US3327939A

US3327939A - Centrifugal countercurrent exchange device with improved removable strip means

Info

Publication number: US3327939A
Application number: US507811A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wladzia G P Doyle; Collin M Doyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-15
Filing date: 1965-11-15
Publication date: 1967-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-27
Also published as: ES333179A2

Description

3,327,939 CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE WITH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jib g y fim w. 5. P. DOYLE ET AL IMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS 501/ FIG.6 \565 June 27, 1967 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 FIG. 7

INVENTO R5 WLADZIA G.R DOYLE b mww G w m K COLLIN M. DOYLE fy uzzw- 411% ATTORNEYS P. DOYLE ET AL 3,327,939

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 27, 1967 w CBNTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE WITH IMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS F'lled Nov 15, 1965 INVENTO R5 FIG. 5 WLADZIA G.P. DOYLE COLLIN M. vovua mwwwe/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,327,939 CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE WITH IMPROVED REMOVABLE STRIP MEANS Wlad'zia G. P. Doyle and Collin M. Doyle, both of 21 W. Elm St., Chicago, Ill. 60610 Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 507,811 2 Claims. (Cl. 23315) This invention relates generally to centrifugal countercurrent exchange or contacting devices of the type disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 3,107,218, 3,114,706 and 3,132,100. This is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending patent application entitled Centrifugal Countercurrent Exchange Device With Fully Adjustable Apertures, Ser. No. 272,718, filed Apr. 12, 1963, now Patent 3,217,980, issued Nov. 16, 1965.

More particularly, as in the other application, this invention relates to improvements in such devices which enable a single standardized device or machine to be readily adapted for substantially universal use under all conditions of operation.

In the aforementioned patents and patent application, the need for having a single standardized device which is readily adaptable for substantially universal use was amply demonstrated. However, to repeat briefly, efiicient intimate mixing of the two fluids in the rotor makes it essential that the fluids must first be broken up or dispersed into small droplets for each mixing stage. The dispersal or tearing up of the fluids into small droplets for each mixing stage is the most single important element, since it not only enables the fluids to be more intimately mixed, but it also is directly related to the mixing energy within the rotor. Thus, where the two liquids being processed are varied and they have different characteristics such as, for example, different specific gravities or viscosities, the machines must be designed with different dispersal characteristics to vary the mixing energy within the rotor. We have found that an effective way of controlling the dispersal characteristics of a machine to render the same suitable for universal use, is to incorporate removable strips for the bands therein as taught in our above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 272,718. However, the exchange between the liquids or contacting efficiency thereof, appears to be impaired by internal entrainment or reverse flow of liquids where the liquids flow through the separator bands and/ or strips. Toobviate this problem, we have provided strips which are formed to reduce the internal entrainment or reverse flow of the liquids. To form a strip in such a fashion, the main perforations thereof are venturied or have gradually decreasing areas in a downstream direction with respect to the respective liquids flowing therethrough to cause the liquids to contact imperforate portions of adjacent bands. The

venturied perforations thus form passages throughout the bands of the cont-actor as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to "provide an improved centrifugal countercur-rent contacting or exchange device having improved means for readily varying and controlling the mixing energy within said device. I

It is still another object of this invention to provide a centrifugal counter current contacting or exchange device --of the character described having means for readily varying and controlling the dispersal characteristics as required by the characteristics of the liquids being processed.

It is still further another object of this invention to improve the exchange efficiency in a centrifugal countercurrent contacting or exchange device of the character described by reducing the internal entrainment or reverse flow of liquids therein.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide an improved centrifugal contacting or exchange device having removable strips associated with the bands thereof that are shaped to reduce the entrainment or reverse flow of liquids therein.

It is still further an important object of this invention to provide a universally adjustable centrifugal exchange or contacting device with improved exchange or contact ing efficiency.

