US3780937A - Centrifugal gas separator with electric motor drive - Google Patents

Centrifugal gas separator with electric motor drive Download PDF

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Publication number
US3780937A
US3780937A US00118281A US3780937DA US3780937A US 3780937 A US3780937 A US 3780937A US 00118281 A US00118281 A US 00118281A US 3780937D A US3780937D A US 3780937DA US 3780937 A US3780937 A US 3780937A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
drum
rotor
gas separator
electric motor
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00118281A
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English (en)
Inventor
H Tahara
M Sakurai
H Yamada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba Corp
Original Assignee
Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3780937A publication Critical patent/US3780937A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C39/00—Relieving load on bearings
    • F16C39/06—Relieving load on bearings using magnetic means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B9/00—Drives specially designed for centrifuges; Arrangement or disposition of transmission gearing; Suspending or balancing rotary bowls
    • B04B9/02—Electric motor drives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B9/00—Drives specially designed for centrifuges; Arrangement or disposition of transmission gearing; Suspending or balancing rotary bowls
    • B04B9/14—Balancing rotary bowls ; Schrappers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2300/00—Application independent of particular apparatuses
    • F16C2300/30—Application independent of particular apparatuses related to direction with respect to gravity
    • F16C2300/34—Vertical, e.g. bearings for supporting a vertical shaft
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S494/00—Imperforate bowl: centrifugal separators
    • Y10S494/90—Imperforate bowl: centrifugal separators involving mixture containing one or more gases

