CYCLONE SEPARATION

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cyclone separator for separating a solids-laden liquid into pure liquid and solids. Furthermore, the invention relates to a mechanical seal assembly with a cyclone separator according to the invention, as well as to a pump assembly with a pump impeller and a mechanical seal assembly. Cyclone separators are used, for example, in mechanical seal assemblies to convey a pure barrier medium to a sliding surface between two seal rings. The barrier medium can, for example, be drawn off from a medium to be sealed, which contains solids. One application example is in the paper industry, where shredded wood pulp is pumped into a liquid, and the mechanical seal assembly is provided for sealing the pump shaft.Previous cyclone separators have a lateral inlet and a discharge line, which continues vertically from a cover of the cyclone separator. In addition to the cumbersome piping required to drain the liquid separated from the solids through the cover, this also poses significant disadvantages when it comes to necessary maintenance. In this case, the cyclone separator must be completely removed from the piping. This makes cyclone separator maintenance more difficult. Furthermore, there are applications in which cyclone separators are to be retrofitted into a piping system to reduce contamination of a barrier medium supplied to a mechanical seal assembly. This has previously been associated with considerable effort and, in particular, significant additional piping work.

[0002] WO 2005 / 103447 A1 describes a cyclone separator with a cylindrical body and a cyclone tube which is divided into several ring sections.

[0003] US 2014 / 075898 A1 describes a cyclone separator with a vane piece which is integrated into a cylindrical body and redirects an axial air flow radially inwards.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cyclone separator that allows for significantly easier maintenance while being simple in design and easy and cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical seal assembly and a pump assembly with an improved cyclone separator.

[0005] This object is achieved by a cyclone separator having the features of claim 1, a mechanical seal arrangement having the features of claim 10, and a pump arrangement having the features of claim 11. The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

[0006] The cyclone separator according to the invention with the features of claim 1 thus has the advantage that the cyclone separator is significantly simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, maintenance of the cyclone separator is possible without complete removal from a pipe system. Furthermore, the cyclone separator has a modular design so that parts worn out during operation can be easily replaced. This is achieved according to the invention in that the cyclone separator has a base body with an inlet line, an outlet line and a recess. The recess is designed as a blind hole and is open to a bottom side of the base body. Furthermore, the cyclone separator comprises an inner cone with a cavity which is arranged in the recess. A base plate is also provided which closes the recess on the base body, wherein the base plate has a dirt media connection, i.e.a connection for the contaminated medium or solids to be removed. The cavity of the inner cone is open to the contaminated media connection. The supply line opens laterally into a wall area of ​​the recess in the base body. The discharge line leads from a base area of ​​the recess in the base body to a lateral outlet on the base body. This ensures that the supply line leads laterally into the base body and the discharge line also leads laterally out of the base body at the outlet. This ensures that the supply line and the discharge line lead parallel to one another to the cyclone separator and away from the cyclone separator. Furthermore, according to the invention, the cyclone separator no longer has a cover, on which the piping system is arranged in the prior art, but rather the base plate, so that maintenance of the cyclone separator and, if necessary, replacement of individual components is possible from below, whereby the cyclone separator still remains mounted in the piping system.This significantly simplifies maintenance and, if necessary, the replacement of cyclone separator parts. Furthermore, the essentially in-line arrangement of the supply and discharge lines makes it easy to retrofit cyclone separators into existing piping systems.

[0007] The cyclone separator also includes a riser pipe, which is located on the discharge line and protrudes into the cavity of the inner cone. The riser pipe is a separate component and is often subject to significant wear. The ability to service the cyclone separator from below also makes it easy to replace the riser pipe.

[0008] The riser pipe further comprises a base plate and a pipe section, with the base plate being arranged between the inner cone of the cyclone separator and the base surface of the recess in the base body. This allows for easy fixation of the riser pipe in the cyclone separator by clamping it between the inner cone and the base body.

[0009] Furthermore, the inner cone is also designed as a separate, replaceable element. In particular, the inner cone is made of ceramic. This has the advantage that the inner cone does not have to be manufactured from solid material, but can be sintered, for example.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner cone has a connecting opening, with the supply line opening at the connecting opening of the inner cone. This allows the supplied medium, which may include liquid and solids, to be fed through the supply line and the connecting opening into the inner cone.

