Device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from air or gas streams

Abstract

Disclosed is an example of a device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from air or gas streams. The device is based on the effect of a mechanically induced horizontal vortex within a vertical cylindrical or slightly conical body, which is divided into two cham- bers. The mechanically induced vortex may be produced by a horizon- tally rotating impeller.

Description

Device for Separating Solid and / or Liquid Particles from Air or Gas Streams Technical Field

[001] The invention relates to a device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from air or gas streams and, in some forms, a sluice system in which horizontally rotating blades generate a vortex for separation of solid and liquid particles from upwards streaming gases. Background

[002] Separation devices such as cyclones or cyclone separators are used to separate particulate matter from fluid streams such as gas or air flows. Cyclones include a cyclone body with a tangential air inlet to create a rotating stream of fluid inside the cyclone body so as to separate the particulate matter by centrifugal forces. The cleaner fluid or gas is usually discharged at an outlet at a top of the cyclone body and the captured particulate matter is discharged via a lower section of the cyclone body.

[003] A problem with known cyclones relates to the efficiency being dependant on the input flow speed of the fluids and usually a high inlet velocity is required. Moreover, the pressure loss over known cyclones is relatively large.

[004] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative. Summary

[005] Disclosed is an example of a device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from air or gas streams. The device is based on the effect of a mechanically induced horizontal vortex within a vertical cylindrical or slightly conical body, which is divided into two chambers. As with cyclones that are "state of the art", the deposition effect is based on the utilization of centrifugal forces. Surprisingly, it has been found that a vertical cylindrical or slightly conical body, in which a vortex is produced by a horizontally rotating impeller and which is mounted directly above a process boiler from where gases flow out even with very small differential pressure, can be passed through by those gases from bottom to top in a way, that once the gases are in the system, they are subjected to centrifugal forces of a vortex, however flow out of the body on the top with almost the same flow speed of the gas streaming in into the body on the bottom side.

[006] In contrast to known cyclones, the efficiency of the device is not dependent on the input flow speed of the fluids. Gases need only a very little positive pressure difference to enter the device. The cleaning efficiency is rather determined by the shape and speed of the horizontally rotating impeller. In contrast to known cyclones, the device can therefore also be applied for gas cleaning within closed vacuum processes and also at very low gas flow rates. Irrespective of their flow speed in the moment of entering the device, the fluids are subjected to the mechanically induced vortex. As in the case of conventional cyclones, liquid and / or solid particles are separated by centrifugal forces. In the case of known cyclones, however, the fluid stream must enter the device at a high speed tangentially from the outside, so that a sufficiently strong vortex can occur. At the disclosed device the entrance is on the lower side and the entrance speed of the fluids can be arbitrary. Furthermore there is no or almost no change of the pressure conditions of the gases before entering the device, and the pressure conditions after having left the device.

[007] At the moment of entry in the device, vertically rising gases to be purified, are captured from the horizontal vortex that is generated by a rotating impeller. As a result, liquid and / or solid particles are thrown onto the vertical sidewall. They are decelerated through the contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical vortex chamber and then move downwards along the wall back into the process boiler, due to gravity. The cleaned gas is pushed through the bore located in the centre of the partition wall by the pressure of the afterwards flowing in gas, and therewith reaches the exit area.

[008] Although the gas is greatly accelerated inside the device, it leaves the apparatus at the top site with a flow rate very similar to the flow rate of the afterwards flowing gas entering the apparatus on the lower site. Even gases which flow from a negative pressured process at very low flow rates can also be cleaned of liquid and / or solid particles without affecting the vacuum conditions of the process.

[009] The mode of operation of the device is similar to that of a cyclone or a centrifuge. Within a vertical cylindrical or slightly conical body, horizontal centrifugal forces move heavier particles away from the centre toward the outside. The heavier particles are thrown onto the inner side of the wall, thereby separated from the gas stream and move back into the process boiler by gravity.

