CYCLONE SEPARATOR APPARATUS

Abstract: Cyclone separator apparatus (10) having a casing structure (12) formed from three coaxial sections (14, 16, 18) partitioned by internal walls (24, 26) to form inlet chambers (28, 32) at either end and a central outlet chamber (30). Cyclone separators (48) have inlets (50) open to chamber (28) or chamber (32) and thence extend through walls (24) or wall (26) to open, at overflow outlets (60) thereof, into the chamber (30). The cyclone separators (48) are supported within chamber (30) within tubes (40) forming part of a spool structure (38). Overflow outlets (62) of the cyclone separators communicate exteriorly of the casing structure (10) by means of longitudinally extending tubes (74) which exit via end walls (20, 22) of the casing structure.

Description: CYCLONE SEPARATOR APPARATUS This invention relates to a cyclone separator apparatus. This invention provides a cyclone separator apparatus comprising a casing structure forming an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber separated one- from the other, the casing structure having therewithin a cyclone separator having an inlet to a separating chamber thereof, said inlet being open to said inlet chamber and the separator having an underflow outlet disposed at an end of the separator remote from said inlet, for outflow of a separated more dense component of liquid mixture when admitted to the separating chamber, and said separator having an overflow outlet at the end of the separating chamber adjacent said inlet, for outflow of a less dense component of said mixture as separated by the separator, the underflow outlet being open to said outlet chamber, inlet means being provided to said casing structure to permit inflow of liquid mixture to be separated to said inlet chamber and thence via the inlet of the cyclone separator to the separating chamber thereof and said casing structure having outlet means permitting outflow of the separated more dense component from said underflow outlet via said outlet chamber. In a particular aspect of the invention, the cyclone separator is supported over a substantial portion of the length thereof extending to said underflow outlet in coaxial tube means supported within said outlet chamber. In another particular aspect, the overflow outlet of the separating chamber communicates, via an axially extending outlet duct, exteriorly of the casing structure. In particular, the overflow outlet may be positioned at a part of the cyclone separator which is within said inlet chamber and the duct may be removably secured, such as by screwing into the cyclone separator at that part of the cyclone separator so that the duct thence extends through the inlet chamber and thence externally of the casing structure via a casing wall. In particular constructions, there is a second inlet chamber of said casing structure so that the outlet chamber is positioned between the two inlet chambers, with a further cyclone separator, like the first-mentioned cyclone separator, arranged with its inlet open to the second inlet chamber and with its underflow outlet in communication with the outlet chamber. In this case too, the second inlet chamber may be provided with inlet means for further inlet of liquid mixture to be separated and the overflow outlet of the further cyclone separator may communicate via a duct exteriorly of the casing structure, passing through the second inlet chamber. In this arrangement, inlet of liquid is provided to opposite ends of the casing structure and passes through separate cyclone separators so that the more dense separated components from both separators are directed into the outlet chamber for outflow therefrom. In this case too, each cyclone separator may be supported in a separate said tube. A number of such tubes, supporting a number of cyclone separators, may be formed as an integral unit with suitable supporting structure, such as transverse walls through which the tubes extend. The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of a separator apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention: and Figure 2 is an exploded view illustrating components of the separator apparatus of Figure 1. The apparatus 10 shown in the drawings comprises a hollow cylindrical casing structure 12. This is formed as three axially aligned side by side casing sections 14, 16, 18. Section 16 is a central section of hollow cylindrical configuration open at each end. Casing sections 14, 18 are generally similar to each other and are likewise of hollow cylindrical configuration open at each end. Casing sections 14, 16, 18 are provided with end flanges by means of which they are bolted to each other by bolts which extend through apertures in the flanges, and nuts (all not shown) to form a liquid-tight open ended hollow cylindrical body. The hollow cylindrical body formed by the sections 14, 16, 18 is closed at each end by respective end walls 20, 22. These are likewise bolted by means not shown to flanges at the outer ends of the casing sections 14, 18, and are sealingly engaged therewith by means of annular seals 90, 92 (shown in Figure 2 only). Adjacent the junction between casing sections 14 and 16 there is provided a transverse dividing wall 24 which transversely divides the interior of the casing structure, whilst a similar transverse dividing wall 26 is provided adjacent the junction between casing sections 16 and 18, likewise to transversely divide the interior of the casing structure at this location. Annular gaskets 94, 96 (Figure 2 only) at each side of of each wall 24, 26 seal the peripheries of these walls to the interior surface of the casing structure 12. By virtue of these dividing walls, and the end walls 20, 22, the interior of the casing structure 12 is divided into three separate substantially closed chambers 28, 30 and 32 lengthwise spaced along the length of the casing structure. Chamber 28, adjacent end wall 20, and chamber 32, adjacent end wall 22, define respective inlet chambers for the apparatus and are each provided with inlets 34, 36 for inlet of liquid to be separated. These extend through the side walls of casing sections 14, 18. Chamber 30, which is positioned between chambers 28 and 32 comprises an outlet chamber for outflow of one separated component of liquid