CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR

Abstract: Centrifugal separator comprising a rotor, which forms an inlet chamber, a separation chamber (5) and an outlet chamber (10), in which a liquid separated during operation forms a rotating liquid body with a radially inwards directed free liquid surface, and a stationary discharge device (17) and means (20), which are arranged to entrain during the operation of the rotor the liquid present in the outlet chamber (10) in the rotation of the rotor and to admit flow of such liquid radially outwards to an inlet (19) in the discharge device (17). In order to entrain the liquid in the outlet chamber (10) efficiently and to admit flow of the liquid radially outwards to the inlet (19) with a small risk of air admixture, said means (20) comprise a number of elongated elements distributed around the rotational axis and rotating with the rotor, which between themselves form flow spaces, which extend axially, radially and in the circumferential direction.

Description: Centrifugal sep a rator The present invention concerns a centrifugal separator comprising a rotor, which forms an inlet chamber for liquid mixture of components, a separation chamber connected to the inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, which via a passage communicates with the separation chamber, for the reception of a liquid separated during operation in the separation chamber, and which is so designed that liquid present therein during operation forms a rotating liquid body with a radially inwards directed free liquid surface. The centrifugal separator also comprises a stationary discharge device, which from the said liquid body extends radially inwards to a central outlet, and in which at least one outlet channel is formed, one end of which has an inlet located in said liquid body, and the other end of which opens into an outlet connected to the discharge device. Furthermore, the centrifugal separator comprises means connected to the rotor, which are arranged to entrain the separated liquid present in the outlet chamber in the rotation of the rotor during operation of the rotor and at the same time admit flow of such liquid in the outlet chamber radially outwards to the inlet of the outlet channel. In a known centrifugal separator of this kind said passage from the separation chamber opens into the outlet chamber at a level radially inside the free liquid surface. In the outlet chamber a number of wings with axial and radial extension are arranged fixedly connected to the delimiting walls of the outlet chamber. A separated liquid entering the outlet chamber is hereby thrown radially outwards and collides either directly with the free liquid surface or with one of said wings thereafter to be thrown further radially outwards to the free liquid surface. The flow of the separated liquid radially outwards in the rotating liquid body to the inlet of the outlet channel is mainly taking place in thin layers along the wings and one of the end walls of the outlet chamber. The described collision between the separated liquid and the free liquid surface, or between the liquid and a wing, result in splashes, which means a great risk of air or gas, which is located radially inside the free liquid surface in the outlet chamber, to be admixed in the separated liquid, which flows radially outwards to the inlet of the outlet channel and further to the outlet. Also the locally high liquid flow velocity, which occurs nearby the free liquid surface in the layers, in which the liquid flows radially outwards in the liquid body, results in a great risk of such an admixture of air or gas. In order to decrease the high liquid flow velocities in the layers in which the liquid flows radially outwards it has been suggested as shown in WO 89/03250 Al, that the means, which in the outlet chamber shall entrain the liquid into the rotation of the rotor, is designed as at least one disk fixedly connected to the rotor and con- centrical to the same. Hereby, the outwardly directed liquid flow in the outlet chamber is distributed in more layers having a large total cross-sectional area, where¬ by the flow velocities in the layers and consequently the risk of air admixture decreases. However, the disc or discs according to the suggested known solution is not capable to decrease the air admixture sufficiently and at at the same time satisfactorily entrain the separated liquid in the rotation of the rotor. The object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal separator of the kind initially described, in which the risk of air admixture in a discharge separated liquid is less than in hitherto known centri- fugal separators of this kind with corresponding capa¬ bility to entrain the separated liquid in the outlet chamber. This is accomplished according to the present invention by the fact that the means to entrain, during the operation of the rotor, the separated liquid present in the outlet chamber comprises several around the rota¬ tional axis distributed and with the rotor rotating elongated elements, which between themselves form flow spaces, which extend axially, radially and in a circum¬ ferential direction of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the elongated elements are straight and regularly oriented in an essential axial direction but they can