Centrifugal separator for separating liquid and gas

Claim 1

A centrifugal separator for separating liquid from a gas and comprising a. a container having a circumferential cylindrical wall shaped substantially as a surface of revolution with a substantially vertical axis and a bottom wall defining a central inner surface part having an upwardly domed shape spaced from the side wall, an annular channel being defined between said central surface part of the bottom wall and the lower part of the circumferential wall of the container b. means for introducing a mixture of gas and liquid into the container and for causing said mixture to rotate about said vertical axis, c. a gas discharge tube extending centrally into the upper end of the container and having an unobstructed end opening terminating at a position spaced substantially from said central surface part of the container bottom, and d. outlet means communicating with said channel for discharging liquid from the container and level control means for securing a predetermined minimum liquid level in the channel of the container at least above the liquid discharge outlet means and a maximum liquid level in the channel whereby the upper surface portion of said domed central inner surface is only wetted by a thin liquid film.

Claim 13

A method of separating suspended liquid droplets from a gas flow in a container having a circumferential cylindrical wall shaped substantially as a surface of revolution with a substantially vertical axis and a bottom wall defining a central inner surface part having an upwardly domed shape spaced from the side wall, an annular channel being defined between said central surface part of the bottom wall and the lower part of the circumferential wall of the container, said method comprising a. introducing said gas flow with suspended liquid droplets into the container and causing said gas to rotate about said vertical axis, b. discharging gas phase from the container at a position adjacent to said vertical axis and spaced substantially from said central surface part of the container bottom, c. discharging liquid phase from said channel through at least one liquid discharge opening communicating therewith, and d. maintaining the liquid level in said channel between predetermined limits preventing said liquid discharge opening from being exposed to gas phase and preventing said central surface part of the container bottom wall from being covered by a liquid layer of any substantial thickness.

Claim 14

A method of separating suspended liquid droplets from a gas flow in a container having a circumferential cylindrical wall shaped substantially as a surface of revolution with a substantially vertical axis and a bottom wall defining a central inner surface part having an upwardly domed shape spaced from the side wall, an annular channel being defined between said central surface part of the bottom wall and the lower part of the circumferential wall of the container, said method comprising a. introducing said gas flow with suspended liquid droplets into the container and causing said gas to rotate about said vertical axis, b. discharging gas phase from the container at a position adjacent to said vertical axis and spaced substantially from said central surface part of the container bottom, c. discharging liquid phase from said channel through at least one liquid discharge opening communicating therewith, and d. maintaining the liquid level in said channel between predetermined limits preventing said liquid discharge opening from being exposed to gas phase and preventing said central surface part of the container bottom wall from being covered by a liquid layer of any substantial thickness.