Patent ID: 6596170
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: B04C

Abstract:
A cyclone apparatus for separating a feed fluid comprising a solid-solid or solid-fluid particulate suspension, the cyclone apparatus comprising: an axially elongated cylindrical separation chamber, said axially elongated cylindrical separation chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion; an exhaust pipe having a bottom region disposed in said upper portion and an upper region disposed above the upper portion; a tangential inlet duct disposed in said upper portion; and a bottom outlet connected to the lower portion; wherein said feed fluid is introduced into the tangential inlet duct 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 axially elongated cylindrical separation chamber, a lighter portion of said feed fluid moves to the inner vortex and exits through said exhaust pipe as overflow and a heavier portion of said feed fluid moves to the outer vortex and exits through said bottom outlet as underflow, the improvement in the cyclone apparatus comprising:said axially elongated cylindrical separation chamber being telescopic and comprising a plurality of cylindrical telescopic tubes having a combined overall length, the combined overall length being adjustable, wherein the combined overall length is adjusted according to a solids particle distribution of the separated feed fluid.