It is still even further another object of this invention to provide removable strips for centrifugal countercurrent exchange devices or contactors having strips with outwardly and inwardly projecting protrusions for efficient dispersal or tearing up of the liquids into small droplets for each mixing stage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement, and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustnated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, our invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages can be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of reference ard employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the rotor of a cont-acting device embodying our invention;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary view of one of the end walls of the rotor illustrating access means for the rotor;

FIG. lb is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. la illustrating the access means for the rotor;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the contacting device of FIG. 1 embodying improved strips in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view looking downward at the top of one of the strips having circular venturied orifices as incorporated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the strips illustrated in both FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along a plane passing through the line 3-3 in FIG. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 2 of a strip having venturied perforations of oblong cross section;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of the strip of FIG. 4 as it would appear assembled in the rotor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an improved strip having perforations and protrusions projecting in two directions, viz, outwardly and inwardly, when assembled in a centrifugal countercurrent exchange device;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of still another strip embodiment having perforations and protrusions projecting in two directions, viz, outwardly and inwardly, when the strips are assembled in a rotor;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10--10 in FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a fragmentary portion of the rotor in a centrifugal countercurrent exchange device embodying the principles of the invention. Since the device is generally of the type described in the aforementioned patents and the co-pending patent application, all well known in the art, and does not per se comprise the subject matter of the invention, only so much thereof as is necessary for an understanding of the subject invention will be described.

Permanently mounted within the rotor is a plurality of separator bands 12 and as described in the aforementioned patents and patent application, the space in between the bands 12 preferably should increase with increasing radius, or at least be uniform. The separator bands 12 are mounted in the usual manner, such as by positioning the ends thereof within properly spaced and sized concentric grooves 11 in the

end walls

13, 13a of the rotor Til. As in our aforementioned patents and co-pending patent application, the rotor processes liquids countercurrently through the bands thereof. The rotor has suitable passageways such as 20 and 22 in the shaft, respectively supplying heavier liquid to and removing lighter liquid from the interior of the rotor in the proximity of the center area thereof. Also the rotor includes means or suitable passageways such as 24 and 26 for respectively forcing lighter liquids into and for discharging heavier liquids from the interior of the rotor in proximity of the periphery thereof. It will be noted that elongated radially aligned perforations 14 are formed in the separator bands so that liquids flowing therethrough collide with imperforate portions of an adjacent separator band. As in our co-pending patent application, the perforations 14 may extend substantially the full width of the bands 12 leaving webs 14a therebetween. Access to the bands 12 can be obtained through one of the end walls 13 which has access openings 13b formed therein and closed by removable plates 15 as illustrated in FIGS. la, lb. The removable access plates 15 can be of any shape, although they are preferably illustrated as pie shaped, and they can be fastened to the end plates by removable fastening means such as threaded bolts 17. Any number of openings and access plates can be provided as long as the access holes and plates afford symmetrical or balanced access to all of the separator bands 12. Also it should be noted that removable spacer plates 19 with grooves 19a are removably interposed between the access plates 15 and bands 12 so that the spacer plates can receive the bands when the access plates 15 are locked in position. Also, when access to the rotor is desired, the spacer plates 1? can be removed when the access plates 15 are removed.

Secured to the bands 12 adjacent each elongated perforation 14 is a pair of

opposed channel members

16, 18. The

channel members

16, 18 may be substantially coextensive with the perforations and the same are adapted to snugly but removably support therebetween novel strips such as 3t), 4t), 50 and 66, shown respectively in FIGS. 2 through 9 in the drawings. The strips are of sufiicient length to completely cover the elongated perforations 14 and the same can be formed in accordance with the different structural configurations illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 10. Also, it will be noted that the

channel members

14 and 16 can be disposed on either side of the bands 12.

Referring particularly to the strip 30 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the strip has a plurality of spaced apart venturied orifices 30a therein in straight line alignment. The venturied orifices 30a communicate with the perforations 14 of the bands 12 and have their cross sections increasing from one end of the orifice to the other. At one end 301), the cross section of the orifice is largest and is preferably substantially equal in square area to a cross section of the perforations 14; and at the other end 30d of the orifices, the cross section is smallest. Also, it will be noted that the cross sectional area of the venturied orifices 30a are preferably shown as circular. Still further, it will be noted that the strips are mounted in the rotor in FIG. 10 so that the venturied orifices are in radial alignment and are venturied or have gradually decreasing areas in a downstream direction with respect to the respective liquids flowing through the bands. Thus the strips are arranged with their venturied orifices forming passageways in either radially outward or radially inward directions, depending on which row of orifices is referred to.

