Patent ID: 6102843
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B04B,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for separating the components of a mixture of two liquids of different specific gravities, said apparatus comprising:a) a hollow rotor adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, said hollow rotor having an inner wall;b) means for introducing said mixture into said rotor, said means adapted to gradually accelerate said mixture to the rotational speed of said rotor;c) means for rotating said rotor about said longitudinal axis, whereby said mixture is separated into a substantially heavier layer adjacent to said inner wall and a substantially lighter layer superimposed on said substantially heavier layer, said substantially heavier layer and said substantially lighter layer having an interface therebetween;d) means for substantially preventing said mixture from flowing circumferentially along said inner wall of said rotor, said means comprising a plurality of separation zones located on said inner wall of said rotor, said separation zones formed by a plurality of longitudinally mounted surface vanes having a first height and a plurality of longitudinally mounted interface vanes having a second height shorter than said first height, at least one of said interface vanes being mounted between each pair of said surface vanes, each of said surface vanes extending inwardly from said inner wall of said rotor to a point beyond both said heavier layer and said lighter layer, each of said interface vanes extending inwardly from said inner wall of said rotor to a point slightly beyond said interface;e) means for removing said separated layers from said rotor.