[0011] A particularly compact and simple design is possible if the inlet of the supply line and the lateral outlet of the discharge line on the base body are arranged 180° opposite each other. This enables particularly easy installation into an existing pipe system, for example, in a straight pipe section of the system.

[0012] The cyclone separator further preferably comprises an anti-twist device between the inner cone and the base plate of the cyclone separator. This prevents the inner cone from twisting during operation. The anti-twist device particularly preferably comprises a pin arranged between the inner cone and the base plate.

[0013] The inner cone particularly preferably has a cylindrical region in which the connection opening is arranged.

[0014] To achieve additional acceleration of the supplied medium, the connecting opening preferably has a shape such that it tapers toward the cavity of the inner cone, in particular, it tapers conically. This achieves an increased inflow velocity into the cavity of the inner cone, which further supports the separation of the liquid from the solids.

[0015] To ensure the shortest possible discharge line within the base body, the discharge line preferably has a 90° bend. This provides a short path for the liquid separated by the cyclone separator and ensures that it exits the discharge line parallel to the inlet line. The inlet line is preferably straight.

[0016] Preferably, the base body is substantially cylindrical and has a first flattened portion on an outer side, on which the supply line is arranged, and a second flattened portion on the outer side, on which the discharge line is arranged. The first and second discharge lines are preferably arranged 180° opposite one another on the base body. Further preferably, threaded holes are also provided in the first and second flattened portions for fixing flanges of the supply line and the discharge line for easy connection of the supply line and the discharge line. Further preferably, a flange is also provided on the base plate for discharging the contaminated medium from the contaminated medium connection.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement with a rotating and a stationary seal ring, which define a sealing gap between them, and a cyclone separator according to the invention, which provides a barrier medium for the mechanical seal, in which the outlet of the discharge line provides a purified liquid as a barrier fluid for the mechanical seal.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention relates to a pump with a mechanical seal arrangement and a cyclone separator according to the invention.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective sectional view of a cyclone separator in the mounted state in a pipe system, Fig. 2 a schematic, perspective sectional view of the cyclone separator of Fig. 1, which illustrates a disassembly process, Fig. 3 a schematic, perspective sectional view of the cyclone separator without connecting flanges, Fig. 4 a schematic, enlarged partial sectional view of the cyclone separator of Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 a schematic, perspective view of the cyclone separator of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a pump with a mechanical seal arrangement and a cyclone separator according to the Fig. 1 to 5 .

[0020] The following is based on the Figures 1 to 6 a cyclone separator 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail.

[0021] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 1 and 2 As can be seen, the cyclone separator 1 comprises a base body 2, a separate inner cone 3, a base plate 4 and a separate riser pipe 6.

[0022] The design of the cyclone separator is particularly suitable for Figures 3 and 4As can be seen from Fig. 3 As can be seen, the inner cone 3 is designed as a component with a conical cavity 30. Furthermore, the inner cone 3 is provided in the region of the riser pipe 6 with a cylindrical region 32 in which a connecting opening 31 is formed (cf. Fig. 4 ). The inner cone 3 and the riser pipe 6 are separate components. The base plate 4 is detachably connected to the base body 2, for example, by means of a screw connection. An anti-twist device 7 with a pin 70 prevents the inner cone from twisting relative to the base body 2 or the base plate 4. As can be seen from Fig. 3 As can be seen, the pin 70 is provided between the inner cone 3 and the base plate 4.

[0023] Furthermore, the base body 2 has a straight supply line 20 and a discharge line 21. A central axis YY of the supply line 20 is parallel to a central axis ZZ of the discharge line 21 (cf. Fig. 3This is made possible by the fact that the discharge line 21 has a 90° bend area 29, which allows a diversion of the medium supplied vertically via the riser pipe 6 by 90°. Thus, an inlet 200 of the supply line 20 and an outlet 210 of the discharge line 21 on the base body 2 are arranged 180° opposite to each other. Due to the parallel inflow and outflow on the base body 2, a simple installation and removal of the cyclone separator 1 in a pipe system is possible, which is evident from the Figures 1 and 6 is immediately apparent.

