Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
Patent
1985-01-28
1986-11-11
Chiesa, Richard L.
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
210788, 210 961, 2105123, B01D 2126
Patent
active
046221506
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a cyclone separator for separating liquid components in a liquid mixture and having an elongate tapered separating chamber with at least one side inlet for liquid to be separated and an overflow outlet opening at a larger cross sectional end of the separating chamber, for outflow of the less denser of said components, the separating chamber also having an underflow outlet at the smaller cross sectioned end of the separating chamber, for outflow of the denser of said components. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively concerned with separators of this kind and which are specifically adapted for separating oil and water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,006 (Colman et al) describes a cyclone separator of the above kind, the separating chamber having first, second and third contiguous cylindrical portions arranged in that order, the first cylindrical portion being of greater diameter than the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion being of lesser diameter than the second cylindrical portion, the overflow outlet of the separator communicating with the first cylindrical portion at the end thereof opposite to said second cylindrical portion and there being a plurality of and a plurality of tangentially directed feed inlets communicating with the first cylindrical portion. My International Application PCT/AU83/00028 entitled "Cyclone Separator" and filed Feb. 28, 1983 also describes a similar type of separator.
It has been found that the selection of the cross sectional area of the overflow outlet is critical for proper performance of the separator, but that a cross sectional area which is suitable for some operating conditions may not be suitable for other operating conditions. Thus, when the separator is used in an environment where the operating conditions vary, inadequate separation may be achieved, with substantial contamination of, say, the emergent denser liquid component due to presence of excessive amounts of the less dense component. These variations may, for example, occur due to variations in the proportions of the two components in the mixture supplied to the separator for separating, or by variations in flow rate through the separator.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cyclone separator as first above described wherein valve means is provided operable to effect variable restriction of flow from the separator via said overflow outlet opening. Preferably, the overflow outlet presents an orifice through which liquid flow from the overflow outlet occurs in use of the separator and the valve means comprises a member such as a needle member movable to variably obstruct the orifice.
Where the overflow outlet presents a stepped bore having a first bore portion adjacent the first cylindrical portion, the stepped bore may be configured as described in my international application PCT AU83/00028.
The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly sectioned, of an exemplary cyclone separator which the invention is applicable; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the overflow outlet of the separator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing control means useful with the separator of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic cross sections of valves incorporated into the control means of FIG. 3, and showing conditions of the valves prevailing in one operative condition of the control means;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic cross sections like FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, but showing the valves in conditions prevailing in another operative condition of operation of the control means; and
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified control means useful in the separator of FIGS. 1 and 2.
The separator 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a separating chamber 25 having first, second and third cylindrical portions 12, 14 and 16 coaxially arranged in that order. These cylindrical portions are generally similar to the corresponding first, se
REFERENCES:
patent: 3334516 (1967-08-01), Cedrone
patent: 3481469 (1969-12-01), Walker
patent: 3515276 (1970-06-01), Comer et al.
patent: 3558255 (1971-01-01), Rose
patent: 4237006 (1980-12-01), Coleman et al.
patent: 4239623 (1980-12-01), Schrenker
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