alternatively be directed radially. In another embodiment of the invention the elongated elements are irregularly oriented and abut with advantage against each other. In a special embodiment of the invention the elongated elements can be supplemented by at least one wing fixedly connected to the rotor, the wing extending radially and axially in the outlet chamber, in a way such that an efficient entrainment of the liquid in the outlet chamber is obtained. In the following the invention will be described more closely with reference to the attached drawings on which Fig 1 schematically shows an axial section through a part of a centrifugal separator according to the invention, Fig 2 shows a view of a detail in a centrifugal separator according to the invention, and Fig 3 shows a section along the line III-III in figure 2. The part of the centrifugal separator shown in figure 1 comprises a rotor, which has a lower part 1 and an upper part 2, which are joined together by a locking ring 3. Inside the rotor an axially movable valve slide 4 is arranged. This valve slide delimits together with the upper part 2 a separation chamber 5 and is arranged to open and close an outlet passage between the separation chamber 5 and outlet openings 6 to let out inter¬ mittently a component, which has been separated from a mixture supplied to the rotor and been accumulated at the periphery of the separation chamber. The valve slide 4 delimits together with the lower part 1 a closing chamber 7, which is provided with an inlet and a throttled outlet for a closing liquid. These in- and outlets are not shown in the figure. Inside the separation chamber 5 a disc stack 8 consis¬ ting of a number of conical separation discs is arranged between a distributor 9 and the upper part 2. The upper part 2 forms in its, in the figure shown, upper end an outlet chamber 10, to which a specific lighter liquid separated during operation from a mixture supplied to the rotor can flow from the separation chamber 5 via a passage 11 and in the outlet chamber 10 form a rotating liquid body with a radially inwards directed free liquid surface at a certain radial level. The outlet chamber 10 is delimited by two axial end walls 12, 13 and a circumferential wall 14, which extends between these. Centrally through the outlet chamber 10 a stationary inlet tube 15 is arranged, which opens in the interior of the distributor 9. Around this inlet tube 15 a stationary outlet tube 16 is arranged for the specific lighter liquid in the supplied mixture. The outlet tube 16 extends into the outlet chamber 10. Inside the outlet chamber 10 a stationary discharge device 17 is arranged around the inlet tube 15. The discharge device 17 extends from the rotational liquid body radially inwards to the inlet tube 15 and forms inside itself at least one outlet channel 18, one end of which has a peripheral inlet 19, and the other end of which opens in the interior of the outlet tube 16. In the outlet chamber 18 means 20 are arranged fixedly connected to the end walls 12 and 13. These means 20 are arranged to entrain the liquid present in the outlet chamber 10 during operation in the rotation of the rotor and admit flow of the same radially outwards to the inlet 19 of the outlet channel 18. Figure 2 and 3 show more in detail the design of said means 20. According to this embodiment of the invention the means 20 comprise an annular circular disc 21, which is fixedly connected to an end wall 12 or 13 concent- rical to the rotation axis. On the axial side of the disc, which is directed towards the stationary discharge device 17 several elongated elements 22 are distributed around the rotational axis and form between themselves flow spaces, which extend axially, radially and in the circumferential direction of the rotor. In the shown embodiment the elongated elements 22 are fixedly connec¬ ted to each other via the disc 21 and is directed axially. The flow spaces between the elongated elements 22 are open in the direction toward the stationary discharge device 17. In order to increase the entraining capability of the means, the means 20 shown as an example also comprises three wings fixedly connected to the disc 21, which extends radially and axially in the outlet chamber 10. A centrifugal separator which is designed according to the invention works in the following manner: Upon start of the centrifugal separator the rotor is brought to rotate and the separation chamber 5 is closed by supplying a closing liquid to the closing chamber 7 through an inlet (not shown). After the separation chamber 5 has been closed the liquid mixture, which is to be centrifugally treated is supplied to the separation chamber 5 through the inlet tube 15 and the distributor 9. Gradually the separation chamber 5 is filled up, the rotor reaches the rotational speed in operation and the conditions are stabilized inside the separation chamber. The components contained in the liquid mixture are separated under the influence of the centrifugal forces acting on the same. The separation is then mainly taken place in the inter- spaces between the conical discs in the disc stack 8. During separation the specific heavier component is thrown radially outwards and is accumulated in the radially outermost part of the separation chamber, whereas the specific lighter liquid flows radially inwards in