Patent ID: 6071424
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B01D,B04C

Abstract:
In a method for separating a feed fluid comprising a liquid-liquid mixture or particulate suspensions of liquid mixtures delivered in fluid flow to a cyclone separator having an axially elongated cylindrical separation chamber, said separation chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion with a underflow product collector connected to said lower portion, said underflow product collector having a bottom outlet, said cylindrical separating chamber having an exhaust pipe having a bottom region disposed in said upper portion of said cylindrical separating chamber, and an inlet duct disposed in said upper portion of said cylindrical separating chamber for introducing said feed fluid in a tangential direction in a helical swirling flowing pattern so as to establish a circular velocity and counter-flowing inner and outer vortexes within the cylindrical separating chamber, a lighter portion of said feed fluid moves to the inner vortex and exits through the exhaust pipe as overflow and to a heavier portion of said feed fluid moves to the outer vortex and exits through the bottom outlet, as underflow, the improvement in the method comprising the steps of:locating an inner gas core bed in the cylindrical separation chamber's lower portion without supplying a steady supply of gas, andincreasing the introduction of said feed fluid so as to increase the liquid circular velocity over its critical value so as to originate gas cavities from air contained in the liquid to create a inner vortex gas core.