Patent GB-1515224-A (GB)
Title: Nozzle type centrifuge
IPC: B04B11/08
Filed: 1976-09-20
Abstract: 1515224 Centrifugal separator DORROLIVER INC 20 Sept 1976 [18 Sept 1975] 38850/76 Heading B2P A nozzle-type centrifuge for separating a feed mixture (raw syrup derived from the acid- or enzymatic-conversion of corn starch) into a light fraction (impurities such as wax and proteins) a heavy fraction (clear syrup) and a "nozzle discharge product" (a mixture of light and heavy fractions) comprises a rotor 20, Fig. 2, rotatable about a vertical axis and having an upper open end through which a drive shaft 21 extends upwardly, the rotor being constructed for discharge of the light fraction from its upper end and for overflow discharge of the heavy fraction at its lower end, and being provided with nozzles 34 along its periphery intermediate its upper and lower ends for discharge of the nozzle discharge product, and further having a bottom opening 27 for the introduction of the feed mixture centrally into the rotor; a stationary housing 19 surrounding the rotor and having a top opening 19a, separate means 57, 58 and 59, 60 for separately collecting and discharging the overflow heavy fraction and the nozzle discharge product respectively, and a supply connection 54, 55 at the bottom for introducing the feed mixture upwardly into the bottom opening 27 of the rotor; and a light fraction take-off scoop device 39 comprising a take-off conduit 40 extending through the top opening 19a of the housing into the rotor, and formed at its lower end with a lateral scoop portion 44, Fig. 5a, arranged for skimming off an inner layer of the light fraction and discharging it at its upper end, the conduit being fixed at an intermediate portion 42 to a guide block 41 capable of longitudinal sliding movement on top of the housing 19 for adjusting the skimming position of the conduit scoop portion relative to the light fraction. The lower end of the drive shaft 21 is connected to a hub portion 22 which divides the interior of the rotor into a centrifugal separating chamber 23 and a feed chamber 24 communicating with each other via upward feed passages 25 in the hub portion. Kinetic energy is imparted to the feed mixture in the chamber 24 by means of upstanding radial accelerator blades 27a cooperating with ribs 27b. The separating chamber 23 contains a spider structure 30 consisting of a tubular hub portion 31 rigidly connected to the shaft 21 and the rotor hub portion 22 and of radial accelerator blades 32 extending from the hub portion 31. The spider 30 is surrounded by a stack of separating discs 33 supported on a ring member 30a which is formed with radial, inwardly extending, triangular accelerator blades 30b. A ring dam member 25 fastened to the lower portion of the rotor defines with the bottom 26 of the feed chamber 24 an annular heavy fraction overflow chamber 36 which communicates via passages 37 and transfer pipes 38 with an outer zone of the rotor separating chamber 23 located radially outwardly of the separating discs 33. The means 51 and 59 in the casing are in the form of volute channels which communicate with discharge pipes 58 and 60 respectively. The intermediate portion 42 of the conduit 40 of the scoop device 39 has a half-circular cross-section and is held by weld connections at 40a in a complementary recess in the guide block 41, the flat face 43_of the conduit being flush with the inner side face 41a of the block. The latter can be made to slide on top of the housing by means of a screw spindle 50 turnable in a bearing 51 by a handle H. Longitudinal guidance of the block 41 is provided by a pair of upright guide bolts 48a, 49a threaded in the top portion of the housing 19 and cooperating with elongate slots 48 in end portions of the blocks. The amount of movement of the block, and hence of adjustment of the scoop portion 44, can be measured from graduations 52 on a cover plate 53 held stationary, but in sliding contact with the top of the block, by the bolts 48a, 49a. In an installation for producing pure syrup, Figs. 1 and 1a (not shown), corn starch is fed to a digester and the raw syrup produced is passed through a pH adjustment station before being fed to the centrifuge. The light fraction is discharged from the centrifuge as cattle feed and the heavy fraction and the nozzle fraction are fed to a rotary drum filter of the precoat type to obtain pure syrup.