to be separated by the apparatus 10, and is provided with a liquid outlet 36 which extends through the side wall of casing section 16. Within casing section 16, and disposed within chamber 30, there is provided a spool structure 38 in the form of plurality of parallel lengthwise extending tubes 40 which are mounted on and extend through opposite circular end walls 42, 44. The end walls 42, 44 are sized so as to enable the spool structure 38 to be neatly slidably retained in the casing section 16 and within chamber 30. The end walls 42, 44 also have perforations 46 (Figure 2) to permit free flow of liquid therearound within the chamber 30. One half of the tubes 40 project from wall 42 in the direction towards wall 24 a distance which is somewhat greater than the distance to which the remaining tubes extend. Similarly, at end wall 44, the remaining tubes extend from wall 44 towards wall 26 to a greater extent than the first-mentioned tubes. The lengths of the tubes are such that the tubes which extend to the greater extent from the respective walls 42, 44 abut, or substantially abut, against respective adjacent ones of the transverse dividing walls 24, 26. The tubes which do not so project, however fall somewhat short of and are spaced from the respective transverse dividing wall. A plurality of cyclone separators 48 are provided, there being as many cyclone separators 48 as there are tubes 40. For purposes of clarity not all of the cyclone separators are shown in Figure 1. Each cyclone separator is of conventional form and may for example be constructed in accordance with the teachings of Australian Patent Specifications 559,530, 521,482, 77610/87, 38866/85, 40909/85, and 12241/83 and International Patent Application PCT/AU87/00402. More particularly, each has an inlet 50 formed as an involute tract in an end casing 52 of the separator, and arranged for tangential inflow of liquid into a separating chamber (not shown) of the separator. Casing 52 defines a generally cylindrical inlet portion of the separating chamber for the separator. Bolted to the end casing 52 is a first intermediate casing 54 which has defined therewithin a generally tapered portion of the separating chamber of the cyclone separator. This is in turn bolted to an elongate second intermediate casing 56 forming a further tapered portion of the separating chamber, this casing 56 being screwed to a further end casing 58 which forms an axially extending cylindrical portion of the separating chamber, which portion leads to an axially positioned underflow outlet 60 at the end of the casing 58 remote from casing 52. Casing 52 has an axial overflow outlet 62 (Figure 1) positioned at the end thereof remote from casing 54. This is surrounded by a generally tapered skirt 64, which diverges in the direction away from casing 52, and being for a purpose described later. One half of the cyclone separators 48 are arranged with the inlets 50 of the casings 52 thereof positioned within inlet chamber 28 of the apparatus and the other half are arranged with the inlets 50 of the casings 52 thereof within inlet chamber 32. As shown in Figure 1, the casings 54 may have (apertured) flanges 54a by which the casings 52 and casings 54 are bolted to each other, by means of bolts passing through the flange apertures into threaded bores in the casings 52. Also, each casing 54 may have an end flange 54b which is apertured, and by means of which the casings 54 are secured by bolts (not shown) to the respective casings 56 at adjacent apertured flanges 56a of the casings 56. The flanges 56a on the casings 56 may also as shown be bolted to faces of the respective walls 24, 26 being "outer" faces thereof which are directed to and define boundaries of the respective chambers 28 and 32. In this fashion, the holes of the casings 52, 54 of each separator are within one or other of the chambers 28 and 32 with only end portions of the casings 56 adjacent flanges 56a being therewithin. The casings 56 then extend through apertures 66 in ones of the walls 24, 26, in sealing arrangement therewith. The casings 56 and associated end casings 58 thence extend into the chamber 30, within which they are maintained in position, by virtue of being located within respective ones of the tubes 40 of spool structure 38. To assist in this location, the casings 56, 58 may be provided with peripheral collars 68 in order to slidingly engage the inner periphery of the tubes. The underflow outlets 60 of the separators are positioned adjacent ends of the respective tubes 40, being ones which are, as previously mentioned, spaced somewhat away from the adjacent wall 42, 44. The end walls 20, 22 have apertures 70 therethrough and annular members 72 are sealingly engaged in these. Outlet tubes 74 extend in sealing arrangement through these annular members 12 and thence engage with, such as by screwing into, respective ones of the casings 52 at the adjacent chamber 28 or 32, whereby to provide communication via these tubes to the underflow outlets of those of the separators which have the casings 52 within the respective chamber 28, 32. ' The skirts 64 facilitate entry of the tubes into the casings and alignment of the tubes with the overflow outlets to permit easy assembly. As shown in Figure 2, the tubes may have, at outer ends thereof, transverse slots 76 to enable a screwdriver-like tool 78 to engage these therewithin for rotating the outlet tubes 74 to effect such engagement. In any event, in this fashion, the tubes 74 will be seen to extend from the casings 50 at either end of the casing structure 12 whereby to pass through the chambers 28, 32 to provide exit for liquid from the cyclone separators exteriorally of the casing structure 12. In use, liquid to be separated, such as an oily water mixture, is admitted through the inlets 34 to the chambers 28 and 32, thence finding its way into the inlets of those of the cyclone separators having inlets 50 at the respective chambers whereby, in conventional fashion, the liquid mixture is caused to be inletted into the separating chambers of the cyclone separators with a trangential component of motion whereby to spiral within the separating chambers and to move axially therealong so that a more dense component of the mixture, which tends to migrate towards the outer periphery