US5362379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Open-bottomed cyclone with gas inlet tube and method
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1991-12-27
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Granted: 1994-11-08
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Expires: 2011-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An open-bottomed cyclone separator with gas inlet tube is disclosed which minimizes the entrainment of separated solids in a process gas entering the separator. In some embodiments, the gas inlet tube directs the process gas into a solids-depleted region within a cyclonic separation chamber. In other embodiments, a gas inlet tube directs the process gas into a stream of solids-depleted gas withdrawn from the chamber. Methods for practicing the invention are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Helstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/005; B01J8/0055; B01J8/18; B01J8/1845; B01J8/1854; B04; B04C; B04C5/00; B04C5/08; B04C5/12; B04C5/13; B04C5/14; C; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; C10G11/14; C10G11/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for separating solids from a mixture of solids and gases comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture into a radially symmetric open-ended separation chamber tangential to a chamber wall to impart cyclonic motion to the introduced mixture; allowing the solids to cyclonically rotate outwardly through a solids-rich chamber region near the chamber wall and out the open chamber end; collecting a solids-depleted gas from a solids-depleted central region of the chamber; and directing the process gas into a region of solids-depleted gas within the separator and away from a region of solids-rich gas within the separator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for separating solids from a mixture of solids and gases comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture into a radially symmetric open-ended separation chamber tangential to a chamber wall to impart cyclonic motion to the introduced mixture; allowing the solids to cyclonically rotate outwardly through a solids-rich chamber region near the chamber wall and out the open chamber end; collecting a solids-depleted gas from a solids-depleted central region of the chamber; and directing the process gas into a region of solids-depleted gas within the separator and away from a region of solids-rich gas within the separator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing step includes directing the process gas into a solids-depleted region within the chamber,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting step includes withdrawing the solids-depleted gas through a finder tube extending into the solids-depleted region within the chamber and wherein the mixing step includes passing the process gas through a gas inlet tube opening directly into the finder tube,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing step includes passing the process gas through the gas inlet tube at a velocity less than about 40 feet per second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the mixing step includes passing the process gas through the gas inlet tube at about 10 feet per second,
Claim 7
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for separating spent catalyst from a reaction mixture of spent catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture into a generally vertical, generally cylindrical open-bottomed separation chamber tangential to a chamber wall to impart cyclonic motion to the introduced mixture; allowing the spent catalyst to rotate downwardly through a catalyst-rich region formed along the chamber wall and out the open chamber bottom; collecting catalyst-depleted hydrocarbon vapors from a catalyst-depleted central chamber region through a finder tube concentrically extending downwardly into the chamber; and directing the stripping gas into a region of catalyst-depleted vapors within the separator and away from a region of catalyst-rich vapors within the separator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for separating spent catalyst from a reaction mixture of spent catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture into a generally vertical, generally cylindrical open-bottomed separation chamber tangential to a chamber wall to impart cyclonic motion to the introduced mixture; allowing the spent catalyst to rotate downwardly through a catalyst-rich region formed along the chamber wall and out the open chamber bottom; collecting catalyst-depleted hydrocarbon vapors from a catalyst-depleted central chamber region through a finder tube concentrically extending downwardly into the chamber; and directing the stripping gas into a region of catalyst-depleted vapors within the separator and away from a region of catalyst-rich vapors within the separator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the mixing step includes directing the stripping gas into the catalyst-depleted central region of the chamber,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the mixing step includes directing the stripping gas through a gas inlet tube coaxially located around the finder tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the passing step includes passing the stripping gas through an annular channel located between the finder tube and the gas inlet tube at a velocity of about 40 feet per second or less.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the stripping gas is passed through the gas inlet tube at about 10 feet per second.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the mixing step includes collecting catalyst-depleted hydrocarbon vapors through a separator finder tube concentrically extending downwardly into the chamber and wherein the passing step includes passing the stripping gas through a gas inlet tube connected to the finder tube above the chamber top member to mix the stripping gas with the catalyst-depleted hydrocarbon vapors withdrawn from the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the passing step includes passing the stripping gas through the gas inlet tube at a velocity of about 40 feet per second or less.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the stripping gas is passed through the inlet tube at a velocity of about 10 feet per second.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of isolating the entering process gas from a portion of the solids-rich chamber region by directing the process gas into the region of solids-depleted gas through a generally closed flow path located at least partially within the chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 further including the step of isolating the entering stripping gas from a portion of the catalyst-rich region by directing the stripping gas through a generally closed flow path into the catalyst-depleted region of the chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-07 | 1998-05-09 | 1998-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-07 | 2002-05-09 | 2002-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-07 | 2006-05-09 | 2006-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |