Method and apparatus for enhancing the separation of particulate material from an effluent stream

Claim 1

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondary separator means includes a centrifugal separator having its inlet coupled with said conveying means and its outlet coupled with said conduit means.

Claim 5

A method of separating particulate material including fines from a heated gaseous effluent stream containing a high content of water vapor wherein the temperature of the particulate material and gaseous effluent is at a level above the dewpoint of the water vapor therein, said method comprising the steps of: directing said heated stream of effluent and particulate material into an upright centrifugal separation zone having a lower collection area and an upper discharge area; causing said stream and particulate material to revolve in said zone at sufficient angular velocity to separate particulate material and fines form the gaseous effluent with the separated particulate material and fines gravitating toward the lower collection area of the zone while the gaseous effluent containing unseparated fines moves upwardly in the zone toward the discharge area thereof; removing the collected particles and fines from the collection area of said centrifugal separation zone; pneumatically conveying the collected particles and fines to a treatment zone remote from said centrifugal separation zone using a gaseous stream as a conveying medium therefor; separating particulate material and at least some of the fines from the conveying gaseous stream; returning all of the conveying medium and remaining fines to the separation zone; bringing the returned conveying medium and remaining fines into direct contacting relationship with the heated stream of effluent and particulate material in said separation zone; and introducing a sufficient quantity of a cooling gas into the conveying fluid stream to reduce the mixture thereof to a temperature level sufficiently below the temperature level of the effluent and particulate material entering the separation zone to effect condensation of sufficient water vapor therein on the fines iN the separation zone to enhance separation thereof and thus preclude discharge of undesirable quantities of particulate material from the zone into the atmosphere.