of the separating chamber, spirals lengthwise away from the inlet to emerge from the underflow outlet 60, having passed lengthwise of the chamber 30, to exit within the chamber 30 adjacent that one of the walls 42 and 44 which is remote from the inlet of that separator. Thence, the so separated heavier component passes into the chamber 30 and out of that chamber via the outlet 36. The separated less dense component forms a central core within the separating chamber of each cyclone separator and migrates lengthwise thereof, in the direction opposite of the direction of movement of the more dense component whereby to emerge via the overflow outlets 62 in the casings 52 and thence to pass exteriorally of the apparatus via the tubes 74. The casing section 16 is provided with a vent 88 for outlet of gas which may emerge from the mixture being separated and accumulate in chamber 30, whilst the sections 14 and 18 are provided with solids outlets 82 for outlet of solids such as sand from the chambers 28 and 32. The described arrangement is particularly satisfactory in use in providing easy installation of a multiplicity of cyclone separators. In the event that the overflow outlet of a cyclone separator should become blocked, it is a simple matter to unscrew the outlet tube 74 to permit clearing by replacement of the tube or cleaning of the tube itself. Also, for maintenance purposes, access is easily obtained to the casings 52, 54 simply by removal of an end wall 20 or 22. In particular, these end walls may be hinged to the sections 14, 18 at outer ends thereof so that, following removal of retaining studs the walls may simply be hinged up or sideways to obtain access. Because of the described mounting of the major casings of the cyclone separators within the chambers 28 and 32, these casings may be readily removed and replaced for servicing. Similarly, after removal of the casings 52, 54, it is possible to remove the casings 56 and 58 from within chamber 30 simply by unbolting the casings 56 from respective walls 24, 26 to then slide them outwardly from the tubes 40 and thence to remove them via the chambers 28 and 32 from the apparatus. One side of the separator may also be shut off so that liquid is inletted only to one of the two chambers 28, and 32 for admission to only half of the separators, where reduced separator capacity is required. The described construction has been advanced merely by way of explanation and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A cyclone separator apparatus comprising a casing structure forming an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber separated one from the other, the casing structure having therewithin a cyclone separator having an inlet to a separating chamber thereof, said inlet being open to said inlet chamber and the separator having an underflow outlet disposed at an end of the separator remote from said inlet, for outflow of a separated more dense component of liquid mixture when admitted to the separating chamber, and said separator having an overflow outlet at the end of the separating chamber adjacent said inlet, for outflow of a less dense component of said mixture as separated by the separator, the underflow outlet being open to said outlet chamber, inlet means being provided to said casing structure to permit inflow of liquid mixture to be separated to said inlet chamber and thence via the inlet of the cyclone separator to the separating chamber thereof and said casing structure having outlet means permitting outflow of the separated more dense component from said underflow outlet via said outlet chamber. 2. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cyclone separator is supported over a substantial portion of the length thereof extending to said underflow outlet in coaxial tube means supported within said outlet chamber. 3. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the overflow outlet of the cyclone separator communicates, via an axially extending outlet duct, exteriorly of the casing structure. 4. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the overflow outlet is positioned at a part of the cyclone separator which is within said inlet chamber. 5. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said duct is removably received at said cyclone separator and extends through the inlet chamber and thence externally of the casing structure via a wall of said casing. 6. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said duct is formed in a tube threadedly received in the cyclone separator at said part of the cyclone separator. 7. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said inlet chamber comprises a first inlet chamber and there is a second inlet chamber of said casing structure so that the outlet chamber is positioned between the two inlet chambers, and said cyclone separator comprises a first cyclone separator there being a second cyclone separator like said first cyclone separator, arranged with an inlet thereat open to the second inlet chamber and with an underflow outlet thereat in communication with the outlet chamber. 8. A cyclone separator apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second inlet chamber is provided with inlet means for further inlet of liquid mixture to be separated and an overflow outlet of the second cyclone separator communicates via a duct exteriorly of the casing structure, passing through the second inlet chamber, whereby, in use, inlet liquid provided to opposite ends of the casing structure passes through said cyclone separators so that more dense separated components from both separators are directed into the outlet chamber for outflow therefrom. 9. A cyclone separator as claimed in claim 8 wherein each cyclone separator is supported in a separate said tube. 10. A cyclone separator as claimed in claim 9 wherein a number of said tubes, supporting a number of cyclone separators are formed as an integral unit with supporting structure therefor. 11. A cyclone separator as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes extend through transverse walls of the cyclone separator apparatus.

Inventors: KALNINS CHARLES MICHAEL, KALNINS, CHARLES, MICHAEL
Applicants: CONOCO SPECIALTY PROD, CONOCO SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B04C5
IPC codes: B04C5