US2102297A

US2102297A - Process and apparatus for separation of the components of a mixture of more than twocomponents

Info

Publication number: US2102297A
Application number: US536500A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walch Henri; Prelaz Jean
Original assignee: De Laval Separator Co
Current assignee: De Laval Separator Co
Priority date: 1930-06-11
Filing date: 1931-05-11
Publication date: 1937-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1954-12-14

Description

Dec. 14, 1937. H. WALCH ET AL 1 2,102,297

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF A MIXTURE OF MORE THAN TWO COMPONENTS Filed May 11, 1931 F/G. 2. F/6.3.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,102,291 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARA- TlON OF THE TURE OF MORE signers,

Laval Separator Company, a corporation of New Jersey COMPONENTS OF A MIX- THAN TWO COMPONENTS Henri Walch and Jean Prlal,

by memo assignments,

Paris, France, as-

to The De New York, N. Y.,

Application May 11, 1931, Serial No. 536,500 In Sweden June 11, 1930 7 Claims.

In centrifugal separators of the usual types, which as a rule are constructed for separation of two liquids of different specific gravities, the separated components are discharged from the bowl over level outlets whose radial positions are fixed. If however, three or more liquids of ,dif ferent specific gravities are to be continuously discharged from the bowl, the construction of a corresponding number of level outlets'ofiers very considerable difiiculties. In addition, the bowl will also be very sensitive to variations in the specific gravities of the components of the liquids.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for securing effective separation and separate discharge of more than two components.

Inthe drawing, which shows preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a centrifugal bowl, embodying the invention, which is adapted for continuous separation of three liquids of different specific gravities.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections illustrating diflerent modifications of one of the heavier liquid discharging means. 1

The invention is mainly characterized by elements in the bowl wall of such a construction that they allow but one of the two heavier components. of the original mixture which are being displaced towards the periphery of the bowl to stream out, the lightest component 01' the mixture discharging in known manner through outlets close to the rotation center of the bowl. The other of the two heavier components of the original mixture which are displaced toward the periphery of the .bowl (which component may be the heaviestcomponent or the next heaviest component of the original three components) discharges through outlets arranged in known manner at a radial zone outside the outlet for the lightest component.

The bowl illustrated in Fig. 1 is especially constructed for separating oil from a mixture of goudrons and sulphuric acid, which are residues alter the refining, at the same time that the goudrons and sulphuric acid are separated from each other, and for-separately removing these three components. f these'three components, the oil has the lowest specific gravity and the acid the highest specific gravity. The mixture is led into the centrifugal bowl through a central feed tube 1 and then streams through channels 2 into a separating chamber 3, preferably provided with a liner of Irusto-conical discs l. In this chamber the mixture .of liquids is at first separated into two ma n bulks, one of which 'and the other of the two (01. 2334-2) lightest component;

consists exclusively of the heavier components. The lighter component, e. g., the oil, is displaced inward in the separating chamber and discharges through level outlet 5, which may be regulable by well known means. The two heavier components, e. g., the sulphuric acid and the gou-' drons, are displaced towards the periphery of the bowl under the influence of the centrifugal force. In the bowl wall 9 are outlets 6, which may be capillary nozzles, allow the escape of the sulphuric acid with but very little or nothing of the goudrons, which have a higher viscosity than the sulphuric acid. The goudrons move inward through channels 1 and are removed from the bowl in known manner through outlet 8, whlch may also be regulable in known manner.

With other mixtures it is, to arrange the nozzles in such a way that the next heaviest component, with but very little or nothing of the heaviest component, will escape through the nozzles, the heaviest liquiddischarging through an outlet of known type, for instance, a level outlet like outlet 8.

of course, possible Inthe specific mixture given as an example,

all three substances to be separated'are in liquid state. It must not be understood, however, that the process is limited to-substances with comparatively low viscosity. In fact, substances of a consistency between that of a liquid and that of solids are separable in a bowl embodying the invention.

Figure 2 shows a special type of capillary nozzle in the bowl wall 9. The channel I 0, whose axis is at right angles to the rotation axis of the bowl, has, at its inner end, the shape of a conical valve seat II. The channel is partly occupied by a valve body l2, the inner part of which has the shape of a cone l3 fitting on thevalve seat ll.

During the rotation of the centrifugal bowl the cones of the valve body are pressed outward-onto the valve seat so that capillary conical throughfiow channels are formed between the cone and the seat.