[0010] In the case of known cyclones, however, the gas stream must enter the cylindrical body on the topside at a higher speed tangentially from the outside, so that a sufficiently strong vortex can occur. The overpressure introduced with the gas stream leaves the cyclone with the purified gas through an outlet located centrally at the top of the cylindrical body. The separated solid particles slide down on the vertical walls of the cyclone and leave the cyclone via a mostly conically narrowing outlet located centrally on the bottom of the cylindrical body. There are also cyclones in purification or transport systems in which the flow velocity of the gases is accelerated to the necessary input flow speed by a blower before entry tangentially into the cyclone or by suction with a vacuum pump located after the cyclone outlet.

[0011] The advantage of the device disclosed is, that with this device the centrifugal effect for cleaning gases can either be applied in systems with atmospheric pressure as well as in pressurized or low pressure systems, not or only minimal influencing the pressure parameters existing in the system. Regardless of the gas inlet velocity, gases are subjected within the device to a vortex and liquid and solid particles are deposited. The still not purified gas, flowing into the apparatus from below, presses the purified gas upward. The cleaned gas leaves the device on the topside at the same flow speed or almost the same flow speed with which the still not purified gas is entering the lower side. The exit velocity of the gas is almost equal to the entry velocity of the gas.

[0012] The disclosed device enables cleaning of gases in systems with very low gas flow speed. No tangentially lateral entry into the body is required. As a very small pressure difference is sufficient for the gas to enter the device only minimal input flow velocity of fluids is required. Within a process, the device has no or almost no effect on the pressure parameters before or after the gas purification. In processes with changing gas flow rates, the device ensures that all fluids reaches the same high degree of purification independent from entry speed.

[0013] The cleaning effectiveness is adjustable by the rotational speed of the rotor and does not depend on the gas entry speed. Description of Figures / Drawings

[0014] "Figures 1a and 1b" shows an example of a device with cylindrically vortex chamber, simple impeller and a disc mounted centrically below the impeller

[0015] Assignment of numbers "Figures 1a & 1b": 1). Gas inlet area 2). Vortex chamber 3). Impeller 4). Centrally inserted drive shaft 5). Disc mounted below impeller 6). Partition wall between lower and upper chamber 7). Separating edge 8). Outlet chamber 9). Outlet 10). Shaft seal 11). Shaft bearings 12). Shaft drive connection to motor

[0016] "Figures 2a to 2c" shows an example of an impeller provided on lower side with a mounted or integrated disc

[0017] Assignment of the numbers "Figures 2a to 2c": 3). CCW turning Impeller with 18 vanes 5). On lower side of impeller mounted or integrated disc

[0018] "Figures 3a and 3b" shows an example of a device with cylindrically chamber and impeller provided with an integrated partition wall and a disc with centrically bore mounted or integrated on lower side

[0019] Assignment of the numbers "Figures 3a and 3b": 1). Gas inlet area 2). Vortex chamber 3). Impeller - provided with integrated partition wall and provided with on lower side mounted disc with centrically bore - 4). Centrally inserted shaft 5). Partition wall inserted in impeller 6) Partition wall between lower and upper chamber 7). Separating edge 8). Outlet chamber 9). Outlet 10). Shaft seal 11). Shaft bearings 12). Drive shaft connection to motor 16). On lower side of Impeller mounted or integrated disc with centrically bore

[0020] "Figure 4a to 4c" show an example of an Impeller provided with an integrated partition wall and provided a disc with centrically bore mounted or integrated on the lower side

[0021] Assignment of the numbers "Figure 4a to 4c": 3). Impeller 5). Integrated partition wall 16). On lower side of Impeller mounted or integrated disc with centrically bore

[0022] "Figure 5a to 5d" shows an example of a device with a conically shaped vortex chamber provided with an conically shaped Impeller with integrated partition wall and provided with a disc with centrically bore mounted or integrated on lower side.