Referring particularly to strip 40 illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5, it is seen that venturied orifices 40a are formed therein and are spaced apart in straight line alignment. These venturied orifices are oblong in cross section and they communicate with the elongated perforations 14 of the bands 12 in the same manner as the strip 30. At one end 4017, the cross section of the orifice is largest and is disposed immediately adjacent to the elongated perforations 14; and at the other end 40d of the orifice, the cross section is smallest.

Referring particularly to the strip 50 illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7, it will be noted that the strip has a plurality of protrusions 50a, 5% formed therein which extend in opposite directions with respect to the strip. The protrusions can be formed by denting the strips or in any other Well known manner and from a top view of FIGURE 6, it will be noted that the protrusions 50a can be disposed at various angles. Also, various patterns of perforations can be formed therein such as, for instance, the large perforations 50c and the small perforations 50d which are shown in straight line alignment disposed adjacent the protrusions.

Since difierent liquids require different dispersal characteristics, another example of a strip with protrusions and perforations is shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 and is designated by the character reference 60. This strip is shown as having

protrusions

60a, 60b extending in opposite directions at various angles with respect to each other. It will be noted that some of the protrusions are parallel to each other as in FIG. 10. Also included in the strip 60 are large perforations 600 in addition to small perforations 65d which are disposed in straight line alignment gdjbacent to and parallel to some of the protrusions 60a,

To summarize the operation of our invention, it can be seen that when the strips 30, 4f) are used in the rotor of a contacting device as illustrated in FIG. 1, the venturied orifices thereof are venturied or have gradually decreasing areas in a downstream direction with respect to the respective liquids flowing therethrough and cause the liquids to contact imperforate portions of an adjacent band. With such an arrangement, the orifices of the strips act as conduits for the liquids flowing therethrough to guide the same against the imperforate region or web of an adjacent band and thereby cause better dispersal of the liquids to obviate entrainment. Also, in addition to guiding the flowing liquids against an adjacent band, the venturied orifices of the

strips

30, 40 increase the velocity of the liquids as they flow therethrough so that when the liquids contact an adjacent band, the dispersion thereof is enhanced to thereby further obviate reverse flow or entrainment.

Although the

strips

50, 60 do not have ventured orifices therein, it has been found that enhanced dispersion of the liquids is obtained by using strips having oppositely projecting protrusions and perforations as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10. Also, a greater range of adjustability of dispersion characteristics in the contacting devices can be obtained through the use of different patterns of perforations and protrusions.

It will thus be seen that from the foregoing description and drawings, without further explanation, that we have provided a countercurrent exchange device including novel interchangeable strips which provide for universal adjustability in addition to preventing entrainment, and fulfill other stated objects of our invention in a remarkably unobvious and unexpected fashion. It should be realized that in addition to providing strips having venturied orifices which are circular or oblong in cross section, other venturied orifices of different cross section can be used within the concept of our invention. Also, different shapes of protrusions and orifices can be used to bring about a variety of dispersal characteristics in the contacting device and therefore utilization of different pattern following the principles here disclosed form a part of our invention.

Still further, it is believed that our invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A centrifugal countercurrent exchange device including: a rotor having a pair of end walls, a plurality of concentric separator bands positioned in said rotor, said eparator bands being formed with a plurality of perforations, means for supplying heavier liquid to and means for removing lighter liquid from the interior of said rotor in the proximity of the central area thereof, means for forcing lighter liquid into and means for discharging heavier liquid from the interior of said rotor in the proximity of the periphery thereof, strip means comprising an elongated plate having spaced apart openings, protrusions formed on one side only of said plate, each of said protrusions having an orifice therein communicating with one of the openings of the plate;

