Process and apparatus for separating solid and/or liquid particles from gases or liquids

Claim 1

A process for the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases or solids from liquids, as well as for the separation of gases or liquids of different densities, using a Venturi tube, characterized in that the gas and/or liquid is supplied axially into said venturi tube and flows radially symmetrically from the outside to the inside through a slot in an annular nozzle at flow velocities which can extend up to sound velocity, and in the slot with a radius of curvature of approximately 1 to 100 mm is subject to high centrifugal acceleration.

Claim 4

An apparatus for performing the process for the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases or solids from liquids, as well as for the separation of gases or liquids of different densities, using a Venturi tube comprising: an inlet for fluid flow; an annular nozzle disposed at the end of the inlet; a bottom wall; the nozzle formed in said bottom wall having a slot with a radius of curvature of approximately 1 to 100 mm through which fluid flows from the outside through the inlet and through the slot at flow velocities which extend up to sound velocity and are subject to the action of a high centrifugal acceleration, the slot being formed with a deflection angle of >90° such that it is arranged about the central axis of the nozzle both at the start and finish of fluid flow deflection and in the direction of the fluid flow, the diameter of the slot decreasing outwardly from the central axis of the nozzle.

Claim 5

An apparatus for performing the process for the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases or solids from liquids, as well as for the separation of gases or liquids of different densities, using a Venturi tube comprising: an inlet for fluid flow; an annular nozzle disposed at the end of the inlet; a bottom wall; the nozzle formed in said bottom wall having a slot with a radius of curvature of approximately 1 to 100 mm through which fluid flows from the outside through the inlet and through the slot at flow velocities which extend up to sound velocity and are subject to the action of a high centrifugal acceleration, the slot being formed with a deflection angle of >90° such that it is arranged about the central axis of the nozzle both at the start and finish of fluid flow deflection and in the direction of the fluid flow, the diameter of the slot decreasing outwardly from the central axis of the nozzle.

Claim 17

An apparatus for performing the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases, or solids from liquids, as well as the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: an inlet for fluid flow; a bottom wall; a nozzle in said bottom wall disposed at one end of the inlet; a first diffuser for the heavier fractions; a second diffuser for the light fraction; the first and second diffusers communicating with the nozzle and disposed concentrically within the inlet, the first diffuser being disposed about the second diffuser; and an arcuate slot formed in the one end of the nozzle to direct fluid from the inlet to the first and second diffusers under high centrifugal acceleration.

Claim 18

An apparatus for performing the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases, or solids from liquids, as well as the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: an inlet for fluid flow; a bottom wall; a nozzle in said bottom wall disposed at one end of the inlet; a first diffuser for the heavier fractions; a second diffuser for the light fraction; the first and second diffusers communicating with the nozzle and disposed concentrically within the inlet, the first diffuser being disposed about the second diffuser; and an arcuate slot formed in the one end of the nozzle to direct fluid from the inlet to the first and second diffusers under high centrifugal acceleration.

Claim 19

An apparatus for performing the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases, or solids from liquids, as well as the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: an outer tube having a closed end; an intermediate tube spaced from the outer tube, said space between said outer tube and said intermediate tube defining an inlet nozzle; an inner tube spaced from and positioned within the bore of said intermediate tube, said space between said inner tube and said intermediate tube bore defining a lighter fractions exit nozzle; the bore of said inner tube defining a heavier fractions exit nozzle; said closed end including an arcuate formed therein to reverse the flow of said inlet nozzle and deflect the inlet flow into said lighter fractions exit nozzle and said heavier fractions exit nozzle; and the bottom end of the wall of said intermediate tube formed in an arcuate manner compatible with and spaced from said arcuate in said bottom end to centrifugally accelerate the flow from said inlet nozzle and separate the heavier and lighter fractions.

Claim 20

An apparatus for performing the separation of solid and/or liquid particles from gases, or solids from liquids, as well as the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: an outer tube having a closed end; an intermediate tube spaced from the outer tube, said space between said outer tube and said intermediate tube defining an inlet nozzle; an inner tube spaced from and positioned within the bore of said intermediate tube, said space between said inner tube and said intermediate tube bore defining a lighter fractions exit nozzle; the bore of said inner tube defining a heavier fractions exit nozzle; said closed end including an arcuate formed therein to reverse the flow of said inlet nozzle and deflect the inlet flow into said lighter fractions exit nozzle and said heavier fractions exit nozzle; and the bottom end of the wall of said intermediate tube formed in an arcuate manner compatible with and spaced from said arcuate in said bottom end to centrifugally accelerate the flow from said inlet nozzle and separate the heavier and lighter fractions.

Claim 23

An apparatus for performing the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: a plurality of tubes concentrically nested with radial space between tubes comprising: an outer tube having a closed end; an intermediate tube spaced from the outer tube, said space between said outer tube and said intermediate tube defining an inlet nozzle; an inner tube spaced from and positioned within the bore of said intermediate tube, said space between said inner tube and said intermediate tube defnining a lighter fractions exit nozzle; the bore of said inner tube defining a heavier fractions exit nozzle; said closed end including an arcuate formed therein to reverse the flow of said inlet nozzle and deflect the inlet flow into said lighter fractions exit nozzle and said heavier fractions exit nozzle; said intermediate tube having a wall, the bottom end of said intermediate tube wall formed in an arcuate compatible with and spaced from said arcuate in said bottom end to centrifugally accelerate the flow from said inlet nozzle and separate the heavier and lighter fractions; the bore of said intermediate tube tapered to enlarge an upper end thereof and gradually reduce the velocity of the fluid in said lighter fractions exit nozzle in an energy efficient manner; a centrally positioned upward extending tapered projection formed on said closed end, said tapered projection extending into the bore of said inner tube to gradually reduce the velocity of the heavier fractions in an energy efficient manner; and wherein the gases or liqudis entering the apparatus to have their heavier and ligher fractions separated enter the apparatus in one direction and the separated heaver and lighter fractions exit the apparatus in an opposed direction.

Claim 24

An apparatus for performing the separation of gases or liquids of different densities into heavier and lighter fractions comprising: a plurality of tubes concentrically nested with radial space between tubes comprising: an outer tube having a closed end; an intermediate tube spaced from the outer tube, said space between said outer tube and said intermediate tube defining an inlet nozzle; an inner tube spaced from and positioned within the bore of said intermediate tube, said space between said inner tube and said intermediate tube defnining a lighter fractions exit nozzle; the bore of said inner tube defining a heavier fractions exit nozzle; said closed end including an arcuate formed therein to reverse the flow of said inlet nozzle and deflect the inlet flow into said lighter fractions exit nozzle and said heavier fractions exit nozzle; said intermediate tube having a wall, the bottom end of said intermediate tube wall formed in an arcuate compatible with and spaced from said arcuate in said bottom end to centrifugally accelerate the flow from said inlet nozzle and separate the heavier and lighter fractions; the bore of said intermediate tube tapered to enlarge an upper end thereof and gradually reduce the velocity of the fluid in said lighter fractions exit nozzle in an energy efficient manner; a centrally positioned upward extending tapered projection formed on said closed end, said tapered projection extending into the bore of said inner tube to gradually reduce the velocity of the heavier fractions in an energy efficient manner; and wherein the gases or liqudis entering the apparatus to have their heavier and ligher fractions separated enter the apparatus in one direction and the separated heaver and lighter fractions exit the apparatus in an opposed direction.