Figure 3 illustrates still another type of capillary nozzle in the bowl wall. The channel ll has, in this constructionya boring or countersunk portion I5 at the inner side of into the channel is the shank of a pin Ithaving, at its inner end, a head ll. In the boring, surrounding the shank of the pin, are a number of thin ring-shaped (preferably .metal) .discs ll. When the centrifugal bowl rotates, the pin is thrown outward by the centrifugal force and of such a construction as tothe wall. Extending presses together the discs I 8, so that the desired capillary channels are formed between them.

The effect of the centrifugal force acting on the valve bodies l2 or the pins 16 may be increased by means of springs, arranged in such a manner that they press the said parts outward. The same efl'ect may be reached by the aid of screws forcing these.parts outward.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the separation of the particular mixture of oil, goudrons and acid specified, since it is applicable to the separation of any mixture of more than two components whereof the two heavier components are of difl'erent specific gravities or of substantially different viscosities.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim and desire to. protect by Uetters Patent is: a v

1. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate discharge of the components of a 1 mixture of morethan two components, comprising outlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relatively near the rotation axis of the bowl and communicating directly with the interior of the bow] at only its peripheral zone, and outlet means for the other heavier component, the last named outlet means comprising a hole providing a comparatively free opening when the bowl is stationary and means adapted to so throttle the hole during rotation ofthe bowl as to provide an outlet of capillary character.

2. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate discharge of the components of a mixture of more than two components, comprising outlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relatively near the rotation axis of the bowl, and outlet. means for the other heavier component, the last named outlet means 'comprising a frusto-conlcal valve seat and a valve having a frusto-conical part substantially conforming in shape to the valve seat and which is arranged to press outward due to centrifugal action onto said valve seat during rotation of the bowl to form a capillary throughflow channel between the valve and its seat.

3. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate discharge of the components of a mixture of more than two components, comprising outlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relatively near the rotation axis of the bowl, and ,outlet means for the other heavier component, the last named outlet means com prising a countersunk recess, a headed pin, and

ringeshaped discs sleeved on the pin between its head and the base of the recess and arrange to be pressed together by centrifugal action during the rotation of the bowl to form capillary channels between them.

4. The process of separating a mixture of more than two constituents of which one of the heavier constituents is a relatively free flowing liquid and the-other of the heavier constituents is a relatively viscous material, which comprises subjecting the mixture to centrifugal force, effecting separate discharge of the three constituents by sothrottllng the discharge through which the two I heavier constituents tend to escape as to allow the escape therethrough of only the more free flowing of the two heavier constituents and compel separate outflow of the other heavier constituent. i

5. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate discharge of a mixture oi." three constituents one of the two heavier of which is a relatively free flowing liquid and the other a relatively viscous material, said bowl having out-- lets, relatively near the axis, communicating respectively with'the central portion and peripheral portion of the separating'space of the bowl, said bowl having" an outlet in. its peripheral wall through which both of said heavier constituents tend to escape, said peripheral outlet being formed by members presenting opposing surfaces and which are movable one relatively to another to afford between said surfaces an outlet of variable size but which, under the influenceof centrifugal force, tend to close and so closely contact as to provide an outlet of capillary character through which only the relatively free flowing liquid can escape, thereby compelling the discharge of the other heavier ingredient through the outlet, relatively near the bowls axis, communicating with the peripheral portion of the separating space of the bowl.

6. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate discharge of a mixture of two constituents one of which is a relatively free flowing fluid and the other of which is a relatively viscous material, said bowl having an outlet in its peripheralwall though which both constituents tend to escape and an outlet, relatively near its axis, which communicates directly with only that part outlet being formed by members presenting op posing surfaces and which are movable one relatively to another to aii'qrd between said surfaces an outlet of variable size but which, under the influence of centrifugal force, tend to close and I so closely contact as to provide an outlet oftcapilduced by the treatment of oil with a mineral acid to thereby form a mixture of oil, acid sludge. and

free acid, the acid sludge and free acid being of substantially greater specific gravity than of the bowl adjacent its periphery, said peripheral the oil and the acid sludge being compara-- tivelyviscous and the tively free-flowing, which comprises subjecting the mixture to centrifugal force and effecting separate discharge of the three constituents by so throttlingthe discharge through which the acid sludge and free acid tend to escape as to allow the pe of only the relatively free-flowing acid and sludge.

- HENRI WALCH.

JEAN PRnLAz.

free acid "being relampel separate outflow of the acid