inner strip retaining means comprising a plurality of pairs of inner channel members, each pair of the inner channel members being attached to the inside surface of one of said bands and spaced inwardly therefrom toward the central area of the rotor, each channel member of a pair of said inner channel members being positioned on opposed sides of at least one of the apertures of one of the bands, each of a first group of said strip means being removably secured in a tight-fitting relationship between a pair of the inner channel members and the inside surface of the corresponding band whereby the free ends of the protrusions extend toward the central area of the rotor and the openings of the corresponding plate communicate with at least one of the apertures of said last-mentioned band; outer strip retainer means comprising a plurality of pairs of outer channel members attached to the outside surface of said bands and spaced outward therefrom toward the periphery of the rotor, each channel member of a pair of said outer channel members being positioned on opposed sides of at least one of the apertures of one of the bands, each of a second group of said strip means being removably secured in a tight-fitting relationship between said lastmentioned channel members and the outside surface of the corresponding band whereby the free end of the protrusions extend outward toward the periphery of the rotor and the openings of the corresponding plate communicate with at least one of the apertures of said last-mentioned band, the exchangeability of said strip means within the countercurrent exchange device providing adjustment means to vary the length of the protrusions and the size of the orifice and thereby controlling the dispersal characteristics of the oppositely flowing liquids within the device. 2. A countercurrent exchange device as defined in claim 1, wherein the orifice of the protrusion of said strip means varies progressively in cross-sectional area with the minimum said area being at the free end of said protrusion, the free ends of the protrusion of said strip means retained in said inner channel members being positioned adjacent an imperforate portion of the next innermost band, the free ends of the protrusions of said strip means retained in said outer channel members being positioned adjacent an imperforate portion of the next outermost band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,489 7/1904 McLeod 23337 1,126,247 1/1915 Mason 233-28 2,599,619 6/1952 Eckers 23315 2,758,783 8/1956 Podbielniak 23315 3,179,333 4/ 1965 Claridge 233-15 3,217,980 11/1965 Podbielniak et al. 23315 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Examiner.

Claims

1. A CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE INCLUDING: A ROTOR HAVING A PAIR OF END WALLS, A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC SEPARATOR BANDS POSITIONED IN SAID ROTOR, SAID SEPARATOR BANDS BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HEAVIER LIQUID TO AND MEANS FOR REMOVING LIGHTER LIQUID FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROTOR IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE CENTRAL AREA THEREOF, MEANS FOR FORCING LIGHTER LIQUID INTO AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING HEAVIER LIQUID FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROTOR IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, STRIP MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED PLATE HAVING SPACED APART OPENINGS, PROTRUSIONS FORMED ON ONE SIDE ONLY OF SAID PLATE, EACH OF SAID PROTRUSIONS HAVING AN ORIFICE THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF THE OPENINGS OF THE PLATE; INNER STRIP RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS, EACH PAIR OF THE INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID BANDS AND SPACED INWARDLY THEREFROM TOWARD THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE ROTOR, EACH CHANNEL MEMBER OF A PAIR OF SAID INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED ON OPPOSED SIDES OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OF ONE OF THE BANDS, EACH OF A FIRST GROUP OF SAID STRIP MEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED IN A TIGHT-FITTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A PAIR OF THE INNER CHANNEL MEMBERS AND THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE CORRESPONDING BAND WHEREBY THE FREE ENDS OF THE PROTRUSIONS EXTEND TOWARD THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE ROTOR AND THE OPENINGS OF THE CORRESPONDING PLATE COMMUNICATE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED BAND; OUTER STRIP RETAINER MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF OUTER CHANNEL MEMBERS ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BANDS AND SPACED OUTWARD THEREFROM TOWARD THE PERIPHERY OF THE ROTOR, EACH CHANNEL MEMBER OF A PAIR OF SAID OUTER CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED ON OPPOSED SIDES OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OF ONE OF THE BANDS, EACH OF A SECOND GROUP OF SAID STRIP MEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED IN A TIGHT-FITTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEN SAID LASTMENTIONED CHANNEL MEMBERS AND THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE CORRESPONDING BAND WHEREBY THE FREE ENDS OF THE PROTRUSIONS EXTEND OUTWARD TOWARD THE PERIHPERY OF THE ROTOR AND THE OPENINGS OF THE CORRESPONDING PLATE COMMUNICATE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED BAND, THE EXCHANGEABILITY OF SAID STRIP MEANS WITHIN THE COUNTERCURRENT EXCHANGE DEVICE PROVIDING ADJUSTMENT MEANS TO VARY THE LENGTH OF THE PROTRUSIONS AND THE SIZE OF THE ORIFICES AND THEREBY CONTROLLING THE DISPERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OPPOSITELY FLOWING LIQUIDS WITHIN THE DEVICE.