[0024] A pipe system in which the cyclone separator 1 is arranged comprises a supply pipe 20a, a discharge pipe 21a and a dirt pipe 5a. As can be seen from Fig. 1As can be seen, the supply pipe 20a is fixed to the cyclone separator 1 by means of a first flange 101. The discharge pipe 21a is fixed to the cyclone separator 1 by means of a second flange 102. A third flange 103 fixes the dirt pipe 5a to the cyclone separator 1.

[0025] The base body 2 is made of a metallic material, and the inner cone 3 is manufactured as a separate component from ceramic. To accommodate the inner cone 3, the base body 2 has a blind hole-like recess 23. The recess 23 is cylindrical with a wall region 24 and a base surface 25. The discharge line 21 begins at the base surface 25 and is deflected by 90° by the 90° bend region 29, so that the outlet 210 is located on the side of the base body 2. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 4As can be seen, the riser pipe 6, which has a base plate 60 and a pipe section 61, is clamped between the base surface 25 of the recess 23 and the inner cone 3 in the assembled state. Purified liquid is fed into the discharge line 21 via the riser pipe 6.

[0026] For easy installation in the piping system, a first flattened portion 27 and a second flattened portion 28 are formed on an outer side of the base body. The first and second flanges 101, 102 can be easily attached to the first and second flattened portions 27, 28.

[0027] The recess 23 is designed as a blind hole and is configured to accommodate the inner cone 3. The supply line 20 and the discharge line 21 are thus arranged in such a way that the purified liquid can also exit the discharge line 21 in a direction perpendicular to a central axis XX of the cyclone separator. This enables easy assembly and disassembly of the cyclone separator into a piping system.

[0028] For maintenance, the cyclone separator 1 is opened from below by removing the base plate 4. This allows the inner cone 3 to be removed downwards from the cyclone separator 1. In the same way, after removing the inner cone 3, the riser pipe 6 can also be removed downwards. The pipe connection to the supply line 20 and the discharge line 21 is still fully assembled, meaning that the cyclone separator 1 does not need to be completely disassembled for maintenance; instead, the base body 2 remains in the pipe system.

[0029] Since the riser tube 6, in particular, can be subjected to significant wear and tear by abrasive particles in the medium supplied through the supply line 20, a quick and easy replacement of the riser tube 6 is possible, for example. Likewise, the inner cone 3 can also be easily replaced if it becomes worn.

[0030] The function of the cyclone separator 1 is as follows. As can be seen from the Figures 1 and 4 As can be seen, a medium comprising liquid and solids is fed through the feed pipe 20a into the feed line 20 (arrow A). The medium enters the cavity 30 of the inner cone 3 through the connecting opening 31 and is deflected in the circumferential direction (arrow B, Fig. 4). The cyclone action separates the liquid and solids in the medium, with the pure liquid being drawn off via the riser pipe 6 (arrow C) and fed into the discharge line 21 (arrow D) and discharged via the discharge pipe (21a). The solids contained in the medium and any remaining liquid are fed via the dirty media connection 5 to the dirty pipe 5a (arrow E).

[0031] Fig. 6 shows an application of the cyclone separator 1 in a pump arrangement. The pump arrangement 80 comprises a pump impeller 18, which is arranged on a rotating shaft 17. Furthermore, a mechanical seal arrangement 10 is provided, which has a mechanical seal 11 with a rotating seal ring 12 and a stationary seal ring 13. Between the rotating seal ring 12 and the stationary seal ring 13, a sealing gap 14 is provided for sealing a product area 15 from an atmospheric area 16.

[0032] The stationary seal ring 13 is connected to a housing 19. The pump arrangement of Fig. 6 is used to convey a medium which is a liquid loaded with solids. The medium is, as in Fig. 6 schematically indicated by arrow F, is partially withdrawn from the pump impeller and fed to the cyclone separator 1. Here, the medium is separated into pure liquid and solids, possibly with some liquid. The pure liquid is fed via the discharge pipe 21a to the mechanical seal 11 to serve as a barrier fluid for the mechanical seal 11. The medium containing solids, withdrawn via the dirty media connection 5, is fed back to the pump impeller 18 (arrow G). Such a pump arrangement 80 is used, for example, in the paper industry, in which a paper pulp comprising water and wood chips or the like is pumped.

