US4288317A — Method and a system for separating an aqueous sus…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for separating an aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising the steps of supplying the suspension to a separator disc having a concave surface with a solid matter concentration not exceeding 10 percent by weight, said separator disc rotating in a substantially horizontal plane at a circumferential velocity sufficiently great that a film of said suspension formed on said concave surface is accelerated towards the disc circumference in a continuous flow in which fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics are separated from each other and at the circumference of the disc said film is broken up and said separated fractions dispersed outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting said fractions in a number of collecting zones disposed in different vertical portions relative to said disc.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for separating an aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising the steps of supplying the suspension to a separator disc having a concave surface with a solid matter concentration not exceeding 10 percent by weight, said separator disc rotating in a substantially horizontal plane at a circumferential velocity sufficiently great that a film of said suspension formed on said concave surface is accelerated towards the disc circumference in a continuous flow in which fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics are separated from each other and at the circumference of the disc said film is broken up and said separated fractions dispersed outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting said fractions in a number of collecting zones disposed in different vertical portions relative to said disc.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suspension is supplied to said separator disc with a minimum concentration of 0.5 percent by weight.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suspension is supplied to said separator disc in a flow well within the turbulent region.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separator disc is rotated at a circumferential velocity of at least 33 m/sec.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volumetric flow rate of said suspension feed to the circumference of said separator disc is at least 1.5 cm 2 /sec.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said concave surface is formed on the underside of said disc.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said fractions is collected in a zone adjacent the rotational plane of the disc.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 207 words

A system for separating an aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface on the underside of said disc and arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means and sloping downwardly from a central portion of the disc towards the circumference thereof, means for rotating said separator disc at a circumference velocity sufficiently great that a film of said suspension formed on the underside of the disc is accelerated towards the disc circumference in a continuous flow, in which fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics are separated from each other and at the circumference of the disc said film is broken up and separated fractions dispersed outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 207 words

A system for separating an aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface on the underside of said disc and arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means and sloping downwardly from a central portion of the disc towards the circumference thereof, means for rotating said separator disc at a circumference velocity sufficiently great that a film of said suspension formed on the underside of the disc is accelerated towards the disc circumference in a continuous flow, in which fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics are separated from each other and at the circumference of the disc said film is broken up and separated fractions dispersed outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said collecting means are distributed from an upper collecting zone adjacent the rotational plane of said separator disc to a lower collecting zone closer to the bottom of said chamber.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 200 words

A system for separating aqueous suspension containing fibruos particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface formed on the underside thereof and arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means, means for rotating said separator disc, said rotating means imparting a circumferential velocity to said separator disc so that a film of said suspension supplied through said inlet means forms on said concave surface and is accelerated by centrifugal forces in a continuous flow with fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics separated from each other towards the circumference of the disc and broken up at said disc circumference to thereby disperse separated fractions outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 200 words

A system for separating aqueous suspension containing fibruos particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface formed on the underside thereof and arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means, means for rotating said separator disc, said rotating means imparting a circumferential velocity to said separator disc so that a film of said suspension supplied through said inlet means forms on said concave surface and is accelerated by centrifugal forces in a continuous flow with fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics separated from each other towards the circumference of the disc and broken up at said disc circumference to thereby disperse separated fractions outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

A system as claimed in claim 8 or 10, wherein said separator disc is formed by the upper wall of an atomizer wheel extending downwards from the centre of the wheel towards the circumference thereof to form an acute angle with the rotating plane of the wheel.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 117 words

A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said inlet means comprises a fluid distributor in the form of a stationary tubular member arranged in a central opening in the upper wall of the atomizer wheel to allow rotation thereof, a drive shaft of said wheel extending through said tubular member, the atomizer wheel further comprising a wheel bottom connected with said drive shaft and spaced from said upper wall to form a narrow slit between said wheel bottom and the lower end of said tubular member itself to allow substantially uniform introduction of said suspension from said tubular member and distribution thereof between said wheel bottom and said upper wall throughout the circumference of the slit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said inlet means comprises a feed tube extending upwards through said chamber in a substantially vertical direction coaxially with said atomizer wheel to terminate with its open upper end a small distance below the lower surface of said upper wall.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 229 words

A system for separating aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface, a flat central portion arranged for rotation in a horizontal plane, and a circumferential portion formed integral with said central portion and sloping downwardly therefrom under an acute angle to said rotational plane, said disc arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means, means for rotating said separator disc, said rotating means imparting a circumferential velocity to said separator disc so that a film of said suspension supplied through said inlet means forms on said concave surface and is accelerated by centrifugal forces in a continuous flow with fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics separated from each other towards the circumference of the disc and broken up at said disc circumference to thereby disperse separated fractions outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 229 words

A system for separating aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics with respect to particle size and shape, comprising a chamber having tubular inlet means for feeding said suspension, a separator disc having a concave surface, a flat central portion arranged for rotation in a horizontal plane, and a circumferential portion formed integral with said central portion and sloping downwardly therefrom under an acute angle to said rotational plane, said disc arranged for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane in the upper part of said chamber to receive said suspension from said inlet means, said separator disc having a diameter greater than that of said inlet means, means for rotating said separator disc, said rotating means imparting a circumferential velocity to said separator disc so that a film of said suspension supplied through said inlet means forms on said concave surface and is accelerated by centrifugal forces in a continuous flow with fractions of the suspension having said different average characteristics separated from each other towards the circumference of the disc and broken up at said disc circumference to thereby disperse separated fractions outwardly from the disc in different directions in a dense mist of particles and atomized water droplets in air, and collecting means arranged in a number of collecting zones disposed in said chamber in different vertical positions to receive said separated fractions.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as claimed in claim 8 or 14, wherein the diameter of said disc measured at the outer edge of the sloping circumferential portion is at least 120 mms.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said acute angle does not exceed 60°.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said angle is 30°.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-09-07	1985-03-09	1985-09-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-09-07	1989-03-09	1989-09-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-09-07	1993-03-09	1993-09-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and a system for separating an aqueous suspension containing fibrous particles into fractions of different average characteristics

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