Patent ID: 6428591
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A cyclone for receiving a fluid flow in which solid material is entrained in a gaseous fluid maintained at an elevated pressure, said cyclone comprising:a housing including an upper end, a lower end, and a side wall including an arcuate inner surface and an outer surface, said side wall defining a longitudinal axis; an inlet formed within said housing and positioned proximate said upper end for inducing the fluid flow to rotate about said longitudinal axis to impart centrifugal force on the solid material; a gaseous fluid outlet extending upwardly from said upper end of said housing for providing egress of a first portion of the gaseous fluid; an entrained solid outlet formed within said housing and positioned proximate said lower end for providing egress of the solid material entrained within a second portion of the gaseous fluid; an agitator assembly positioned within said housing proximate said lower end, said agitator assembly including a plurality of radially extending agitator members supported for rotation about said longitudinal axis, a plurality of radially extending anti-rotation members fixed relative to said side wall, said plurality of anti-rotation members positioned in axially spaced relation relative to said plurality of agitator members; and a motor operably connected to said plurality of agitator members for rotating said agitator members about said longitudinal axis whereby said agitator members move relative to said anti-rotation members for agitating the solid material.