[0033] Thus, the cyclone separator 1 can be easily installed into a pipe system. Simple retrofitting is also possible. Opening the cyclone separator 1 from below by dismantling the base plate 4 also enables simple maintenance or replacement of wearing parts. In particular, the cyclone separator 1 according to the invention can also be easily installed in so-called "bad actor" situations, in which a cyclone separator for a mechanical seal arrangement must be retrofitted because the medium withdrawn as barrier fluid for the mechanical seal contains too many solids. In particular, a riser pipe 6 can also be easily, quickly, and cost-effectively replaced without completely dismantling the cyclone separator 1. List of reference symbols

[0034] 1Cyclone separator 2Base body 3Inner cone 4Bottom plate 5Contaminated media connection 5aContaminated pipe 6Riser pipe 7Anti-rotation device 10Mechanical seal arrangement 11Mechanical seal 12Rotating seal ring 13Stationary seal ring 14Sealing gap 15Product area 16Atmospheric area 17Shaft 18Impeller 19Housing 20Inlet line 20aInlet pipe 21Discharge line 21aDischarge pipe 23Recess (blind hole) 24Wall area 25Base area 27First flattening 28Second flattening 2990° bend area of ​​the discharge line 30Cavity of the inner cone 31Connection opening of the inner cone 32Cylindrical area of ​​the inner cone 60Base plate 61Pipe section 70Pin 80Pump arrangement 101First flange 102Second flange 103Third flange 200Inlet 210Outlet AFeeding of a medium comprising liquid and solids BFlow in the cyclone CDischarge of clean liquid into the riser pipe DDischarge of clean liquid in the discharge line EDischarge of dirty medium through the dirty medium connection FDischarge of medium from a pump arrangement GReturnDirt medium to the pump arrangement X-XCentral axis of the cyclone separator Y-YCentral axis of the supply line Z-ZCentral axis of the discharge line in the flow direction after the 90° bend area

Claims

1. A cyclone separator, comprising - a base body (2) with a supply line (20), a discharge line (21) and a recess (23), which is designed as a blind hole and is open to a bottom side of the base body (2), - wherein the supply line (20) opens laterally at a wall portion (24) of the recess (23) and the discharge line (21) leads from a base area (25) of the recess (23) to a lateral outlet (210) at the base body (2), - an inner cone (3) with a cavity (30), wherein the inner cone (3) is arranged in the recess (23), and - a base plate (4), which closes the recess (23) at the base body (2), wherein the base plate (4) comprises a dirt media connection (5), and - a riser pipe (6), which is arranged at the discharge line (21) and protrudes into the cavity (30) of the inner cone (3), - wherein the riser pipe (6) is a separate component, - wherein the riser pipe (6) comprises a base plate (60) and a pipe piece (61), wherein the base plate (60) is arranged between the inner cone (3) and the base area (25) of the recess (23) of the base body, and - wherein the inner cone (3) comprises a connection opening (31), wherein the supply line (20) opens at the connection opening (31) of the inner cone.

2. The cyclone separator according to claim 1, wherein an inlet (200) of the supply line (20) and the outlet (210) at the base body (2) are arranged opposite to each another by 180 °.

3. The cyclone separator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner cone (3) is replaceable.

4. The cyclone separator according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a rotation lock (7) between the inner cone (3) and the base plate (4).

5. The cyclone separator according to claim 4, wherein the rotation lock (7) comprises a pin (70), which is arranged partly in the inner cone (3) and partly in the base plate (4).

6. The cyclone separator according to any of preceding claims, wherein the inner cone (3) comprises a cylindrical portion (32), in which the connecting opening (31) is arranged.

7. The cyclone separator according to any of preceding claims, wherein the connecting opening (31) tapers in the direction to the cavity (30) of the inner cone (3).

8. The cyclone separator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge line (21) comprises a 90° bend portion (29).

9. The cyclone separator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (2) is substantially cylindrical and has a first flat (27) at an outer side, at which the supply line (20) opens and has a second flat (28) at the outside, into which the discharge line (21) opens.

10. A mechanical seal arrangement comprising a mechanical seal (11) with a rotating slide ring (12) and a stationary slide ring (13), which define a sealing gap (14) between them, and a cyclone separator (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. A pump arrangement comprising an impeller (18) and a mechanical seal arrangement (10) according to claim 10.