these interspaces. The specific heavier component is intermittently dis¬ charged during operation by bringing the valve slide 4 during periods of time uncover the peripheral outlet openings 6. The specific lighter liquid flows out through the separation chamber 5 through the passage 11 to the outlet chamber 10, in which it forms a rotating liquid body with a radially inwards directed free liquid surface. The liquid present in the outlet chamber 10 is discharged through the outlet channel 18 in the stationary discharge device 17 via its inlet 19. The entrainment of the liquid present in the outlet chamber 10 is taking place gently by the means 20 rotating with the rotor and by other internal surfaces of the walls of the outlet chamber. The liquid located closest to the discharge device 17 is slowed down by the contact with the external surfaces of the discharge device 17. Thereby, different parts of the liquid volume located in the outlet chamber 10 will obtain different rotational speeds. The contact between the liquid and the external surfaces of the discharge device 17 result in that a circulating flow is generated in the outlet chamber 10, the liquid flowing radially inwards along the external surfaces of the discharge device 17 and radially out¬ wards in layers, which extend along and connect the elongated elements 22 and along internal surfaces of the walls of the outlet chamber 10. In the case said means also comprise a wing liquid also flows radially outwards in layers along this. This flow radially outwards is distributed over relatively large layers. Hereby the local maximum flow velocities can be kept low, which is especially important at the free liquid surface as the risk of air admixture is especially high there. If the passage 11 is arranged at essentially the same radius as the radius at which the inlet 19 of the outlet channel 18 is located, the radial outwardly directed flow is to be referred to the internal circulation in the outlet chamber 10. However, sometimes it is necessary to place the passage 11 radially inside said inlet 19 in order to be able to keep the different liquid levels inside the separation chamber 5 at wanted radii. Then the radially outwards directed flow which this location of the passage 11 gives rise to, is added.

Claims: Claims 1. A centrifugal separator comprising - a rotor, which forms an inlet chamber for a liquid mixture of components, a separation chamber (5) connected to the inlet chamber, and an outlet cham¬ ber (10), which via a passage (11) communicates with the separation chamber for the reception of a liquid separated during operation in the separation chamber, and which is so designed that liquid pre¬ sent therein during operation forms a rotating liquid body with a radially inwards directed free liquid surface, a stationary discharge device (17), which from the said liquid body extends radially inwards to a central outlet, and in which at least one outlet channel (18) is formed, one end of which has an inlet (19) located in the said liquid body, and the other end of which opens in an outlet connected to the discharge device, and means (20) connected to the rotor, which are arranged to entrain the separated liquid present in the outlet chamber (10) in the rotation of the rotor during operation of the rotor and at the same time admit flow of such a liquid in the outlet chamber (10) radially outwards to the inlet (19) of the outlet channel (18), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said means (20) comprises several around rotational axis distributed and with the rotor rotating elongated elements ( 22 ) , which between themselves form flow spaces, which extend axially, radially and in the circumferential direction of the rotor. 2. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elongated elements (22) are fixedly connected to each other. 3. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elongated elements (22) are straight and essentially regularly oriented. 4. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least some of the elongated elements (22) are essentially axially oriented. 5. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least some of the elongated elements (22) are essentially radially oriented. 6. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elongated elements (22) are essentially irregularly oriented. 7. A centrifugal separator according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elongated elements (22) abut against each other. 8. A centrifugal separator according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said means also comprises at least one wing (23) fixedly connected to the rotor, the wing extending radially and axially in the outlet chamber (10) . 9. A centrifugal separator according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said flow spaces are open in a direction toward the stationary outlet device (17).

Inventors: BORGSTROEM LEONARD, CARLSSON CLAES-GOERAN, FRANZEN PETER, INGE CLAES, LAGERSTEDT TORGNY, MOBERG HANS, BORGSTROEM, LEONARD, CARLSSON, CLAES-GOERAN, FRANZEN, PETER, INGE, CLAES, LAGERSTEDT, TORGNY, MOBERG, HANS
Applicants: ALFA LAVAL SEPARATION AB, BORGSTROEM LEONARD, CARLSSON CLAES GOERAN, FRANZEN PETER, INGE CLAES, LAGERSTEDT TORGNY, MOBERG HANS
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B04B11
IPC codes: B04B1, B04B11