Fluid flow apparatus

Liquid purification or separation – Tangential flow or centrifugal fluid action – Multiple cyclone

Patent

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Details

209144, 209211, B01D 17038

Patent

active

047372877

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a fluid flow apparatus.
In one aspect, the invention is particularly concerned with fluid flow apparatus of the kind having two fluid flow devices through which fluid flow is in use to be directed and in respect of which it is desired to provide for interconnection of these devices in a fashion permitting flow either in parallel or in series through the devices. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application in fluid flow apparatus such as cyclone separator banks for separating liquid components in a multi-phase liquid mixture.
In one aspect, the invention provides fluid flow apparatus comprising two devices which are in use subjected to a fluid flow therethrough, from an inlet to an outlet, the inlets of the devices being connected to a common inlet duct and the outlets of the devices being connected to a common outlet duct; said apparatus also including a connecting duct interconnecting said inlet duct and said outlet duct, at locations respectively between the connections of inlets of the devices to the inlet duct and between the connections of the outlets of the devices to the outlet duct, and valve means selectively operable to direct fluid to be separated, and passed into said inlet duct, through the inlet of each device from said inlet duct, whilst directing fluid emerging from said outlets to said outlet duct, said valve means also being selectively operable to divert said fluid passed into said inlet duct from direct passage from the inlet duct to the inlet of one of said devices, whilst permitting inlet to the inlet of the other device and to direct fluid from the outlet of the other device, and entering into the outlet duct, through said connecting duct and thence to the inlet of said one device via said inlet duct, and whilst preventing fluid emerging from the outlet of said other device from mixing in said outlet duct with fluid from the outlet of said one device.
Preferably, the inlet and outlet ducts are arranged in generally parallel relationship, with the valve means comprising a first valve in said inlet duct and a second valve in said outlet duct, said first valve being at a location between spaced locations at which the respective inlets of the two devices join the inlet duct, whereby the inlet duct defines first and second portions to respective opposite sides of the first valve, and said second valve being at a location between spaced locations at which the outlets of the two devices join the outlet duct, whereby the outlet duct defines first and second portions to respective opposite sides of the second valve, said valves being interconnected by said connecting duct, said first valve being effective, in one condition, to direct fluid entering said first portion of the inlet duct successively through the first and second portions of the inlet duct for entry into the inlets of the two devices then coupled in parallel and the first valve being effective in another condition to block flow from the first portion of the inlet duct to the second portion thereof, whilst permitting flow from the connecting duct through the first valve means into the second portion of the inlet duct and precluding such flow to the first portion of the inlet duct, the second valve being effective, in one condition, to permit fluid flow between the first and second portions of the outlet duct to direct flow from both devices, when coupled in parallel, to the outlet duct and, in another condition, being effective to direct fluid flowing from said other device, into said first portion of the outlet duct, from the first portion of the outlet duct into said connecting duct and to prevent flow from the first to the second portion of the outlet duct; at least one of said valves, or another valve forming part of said valve means, being effective to prevent flow through the connecting duct when the first and second valves are in said one conditions.
Preferably, the devices are coupled to the inlet and outlet ducts by further valves, and are demountable from the apparatus, with the

REFERENCES:
patent: 4244748 (1981-01-01), Chwalek et al.
patent: 4605495 (1986-08-01), Flynn

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