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A centrifugal gas separator is disclosed which employs a vertically oriented centrifuge drum mounted on suitable bearings within a stationary housing and driven by an electric motor.
  • the electric motor is constructed in annular form with its stator portion fixed to the stationary housing and its rotor portion fixed to the centrifuge drum and positioned generally below its stator portion.
  • FIGH CENTR-IFUGAL..GAS SEPARATOR WITH ELECTRIIG MOTOR DRIVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.
  • the present invention relates to gas separators, and more particularly to centrifugal gas separators which may be used, for example, for separating enriched uranium (U from gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UP 2. Description Of The Prior Art A Gas centrifuges customarily include an elongated cylindrical drum which is filled with the gas to be processed, then rotated at an extremely high angular speed.
  • one object of the invention is to provide an electric motor driven centrifuge in which the rotor and stator portions of the driving electric motor are arranged so that the magnetic attraction between them lifts the centrifuge drum, and removes a portion of its weight from the drum bearings.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifuge having a rotating cylindrical drum of a relatively short axial length to reduce the vibration thereof.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gas centrifuge that includes either an elastic or a magnetic vibration damping device.
  • a vertically oriented centrifuge apparatus equipped with an annular electric motor.
  • the rotor portion of the motor is mounted on the centrifuge drum, while the stator portion thereof is mounted to the centrifuge housing above the rotor portion.
  • the motor When the motor is energized, the magnetic attraction between the rotor and stator portions thereof tends to lift a portion of the weight of the centrifuge drum, thereby reducing bearing wear.
  • Either a magnetic or an elastic device is secured to the drum bearing to dampen the vibration thereof.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away illustration of a first embodiment of the centrifuge apparatus of the instant invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away illustration of a second embodiment of the centrifuge apparatus of the instant invention
  • FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away illustration of a third embodiment of the centrifuge apparatus of the instant invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away illustration of a fourth embodiment of the centrifuge apparatus of the instant invention.
  • FIG. 1 a cylindrical drum 10 is shown positioned in an evacuated cylindrical housing 11.
  • An annular shelf 12 is provided within housing 11 at an upper portion thereof.
  • An annular disk-shaped damper 13 of elastic material is mounted on the shelf 12 and is held at the outer periphery thereof by a ring member 14.
  • the drum 10 includes an upper end plate 15, a hollow shaft 16 axially extended therefrom, a lower end plate 17 and a shaft 18 axially extended downward therefrom.
  • annular tab 19 is provided around hollow shaft l6.v
  • the annular tab 19 is mounted on an inner race of a bearing 20 which is also supported-in a central opening of the damper 13.
  • the damper 13 also supports a pair of conventional gas sealing devices 21 and 22 at the innermost portion thereof to prevent gas from leaking along the surface of hollow shaft 16.
  • An annular shelf 23 is provided within housing 11 at the lower portion thereof for supporting an annularshaped damper 24 of elastic material which may be substantially the same as damper 13. Similarly, the outer periphery of the damper 24 is held by a ring 25.
  • a bearing 26 is positioned in a central opening of the damper 24 for rotatably supporting shaft 18 of drum 10.
  • a pair of conventional gas sealing devices 73 and 74 are mounted on the innermost portion of damper 24 to prevent gas from leaking along the surface of the shaft 18.
  • an electric motor 27 of the axial air gap type is mounted within housing 11.
  • the electric motor 27 includes an annular or disk-shaped stator core 28 supported by the inner wall of housing 11 through stays 30 and an annular or disk-shaped rotor 31 mounted on end plate 15 of drum 10.
  • the rotor 31 is preferably made of a plate of soft iron, permendur or the like, and has plated on the surface thereof a material having a relatively higher conductivity such, for example, as copper or aluminum, which is denoted by the numeral 32.
  • An air gap 33 separates stator core 28 from rotor 31.
  • the motor 27 also includes a stator winding 29, which is energized from a high frequency A.C. voltage source (not shown) such, for example, as a motorgenerator set or a static inverter, which generates a revolving electromagnetic field in the air gap 33 to cause the rotor 31 to rotate.
  • a high frequency A.C. voltage source such, for example, as a motorgenerator set or a static inverter, which generates a revolving electromagnetic field in the air gap 33 to cause the rotor 31 to rotate.
  • a mixed gas to be isotopically separated is introduced into drum 10 through an inlet 34 in housing 11 and through a hollow shaft 16.
  • the lower portion of the drum 10 is heated by a heater (not shown), and the upper portion of the drum 10 is cooled by a refrigerating apparatus (not shown), thereby producing a temperature gradient across the drum which causes the mixed input gas to positively circulate in the drum.
  • the centrifuging operation and the temperature gradient causes a gas separation, which results in a gas of a relatively light molecular. weight being exhausted through orifices 36 positioned in the peripheral area of end plate 17.
  • the lighter gas is then expelled through an outlet 27.
  • the separated gas of heavier molecular weight is exhausted through orifices 38 positioned peripherally in upper end plate 15.
  • the heavier gas is then expelled through an outlet 39.
  • a pair of ring members or gas seals 40 and 41 are mounted on the inner wall of housing 11.
  • Narrow clearances 44 and 45 are defined between rings 40 and 41 and the side wall of drum 10 to impede the flow of gas therethrough into a common area 43.
  • This separating effect may be enhanced by the provision of a nozzle 42 which extends through the side wall of housing 11 into space 43 between the inner wall of housing 11 and the side wall of drum 10.
  • a carrier gas such, for example, as helium may be emitted from thenozzle 42 into the space 43, then directed partially to outlet 39 through the clearance 44 and partially to outlet 37 through the clearance 45.
  • the drum 10 does not require a conventional driving motor positioned on an extension of the axis of the drum. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the entire axial length of the drum and motor combination. Thus, undesirable vibrations which result from a rotational body having a greater axial length can be effectively reduced.
  • a mixed gas is introduced into drum 10 through an inlet 46, an enclosure 47 mounted on the housing 11, and a stationary pipe 48 extending through the hollow shaft 16 of the drum 10.
  • the separated light gas is exhausted from drum 10 into a lower chamber 50 through a hollow shaft 49 extending through a lower end plate 17 and is then expelled out of the chamber 50 through an outlet 51.
  • the separated heavier gas is exhausted from the interior of drum 10 through hollow shaft 16 into an upper chamber 52, and is then expelled out of the chamber 52 through an outlet 53.
  • FIG. 3 the interior of drum 10 is divided into three chambers 54, 55 and 56 by means of a pair of horizontal partition walls 57 and 58.
  • a mixed input gas is conducted into the intermediate chamber 55 of the drum 10 through inlet 46, housing which is connected to scoops 60 and extends through a hollow shaft 49 of the drum l0.
  • the separated heavier gas is conducted into the upper chamber 54 through orifices 62 provided in a peripheral portion of partition wall 57.
  • Stationary scoops 63 are provided in chamber 54 for taking the gas out'of chamber 54, and are connected to a stationary hollow tube 64 which is located between pipe 48 and hollow shaft 16.
  • the separated heavier gas is carried out of chamber 54 through scoops 63 and tube 64; the same then enters into chamber 52 and is exhausted through outlet 53.
  • an electric motor 65 which includes a stator core 66 of a cylindrical ring configuration mounted on an inner wall of housing 11 and having a stator winding 67 wound thereon.
  • a cylindrical ring-like rotor 68 made ofa material such, for example, as a plate of soft iron or permendur, is mounted on the side wall of drum 10.
  • stator core 66 When the electric motor 65 is not energized, the magnetic center of stator core 66 is located at a slightly higher position than that of rotor 68. Accordingly, when the motor 65 is energized, the rotor 68 will be lifted upwards from its unenergized level by the electromagnetic pull occurring in the air gap between the rotor and stator elements. Thus, the thrust loaded on bearings 20 and 26 due to the weight of drum 10 is reduced.
  • a plurality of electromagnets 69 are provided around shaft 18, each of which includes a core member 70.
  • Core member 70 includes a pair of magnetic pole pieces facing the surface of shaft 18 through a small air gap.
  • An exciting coil 71 is wound on each of the cores 70, and the cores 70 are mounted on an annular stay 72 around the periphery of shaft 18.
  • the electromagnetic pull of magnets 69 is adjustable and functions to hold the axis of shaft 18 at a regular centered position without contacting with magnetic pole piece members. By properly adjusting the magnetic pull of the magnets 69, the vibration of the shaft 18 can be damped effectively.
  • a centrifugal gas separator comprising: an enclosed housing, elongated cylindrical drum means vertically oriented within said housing, and adapted to receive a mixed gas to be separated,
  • bearing means mounted within said housing for rotatably supporting said drum means, electric motor means for driving said drum means mounted within said housing, said electric motor means comprising stator means and rotor means;
  • stator means rigidly mounted to said housing and positioned above at least a portion of said rotor means, such that upon energization of said electric motor means an electromagnetic attractive force is created between said stator means and said rotor means which tends to lift said drum means.
  • said rotor means and said stator means are both in the form of annular disks.
  • said rotor means is mounted to a top surface of said drum means.
  • said rotor means and said stator means are both cylindrical in form.
  • said rotor means is mounted on a peripheral surface of said drum means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
US00118281A 1970-02-27 1971-02-24 Centrifugal gas separator with electric motor drive Expired - Lifetime US3780937A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP45016483A JPS514300B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-02-27 1970-02-27

