Abstract In a centrifugal separator having a hollow cylindrical casing with coaxial inlet and outlet zones through which a particleladen medium is flowed, airfoil means is provided in the inlet zone for creating a vortex in the casing to separate the particles from the medium. The airfoil extends radially into the inlet zone and has a leading edge facing upstream and a tip located centrally in the flow stream. As the medium flows at a high velocity across the airfoil a vortex is generated downstream of the tip and in the casing. A layer of porous material lines the inside of the casing to capture the particles which are separated from the medium by the centrifugal action of the vortex. A continuous helical vane extends between the inlet and the outlet to channel the swirling fluid in a helix as it flows through the casing. In one embodiment, a venturi-shaped insert is provided in the casing and an axial-flow fan is provided in the outlet zone for inducing a draft in the inlet zone to maintain the velocity of the medium in the inlet zone at a sufficiently high level to ensure generation of a vortex.
Apparatus for separating particles entrained in a flowing medium, comprising: a cylindrical casing having a hollow interior with an inlet at one end defining an inlet flow passage opening axially into said casing and an outlet at the other end defining an outlet flow passage opening into said casing; a liftgenerating airfoil located in said inlet for reacting with a medium flowing across the airfoil to generate a vortex downstream of the airfoil in said casing, said airfoil having at one end a root mounted to said inlet and leading and trailing edges extending in cantilever fashion into said inlet passage from said root, said airfoil terminating at its other end in a tip extending axially of said inlet between said leading and trailing edges with said tip being located centrally of said inlet and spaced from the interior of the inlet by a gap; and means lining the interior of said casing for capturing particles entrained in the flowing medium; so that when the medium flows across the airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge, a vortex is generated downstream of the tip and the vortex rotates in a predetermined direction about an axis trailing from the tip to create centrifugal forces for displacing particles entrained in the medium radially outward for capture by the lining.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for separating particles entrained in a flowing medium, comprising: a cylindrical casing having a hollow interior with an inlet at one end defining an inlet flow passage opening axially into said casing and an outlet at the other end defining an outlet flow passage opening into said casing; a liftgenerating airfoil located in said inlet for reacting with a medium flowing across the airfoil to generate a vortex downstream of the airfoil in said casing, said airfoil having at one end a root mounted to said inlet and leading and trailing edges extending in cantilever fashion into said inlet passage from said root, said airfoil terminating at its other end in a tip extending axially of said inlet between said leading and trailing edges with said tip being located centrally of said inlet and spaced from the interior of the inlet by a gap; and means lining the interior of said casing for capturing particles entrained in the flowing medium; so that when the medium flows across the airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge, a vortex is generated downstream of the tip and the vortex rotates in a predetermined direction about an axis trailing from the tip to create centrifugal forces for displacing particles entrained in the medium radially outward for capture by the lining.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means providing a continuous helical vane inside said casing, said vane extending from said inlet zone to said outlet zone and having a pitch direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the vortex created by the airfoil means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including means providing a venturi shape inside said casing between said inlet zone and said outlet zone, whereby the velocity of fluid flow increases in an axial direction in said casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 including fan means located in said outlet zone for inducing a draft in said inlet zone.