[0023] Assignment of the numbers "Figure 5a to 5d": 1). Gas Inlet Area 2). Vortex Chamber 3). Impeller 4). Centrically inserted Shaft 5). Partition wall integrated in Impeller 6). Partition wall between lower and upper chamber of the device 7). Separating Edge 8). Outlet Chamber 9). Outlet 10). Shaft Seal 11). Shaft Bearings 12). Connection to drive motor 16). On lower side of Impeller mounted or integrated disc with centrically bore

[0024] "Figures 6a to 6c" shows an example of an conically shaped impeller provided with integrated partition wall and provided with a disc with centrically bore mounted or integrated on the lower side

[0025] Assignment of the numbers "Figure 6a to 6c": 3) Impeller 5) Integrated partition wall 16). On lower side mounted or integrated disc with centrically bore

[0026] "Figure 7" shows an example of a flow scheme of a device with conically shaped vortex chamber and conically shaped impeller with integrated partition wall and disc with centrically bore mounted or integrated on the lower side of the impeller 5

[0027] Assignment of the numbers "Figure 7": 1). Gas inlet area 2). Vortex chamber 3). Impeller 5). Partition wall integrated in Impeller 6). Partition wall between lower and upper chamber 7). Separating edge 8). Outlet chamber 9). Outlet for cleaned gases 15). Down ward sliding particles 16). On lower side mounted or integrated disc with centrically bore Detailed Description

[0028] Referring to Figures 1a to 7, there is shown an example of a device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from fluid streams, especially from air or gas streams, comprising of a vertical cylindrical or conical body. As best shown in Figure 7, that illustrates work flow within the device is provided as follows. From gas inlet area 1). gas flows vertically from below upwards into the vortex chamber 2). in which a horizontally vortex is formed by the rotation of impeller 3). In the centre the effect of the vortex is the least. To prevent a direct up flow of gas through the centre area, the rotating Impeller 3) has an integrated partition wall 5).

[0029] The lower side of the Impeller is provided with a disc with centrically bore. The gas coming from below flows in into the device in the centre. The separated particles sink down on the inner wall of the vortex chamber 2). Gas can only pass through the vortex chamber 2). through areas in which it is necessarily subjected to the horizontally rotating impeller 3) or the existing vortex.

[0030] Liquid and / or solid particles entrained in the gas are thrown onto the inner wall of vortex chamber 2). by the centrifugal forces of the vortex. Through contact with the wall, the particles are decelerated and subjected to the gravity, they move down, back into the process boiler. Since the lowest pressure and the smallest centrifugal force prevails in the centre of a vortex, purified gas, which is lighter, collects in the centre area of the Vortex. Pushed by subsequent gas, purified gas flows up to outlet chamber 8). through the centre of the intermediate partition wall 6). Purified gas can then leave the device through outlet 9). The bore located in the intermediate partition wall 6). limits the transition from vortex chamber 2). to outlet chamber 8). to a narrow region in the centre.

[0031] The centrically bore in the intermediate partition wall 6). has a separating edge 7). projecting downwards into vortex chamber 2). Separating edge 7). ends with a small distance to the upside of the there under rotating impeller 3). Because outside the centre area the pressure in the vortex is higher, cleaned and lighter gas flows below the intermediate partition wall 6). in direction from outside to inside. Separating edge 7). stops particles that possibly are still entrained by the gas flow.

[0032] In the centre area gas can than flow up through the centrically bore of the partition wall 6). in direction to outlet chamber 8). After having being subjected to the vortex still remaining particles entrained by the gas flow are stopped at the separator edge 7). They fall back onto the impeller 3), to be again subjected to the centrifugal effect of the vortex.

[0033] Particles already been deposited and decelerated on the inner side of the vertical cylindrically or conical wall of the device are subjected to gravity and slide down. In the version like shown in Figure 7 the impeller is provided with an integrated partition wall 5) and with an underneath located disc with centrically bore 16). This implementation allows for greater independence between up streaming gas and downward sliding particles.

[0034] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0035] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0036] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0037] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims