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US3780937A true US3780937A (en) 1973-12-25

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JP (1) JPS514300B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902659A (en) * 1971-12-15 1975-09-02 Kernverfahrenstechnik Gmbh Device for stabilizing the rotor of high-speed centrifuges
US4098457A (en) * 1977-03-28 1978-07-04 Beckman Instruments, Inc. Friction producing stator pad for an air driven centrifuge
US4108354A (en) * 1974-07-23 1978-08-22 Asea Aktiebolag Gaseous mixture ultracentrifuge
US5428220A (en) * 1993-11-29 1995-06-27 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Commerce Aerosol mass spectrometer and method of classifying aerosol particles according to specific mass
US20030052558A1 (en) * 2001-09-17 2003-03-20 Brackett Norman C. Repulsive lift systems, flywheel energy storage systems utilizing such systems and methods related thereto
RU2209120C2 (ru) * 2001-10-09 2003-07-27 Научно-производственное республиканское унитарное предприятие "Научно-производственное объединение "Центр" Центробежное устройство
US6727616B1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2004-04-27 Christopher W. Gabrys Flywheel energy storage system with quill stabilizer
US20040214710A1 (en) * 2003-04-23 2004-10-28 Herman Peter K. Integral air/oil coalescer for a centrifuge
RU2313395C1 (ru) * 2006-11-13 2007-12-27 ООО "Новые технологии" Роторный механизм центробежной установки
DE102009053660B3 (de) * 2009-11-17 2011-05-12 Milosiu, Johann-Marius, Dipl.-Ing. Gaszentrifuge mit integriertem Antrieb und angepaßter Abdichtung
WO2011144323A1 (en) * 2010-05-19 2011-11-24 Eppendorf Ag Vibration damping for an electric device
US20140251145A1 (en) * 2012-02-02 2014-09-11 Ylec Consultants Device for separating two immiscible fluids of different densities by centrifugation
WO2016075090A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-19 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Active rotating separator

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61140391U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1985-02-20 1986-08-30
JPS62120775U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1986-01-24 1987-07-31

