rectangular cross-section the radial dimension of which is constant and the generatrices are parallel with the axis of the house.

8. Equipment as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that an inner surface of the inflow orifice is connected to the surface of the house confining the flow-space.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the inflow channel is connected outside the inflow orifice to a concentric outflow opening and to a helical outflow channel having a widening cross-section.

10. Equipment as claimed in any of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the inflow channel has an annular damming surface being concentric with the axis of the house and narrowing down the inflow orifice from inside.

11. Equipment as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the surface of the house confining the flow-space is formed of at least two surface-parts following flow-surfaces of different character between the inflow orifice and the outflow orifice.

12. Equipment as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that on the surface of the house confining the flow-space between the inflow orifice and the outflow orifice there is at least one concentric stripping orifice which communicates with a helical outflow channel with increasing cross-section.

13. Equipment as claimed in any of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that in the axis of the house an outlet pipe is concentrically arranged the end of which, facing the outflow orifice of the house, discharges into the inner space of the house, while the other end is led out from the house above the inflow orifice.

14. Equipment as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that it has a device suitable to move the outlet pipe in an axial direction.

15. Equipment as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that between the end of the outflow pipe facing the outflow orifice and the outflow orifice a reset element is arranged having a fiow-surface passing in a coaxial surface matching to the surface of the house and led back into the inside of the outlet pipe

16. Equipment as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the reset element is fixed to an actuating rod arranged in the inside of the outlet pipe and said rod is connected to a device suitable for moving the rod in axial direction.

17. Equipment as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the side of the reset element facing the outflow orifice is provided with a conical indent.

18. Equipment as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 17, characterized in that the part of the surface of the house confining the flow-space facing the outflow orifice has a concave formation when seen from the axis of the house.

19. Equipment as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 18, characterized in that the end of the house facing the outflow orifice is formed as a reset element and the outflow orifice is formed as a concentric outlet orifice connected radially to the surface of the house confiining the flow-space.

20. A process for separating the induvidual phases of a polyphase flowing medium substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 and 7 or any one of Figures 8 to 14.

21. Apparatus for separating the individual phases of a polyphase flowing medium substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 and 7 or any one of Figures 8 to 14.