1. A device for separating solid and / or liquid particles from fluid streams, comprising a vertical cylindrical or conical body, divided by a horizontal partition wall into an upper and a lower region, wherein the upper region is provided with one or more outlets, and is provided either on the top side with a centrally located bore, through which a sealed drive shaft is introduced, whose bearings are mounted outside the cylindrical or conical body, and which is provided with a drive unit located outside of the cylindrical or conical body to rotate this shaft, or is provided with an inside centrally located shaft bearing and drive unit, and the lower region is characterized by a single horizontally rotating impeller or mul- tiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region, the device further comprising a gas inlet area and a vortex chamber, wherein from the gas inlet area gas entraining liquid and / or solid particles can flow verti- cally from below upwards into the vortex chamber in which a horizontal vortex is formed by a rotation of the impeller or impellers, respectively, the impeller or impellers, respec- tively, being provided with an internally integrated partition wall and with an underneath located horizontal disc being centrally mounted or integrated on the lower side of the ro- tating impeller and having a centrically bore through which the gas coming from below can flow in into the device in the centre, wherein the integrated partition wall is configured to prevent a direct up flow of the gas through a centre area of the vortex chamber, so that the gas can only pass through the vortex chamber through areas in which it is subjected to the horizontally rotating impeller or the existing vortex, wherein the horizontal partition wall, which divides the cylindrical or conical body into the upper and the lower region, is provided with a centric bore and with a perpendicularly downwards extending edge that follows the rounding of the centric bore.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the centric bore of the horizontal parti- tion wall has a diameter which is minimum 10% greater than the diameter of the mounted drive shaft and less than 80% of the diameter of the body at this point.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the centric bore of the horizontal partition wall has a diameter which is minimum 10% greater than the diameter of the mounted drive shaft and between 30% and 40% of the diameter of the body at this point.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the perpendicularly downwards extending edge measures in length downwards between 2% and 40% of the diameter of the partition wall, and wherein the distance between the lower end of the edge, which is extending vertically downwards, and the top of the horizontally rotating im- peller measures between 0.2% and 25% of the diameter of the partition wall.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the perpendicularly downwards extend- ing edge measures in length downwards about 5% of the diameter of the partition wall.

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, where the top of the horizontally rotating im- peller measures between 1% and 3% of the diameter of the partition wall.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper region of the cylindrical or con- ical body instead of being provided with a drive shaft whose bearings are mounted out- side the cylindrical body, is provided with a centrically inside mounted drive shaft unit to drive a single rotating impeller or to drive multiple rotating impellers that are located in the lower region of the cylindrical or conical body.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the disc mounted or inte- grated on the lower side of the impeller in the lower region of the cylindrical or conical body is minimum 5% greater than the diameter of the centric bore of the horizontal parti- tion wall, and measures less than 90% of the diameter of the horizontal partition wall.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the disc mounted or inte- grated on the lower side of the impeller in the lower region of the cylindrical or conical body is about 30% greater than the diameter of the centric bore of the horizontal partition wall, and measures less than 90% of the diameter of the horizontal partition wall.

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the diameter of the disc mounted or integrated on the lower side of the impeller measures about 60% of the diameter of the horizontal partition wall.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single horizontally rotating impeller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region have a minimum of two vanes and are provided with the integrated partition wall in a diameter between 20% and 120% of the impellers diameter.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single horizontally rotating impeller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region have a minimum of two vanes and are provided with the integrated partition wall in a diameter of about 60% of the impellers diameter.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single horizontally rotating impeller or multiple horizontally rotating impellers are mounted at the end of the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region and are provided on the lower side with the mounted or integrated disc having an outside diameter between 40% and 120% of the impeller's di- ameter and the centrically bore measuring between 10% and 70% of the impeller's diam- eter.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the outside diameter is about 60% of the impeller's diameter.

15. The device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the central bore measures about 30% of the impeller's diameter.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the single horizontally ro- tating impeller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region, measures between 50% and 99% of the inside diameter of the cylindrical or conical body of the device.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the single horizontally ro- tating impeller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region, measures between about 90% of the inside di- ameter of the cylindrical or conical body of the device.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single horizontally rotating impeller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers, mounted on the drive shaft coming downwards from the upper region, have a width between 5% and 400% or a width of between 20% and 40% of the diameter of the cylindrical or conical body of the device19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical mounted drive shaft, coming downwards from the upper region, is driven by a motor that drives the impeller with a number of revolutions, from which an outer side impeller speed between 6m / sec and 60m / sec or between 20m / sec and 40m / sec is resulting.

20. The device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the single horizontally rotating im- peller or the multiple horizontally rotating impellers have four vanes and are provided with the integrated partition wall in a diameter of about 60% of the impeller's diameter.