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB371303A (en) * 1930-12-13 1932-04-21 Gen Electric Improvements in and relating to high speed electric machines
US2377175A (en) * 1939-01-24 1945-05-29 Gen Electric Display apparatus
GB852392A (en) * 1957-12-27 1960-10-26 Reactor Centrum Nederland Improvements in and relating to ultracentrifuges for the separation of a gas mixturein two components
US3219265A (en) * 1960-03-17 1965-11-23 Reactor Centrum Nederland Centrifuges, e.g., ultracentrifuges for the separation of gases
US3223315A (en) * 1963-01-22 1965-12-14 Watt V Smith Unitized centrifugal separator
US3289925A (en) * 1957-11-14 1966-12-06 Degussa Centrifugal separators
US3501091A (en) * 1967-03-21 1970-03-17 Atomic Fuel Corp Gas centrifuge and a process for concentrating components of a gas mixture

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE572830A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1957-11-14

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB371303A (en) * 1930-12-13 1932-04-21 Gen Electric Improvements in and relating to high speed electric machines
US2377175A (en) * 1939-01-24 1945-05-29 Gen Electric Display apparatus
US3289925A (en) * 1957-11-14 1966-12-06 Degussa Centrifugal separators
GB852392A (en) * 1957-12-27 1960-10-26 Reactor Centrum Nederland Improvements in and relating to ultracentrifuges for the separation of a gas mixturein two components
US3216655A (en) * 1957-12-27 1965-11-09 Wind Jaap Continuously operating ultracentrifuges
US3219265A (en) * 1960-03-17 1965-11-23 Reactor Centrum Nederland Centrifuges, e.g., ultracentrifuges for the separation of gases
US3223315A (en) * 1963-01-22 1965-12-14 Watt V Smith Unitized centrifugal separator
US3501091A (en) * 1967-03-21 1970-03-17 Atomic Fuel Corp Gas centrifuge and a process for concentrating components of a gas mixture

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902659A (en) * 1971-12-15 1975-09-02 Kernverfahrenstechnik Gmbh Device for stabilizing the rotor of high-speed centrifuges
US4108354A (en) * 1974-07-23 1978-08-22 Asea Aktiebolag Gaseous mixture ultracentrifuge
US4098457A (en) * 1977-03-28 1978-07-04 Beckman Instruments, Inc. Friction producing stator pad for an air driven centrifuge
US5428220A (en) * 1993-11-29 1995-06-27 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Commerce Aerosol mass spectrometer and method of classifying aerosol particles according to specific mass
US6727616B1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2004-04-27 Christopher W. Gabrys Flywheel energy storage system with quill stabilizer
US7679245B2 (en) 2001-09-17 2010-03-16 Beacon Power Corporation Repulsive lift systems, flywheel energy storage systems utilizing such systems and methods related thereto
US20030052558A1 (en) * 2001-09-17 2003-03-20 Brackett Norman C. Repulsive lift systems, flywheel energy storage systems utilizing such systems and methods related thereto
RU2209120C2 (ru) * 2001-10-09 2003-07-27 Научно-производственное республиканское унитарное предприятие "Научно-производственное объединение "Центр" Центробежное устройство
US7235177B2 (en) * 2003-04-23 2007-06-26 Fleetguard, Inc. Integral air/oil coalescer for a centrifuge
US20040214710A1 (en) * 2003-04-23 2004-10-28 Herman Peter K. Integral air/oil coalescer for a centrifuge
RU2313395C1 (ru) * 2006-11-13 2007-12-27 ООО "Новые технологии" Роторный механизм центробежной установки
DE102009053660B3 (de) * 2009-11-17 2011-05-12 Milosiu, Johann-Marius, Dipl.-Ing. Gaszentrifuge mit integriertem Antrieb und angepaßter Abdichtung
US8791609B2 (en) 2010-05-19 2014-07-29 Eppendorf Ag Vibration damping for an electric device
CN102918752A (zh) * 2010-05-19 2013-02-06 埃佩多夫股份公司 电动设备的振动阻尼
WO2011144323A1 (en) * 2010-05-19 2011-11-24 Eppendorf Ag Vibration damping for an electric device
CN102918752B (zh) * 2010-05-19 2015-07-22 埃佩多夫股份公司 电动设备的振动阻尼
US20140251145A1 (en) * 2012-02-02 2014-09-11 Ylec Consultants Device for separating two immiscible fluids of different densities by centrifugation
US9731223B2 (en) * 2012-02-02 2017-08-15 Ylec Consultants Device for separating two immiscible fluids of different densities by centrifugation
WO2016075090A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2016-05-19 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Active rotating separator
GB2546696A (en) * 2014-11-10 2017-07-26 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Active rotating separator
US20170312761A1 (en) * 2014-11-10 2017-11-02 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Active rotating separator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS514300B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-02-10

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