MXPA98010451A - A movable barrier for gas introduced for a bucket of liquids with surface li - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotating fluid separating apparatus that includes a separator 10 having a cylindrical wall 11 that receives a stream of liquid and gas to separate gas from the liquid, the liquid is collected in a rotary ring 13 on said wall 11 , characterized by: a) a bucket 14 having an inlet 15 immersed in said rotating liquid ring 13 to receive liquid from the ring b) a barrier structure 21 placed close to said ladle inlet 15 to block the gas inlet to the ladle 14; c) said barrier structure 21 which includes a control surface 21a, b beyond which the liquid travels to enter the ladle 14; d) and means 31 carrying the barrier structure 21 for a movement of said surface control 21a, b towards and in the opposite direction of said inlet 15 to control the bucket intake area in response to changes in the pressure exerted by the liquid 13 traveling beyond said barrier surface 2

Description

A MOBILE BARRIER FOR GAS INTRODUCED FOR A BUCKET OF LIQUIDS WITH FREE SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the control of ingestion of fluids within scoops; and more particularly, to separate a gas stream from liquid, use a bucket in operation in conjunction with a rotating separator.

The turbine of the rotating separator is a device having a rotating cylindrical member, which causes the separation of the liquid from the gas. This liquid separates as a high speed layer on the cylindrical wall. The preferred method to remove the liquid is an open bucket. However, variations in the flow rate of the liquid layer can result in the ingestion of gas by the bucket. The gas can cause noise and loss of efficiency in the process.

There is a need for means to block with control the ingestion of gases within the ladle; and further, there is a need to block said gas ingestion without taking into account variations in the thickness of the rotating liquid layer in the rotary separator, or variations in the flow rate of the liquid relative to the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important objective of the invention is to provide simple and effective apparatus and method that meet the above needs. This object is achieved by providing a rotating turbine apparatus which includes a separator having a rotating cylindrical wall which receives a stream of liquid and gas to separate gas from the liquid, the liquid is collected in a rotating ring in the wall, the combination comprises : a) a ladle having an entrance immersed in the ring of the rotating liquid to receive liquid from the ring; b) and barrier structure placed near the entrance of the bucket to block the entrance of the gas to the bucket.

As will be seen, the barrier structure typically includes a barrier surface after which the liquid travels to enter the bucket. The surface of the barrier typically has a scalpel or knife edge extension that controls the thickness of a portion of the liquid ring that enters the bucket. In this regard, the surface of the barrier may advantageously have an inclination in the direction of travel of the liquid entering the ladle; and that surface of the barrier can be convex towards the flow of liquid that comes, as it is a ring of rotating liquid.

Another objective includes means for effecting controllable displacement of the structure of the barrier towards the liquid ring. Such means typically include a spring for urging the structure of the barrier towards the liquid ring.

Still another objective includes the provision of a surface exposed to the pressure exerted by the collision of the liquid in the ring, that surface at an angle in a manner relative to the ring of the liquid to create the control force for the position of the barrier.

The turbine apparatus with which the invention is or can be related typically has two-phase nozzle means for receiving a stream of mixed gas and liquid, as well as a rotary emission arrow rotating in conjunction with the separator.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative example, will be better understood from the following description and drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a fragmentary section showing the details of a preferred form of the invention and taken in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the separator; Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modification; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the modification of Figure 3; Y Figure 5 is a diagram showing the fluid nozzle dripping fluid into the rotating separator structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In Figure 1, a rotary separator is shown at 10 and has an annular portion 11 with a front surface radially inward towards the separator axis 12 of rotation. A film or liquid layer is created as the ring 13 on the rotating surface and is shown with a thickness "t". Said liquid can typically be supplied in a jet, as it is from a two-phase nozzle. The elements of the nozzle, the jet and the separator are illustrated schematically in Figure 5. See also U.S. Patent No. 5,385,446, incorporated herein by reference, and wherein the moment of the jet is transferred to the separator in FIG. its internal surface lia, which induces rotation.

A ladle or diffuser structure is provided at 14 to remove liquid in the ring 13. The ladle has an inlet 15 defined by the radially spaced inner and outer lips 15a and 15b presented to the relatively incoming liquid in the ring. The lip 15b is immersed in the liquid ring; and the lip 15a is positioned radially inwardly of the inner surface 13a of the liquid ring. The liquid ring at 13b, radially inward from bucket lip 15b, enters bucket at 13c, and flows via a passage 16 in bucket to outlet 17. See arrow 50. Bucket is not normally turning, ie , it is fixed or can rotate, but at a step slower than the separator.

The gas that has been separated from the liquid that accumulates as layer 13 is collected inside the separator, as is 18. Since the lip 15a rests inwardly from the interior surface of the liquid ring 13 a, there is a tendency for gas separated to enter the bucket in region 20, due to the dragging effect of the ring of the rotating liquid after the gas adjacent to the liquid surface 13 a.

