Abstract A helical vane assembly extends along a cylindrical tube with an annular space surrounding the vane. Air passing along the center of the tube is swirled by the vanes and any particles of dust or other foreign matter are centrifuged into the annular space to be entrained by axial flow passing along it to a flow diverter whereby it is led away from the main stream which is then ''''deswirled.'''' The annular space may be divided circumferentially by radial vanes extending along the tube in an axial sense. A number of tubes may be assembled together in a panel; a more compact panel may be obtained by the use of hexagonal tubes. In a further development, the intermediate walls between adjacent vane assemblies are omitted and a series of trefoil baffles inserted in the interstices between the assemblies. The arms of the baffles cooperate with the vane assemblies to define axially extending passages around them and to provide support.
A centrifugal separator for separating particles from a gaseous suspension thereof comprising a plurality of swirlers each formed by an assembly of helical vanes extending along an axis, the swirlers being mounted in a plurality of rows and having their axes parallel to each other, adjacent rows of swirlers having their axes mounted in offset relation to each other and alternate rows of swirlers having their axes mounted in aligned relation to each other with interstices between adjacent swirlers, and axially extending baffles disposed in said interstices, the baffles cooperating to define a plurality of individual flow channels each containing a vane assembly and having an inlet at one end of said axes and an outlet at the other end of said axes, each of the baffles being formed with three circumferentially spaced radial arms, the arms being arranged to bear tangentially against peripheral points on different swirlers and arms of adjacent baffles together defining axially extending particle-discharge passages therebetween in communication with the adjacent flow channels, and flow-diversion means located adjacent the outlets of the flow channels and the particle-discharge passages for separately discharging the flow of the particles through the passages from the gaseous flow through the channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A centrifugal separator for separating particles from a gaseous suspension thereof comprising a plurality of swirlers each formed by an assembly of helical vanes extending along an axis, the swirlers being mounted in a plurality of rows and having their axes parallel to each other, adjacent rows of swirlers having their axes mounted in offset relation to each other and alternate rows of swirlers having their axes mounted in aligned relation to each other with interstices between adjacent swirlers, and axially extending baffles disposed in said interstices, the baffles cooperating to define a plurality of individual flow channels each containing a vane assembly and having an inlet at one end of said axes and an outlet at the other end of said axes, each of the baffles being formed with three circumferentially spaced radial arms, the arms being arranged to bear tangentially against peripheral points on different swirlers and arms of adjacent baffles together defining axially extending particle-discharge passages therebetween in communication with the adjacent flow channels, and flow-diversion means located adjacent the outlets of the flow channels and the particle-discharge passages for separately discharging the flow of the particles through the passages from the gaseous flow through the channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 in which the flow diversion means comprises two plates spaced axially apart and mounted transversely relative to the axes of the swirlers, sleeves extending between the plates coaxial with the swirlers and arranged to define said outlets for flow through the channels, and apertures formed in the plate which is located further upstream relative to flow through the channels and so disposed as to connect the axially extending passages with the space between the plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A centrifugal separaTor according to claim 2 further comprising diffuser sections at the swirler flow outlets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 in which the helical angle of each vane assembly, varies along the axis of the vane assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A centrifugal separator according to claim 4 in which the helical angle varies between a minimum near the inlet and the outlet of the flow channel and a maximum at an intermediate position.