Method and apparatus for separating gas mixture by centrifuging

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING A GAS MIXTURE INTO A LIGHT FRACTION AND A HEAVY FRACTION COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE CYLINDRICAL ANNULAR SPACED FORMED BETWEEN THE VERTICAL GAS-TIGHT CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALLS OF AT LEAST TWO COAXIAL ROTORS, SAID AT LEAST ONE ANNULAR SPACED BEING DEFINED AT THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF BY END WALLS OF ONE OF SAID ROTORS: INTRODUCING THE GAS MIXTURE INTO SAID AT LEAST ONE ANNULAR SPACE, SUBJECTING SAID GAS MIXTURE TO CENTRIFUGAL FORCES BY ROTATING SAID AT LEAST TWO ROTORS, THE INNER ROTORS BEING ROTATED FASTER THAN THE OUTER ROTOR, THUS SEPARATING IN SAID ANNULAR SPACE SAID GAS MIXTURE INTO A LIGHT FRACTION AND A HEAVY FRACTION, AND DISCHARGING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SEPARATED LIGHT AND HEAVY FRACTIONS FROM SAID LOWER SPACE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER END WALLS OF SAID ONE ROTOR.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of annular spaces are provided between gas-tight cylindrical side walls of more than two rotors; the process comprising the steps of introducing said gas mixture into a first innermost of said annular spaces; subjecting said gas mixture in said first annular space to centrifugal forces by rotating the innermost rotor faster than the next outermost rotor to separate said gas mixture into a light fraction and a heavy fraction; discharging one of said fractions from said first innermost annular space to the outside of the system through one of said upper and lower end walls of said one rotor; discharging the other fraction from said first innermost annular space through one of said upper and lower end walls of said one rotor and introducing said other fraction into a second next outwardly adjacent annular space; subjecting said thus introduced other fraction to further separation into a light fraction and a heavy fraction by subjecting said introduced other fraction to centrifugal forces by rotation of the rotors defining said second annular space; and discharging one of the fractions separated in said second annular space through one of the upper and lower end walls of the rotor defining the ends of said second annular space and introducing said thus discharged separated fraction from said second annular space into a third next outermost annular space.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas mixture to be separated is initially introduced into all of the annular spaces of said at least one annular space.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein more than two annular spaces are provided between gas-tight cylindrical side walls of more than three rotors; the process comprising steps of introducing said gas mixture to be separated into a middle first annular space; subjecting said gas mixture to centrifugal forces by rotating the inner rotor defining said first annular space faster than the outer rotor defining said first annular space to separate said gas mixture into a first fraction and a second fraction; discharging said first fraction from the first annular space through one of the upper and lower end walls of the rotor defining the ends of said first annular space and introducing said first fraction into the outwardly adjacent second annular space and further separating it into a further first fraction and a further second fraction by subjecting it to centrifugal forces by rotating the rotors defining said second annular space; discharging said second fraction from said first annular space through one of the upper and lower end walls of said rotor defining the ends of said first annular spaces and introducing said second fraction into the inwardly adjacent third annular space and further separating it into a yet further first fraction and a yet further second fraction by subjecting it to centrifugal forces by rotating the rotors defining said third annular space; discharginG said further second separated fraction from said second annular space and introducing said further second fraction into said first annular space; discharging said yet further first separated fraction from said third annular space and introducing said yet further first fraction into said first annular space, whereby forming a self-cascade; and discharging said further first and yet further second fractions out of said system from said second and third annular spaces, respectively.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising introducing a light gas having a lower molecular weight than said gas mixture to be separated into said annular space together with said gas mixture.

Claim 7

A centrifuge for separating a gas mixture into a light fraction and a heavy fraction comprising: a cylindrical stationary housing; a first hollow centrifugal drum disposed within said stationary housing and having a gas-tight cylindrical side wall and upper and lower end walls; a supply line for supplying the gas mixture to be separated extending through one of said end walls; a discharge line for the separated light and heavy fractions extending through at least one of said upper and lower end walls; a second centrifugal rotary member disposed concentrically within said first hollow centrifugal drum and having a gas-tight cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical walls of said drum and said rotary member defining therebetween an annular space; and means for rotating said second centrifugal rotary member at a faster speed than said first hollow centrifugal drum.

Claim 8

A centrifuge for separating a gas mixture into a light fraction and a heavy fraction comprising: a cylindrical stationary housing; a first hollow centrifugal drum disposed within said stationary housing and having a gas-tight cylindrical side wall and upper and lower end walls; a supply line for supplying the gas mixture to be separated extending through one of said end walls; a discharge line for the separated light and heavy fractions extending through at least one of said upper and lower end walls; a second centrifugal rotary member disposed concentrically within said first hollow centrifugal drum and having a gas-tight cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical walls of said drum and said rotary member defining therebetween an annular space; and means for rotating said second centrifugal rotary member at a faster speed than said first hollow centrifugal drum.

Claim 9

A centrifuge as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second centrifugal rotary member is a solid rotor.

Claim 10

A centrifuge as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second centrifugal rotary member is a hollow rotor.

Claim 11

A centrifuge as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a third hollow centrifugal drum having a gas-tight cylindrical side wall and upper and lower end walls through at least one of which said supply line and said discharge line are provided, said third drum being concentrically disposed between said first drum and said second rotary member and defining therebetween first and second annular spaces, respectively.

Claim 12

A centrifuge as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for introducing said gas mixture to be separated into at least one of said annular spaces, means for discharging one of the fractions separated within said one annular space to the outside of said stationary housing, and means for introducing the other of the fractions separated within said one annular space into the other of said annular spaces.

Claim 13

A centrifuge as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means defining a third annular space, means for introducing said gas mixture to be separated into at least the middle one of said annular spaces, means for introducing one of the fractions separated within said middle annular space into an inwardly adjacent annular space, and means for introducing the other of the fractions separated within said middle annular space into an outwardly adjacent annular space.