In accordance with the invention, the barrier structure is provided, and placed close to the entrance or source of the ladle, to block the gas leaving the ladle. Such a barrier structure is indicated at 21, and has a barrier surface 21a projecting radially outwardly from the inner lip of the bucket 15b, that is, towards the liquid ring, whereby the liquid in the ring travels. relatively beyond the surface of the barrier 21a to enter the bucket at its entrance. The surface of the barrier has a scalpel extension, indicated in 21b, which controls the radial thickness at t2 of the liquid ring that enters the ladle. In this regard, t2 is usually less than you. The extension of the scalpel 21b is also usually of a width (parallel to axis 12) around it like that of the ladle entrance. See Figure 2.

The surface of the barrier is shown inclined in the direction of relative travel of the liquid entering the ladle, and that inclination is preferably convex, to minimize or prevent the accumulation of liquid in a turbulent wave at the entrance of the ladle. Notice in Figure 2 that the width of the entrance of the bucket w is of smaller extension than the liquid in the ring, that is, the liquid of the ring exists in both opposites to the width of the bucket, as n 13e and 13f.

According to the foregoing, the separated gas is prevented or substantially prevented from entering the bucket to flow towards the outlet, and an efficient separation of the gas from the liquid is achieved.

Another aspect of the invention deals with the provision of means for the efficient controllable displacement of the barrier structure towards the liquid ring, whereby the thickness t2 of the liquid layer entering the ladle is controlled. In the example of Figure 1 and Figure 2, said control means for displacing the barrier is shown in the form of a spring 25, positioned to drive the structure of the barrier towards the liquid ring. A balance is achieved between the force of the spring acting to push the barrier towards the liquid ring, and the force of the liquid striking the convex surface 21a of the barrier, to place the barrier radially as a function of the rotational speed of the separator, the rotating speed of the liquid ring, and the viscosity of the liquid, by means of which a controlled rhythm of ingestion of liquid inside the ladle to correspond to the supply of liquid to the ring is achieved, and without ingestion of air, that is, the inlet is left open to the incoming flow of liquid, but is blocked to the gas.

The guide structure is also provided to guide said displacement of the barrier structure as it moves in the direction towards and in the opposite direction of the liquid ring. See for example the relatively sliding coupled surfaces 29 and 30 of the sleeve 29a and the rod of the barrier 31, coupled to the barrier and sliding in the bore in the sleeve 29a coupled to the bucket: A brake 34 in the rod is engageable with the end 33a of the sleeve to limit the radially outward movement of the barrier structure, and its scalpel, as referred to. See arrow 33. Figures 3 and 4 show the use of a metallic tape 40 or metallic tapes immersed in the liquid and angled in relation to the direction of travel of the liquid ring, to receive the shock of the liquid acting to produce a force component in a radially outward direction (away from axis 12). That metal band is connected to the barrier structure 21, via poles 42, to exert force on the barrier acting to move it into or into the liquid. Said force is counteracted by the force of flow exerted by the ring 13 on the convex surface of the barrier, as mentioned above, and a balance is achieved, as has been said. No spring is used in this example.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A rotating fluid separating apparatus including a separator 10 having a rotating cylindrical wall 11 which receives a stream of liquid and gas to separate gas from the liquid, the liquid is collected in a rotary ring 13 on said wall 11, characterized by: a) a ladle 14 having an inlet 15 submerged in said rotating liquid ring 13 for receiving liquid from the ring; b) a barrier structure 21 placed proximate said entry of bucket 15 to block the entry of gas into bucket 14; c) said barrier structure 21 including a control surface 21a, b beyond which the liquid travels to enter bucket 14; d) and means 31 carrying the barrier structure 21 for a movement of said control surface 21a, b towards and in the opposite direction of said inlet 15 to control the bucket intake area in response to changes in the pressure exerted by the liquid 13 traveling beyond said barrier surface 21a.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized in that the barrier structure 21 includes a barrier surface 21a beyond which the liquid travels to enter the bucket 14.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized in that the barrier surface 21a has a scalpel extension 21b that controls the thickness of a portion of said liquid ring entering the ladle.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, further characterized in that said barrier surface 21a has an inclination in the direction of travel of liquid 13 entering bucket 14.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further characterized in that said inclination of the barrier surface 21a is convex.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized in that said convex surface 21a receives the pressure of the liquid 13 flowing to the inlet of the liquid 15 to drive the barrier 21 in a direction opposite to the liquid flowing the ladle inlet, and said means they include a spring 25 for urging the barrier structure 21 towards said liquid ring 13.
7. 7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, further characterized by means of metal strips 40, 42 for effecting controllable displacement of said barrier structure 21 towards said liquid ring 13.
8. 8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, further characterized by a guide structure 29, 29a for guiding said displacement of the barrier structure 21 in a direction to reduce the entrance area of said entrance 15.
9. 9. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, further characterized by a biphase nozzle means (Figure 5) to receive a stream of mixed gas and liquid. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, further characterized by a rotating output shaft, which rotates in conjunction with the separator
10. 10. EXCERPT OF THE INVENTION A rotating turbine apparatus that includes a separator having a rotating cylinder wall that receives a stream of liquid and gas to separate the gas from the liquid, the liquid is collected in a rotating ring in the wall, and comprises a ladle 14 having an inlet 15 immersed in the rotating liquid to receive liquid from ring 13; and barrier structure 21 positioned next to the entrance of the bucket to block the gas to the bucket.