Separating device and use of a separating device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a separating device for removing solid particles from fluids, and to the use of said separating device for removing solid particles from fluids.

1 . A separating device for removing solid particles from fluids, comprising:
 a stack of at least three annular discs defining a central annular region along a central axis, each annular disc having an upper side and an underside, wherein the upper side of each annular disc each has two or more spacers, and wherein the spacers of the upper side of each annular disc contact the underside of the adjacent annular disc, and wherein the annular discs are stacked in such a way that a separating gap for the removal of solid particles is present in each case between adjacent annular discs, and wherein the central annular region comprises a first section and a second section,   a supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region, wherein the supporting structure is located inside the central annular region,   a tubular shroud for protection of the central annular region from mechanical damage, and   an intermediate element which is placed between the first section and the second section of the central annular region, wherein the intermediate element supports the shroud,   and wherein each annular disc comprises a material independently selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   wherein the intermediate element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   wherein the intermediate element comprises an intermediate core element and a protective bush which is co-centric with and located outside of the intermediate core element, and wherein the protective bush protects the intermediate core element from mechanical damage, and wherein the intermediate core element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   and wherein the protective bush comprises a metallic material or a polymeric material.   
     
     
         2 . A separating device for removing solid particles from fluids, comprising:
 a stack of at least three annular discs defining a central annular region along a central axis, each annular disc having an upper side and an underside, wherein the upper side and the underside of every second annular disc in the stack each has two or more spacers, and wherein the upper side and the underside of the respectively adjacent annular discs do not comprise any spacers, and wherein the spacers of the upper side of every second annular disc in the stack contact the underside of the adjacent annular disc, and wherein the spacers of the underside of every second annular disc in the stack contact the upper side of the adjacent annular disc, and wherein the annular discs are stacked in such a way that a separating gap for the removal of solid particles is present in each case between adjacent annular discs, and wherein the central annular region comprises a first section and a second section,   a supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region, wherein the supporting structure is located inside the central annular region,   a tubular shroud for protection of the central annular region from mechanical damage, and   an intermediate element which is placed between the first section and the second section of the central annular region, wherein the intermediate element supports the shroud,   and wherein each annular disc comprises a material independently selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   wherein the intermediate element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   wherein the intermediate element comprises an intermediate core element and a protective bush which is co-centric with and located outside of the intermediate core element, and wherein the protective bush protects the intermediate core element from mechanical damage, and wherein the intermediate core element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of (i) ceramic materials; (ii) mixed materials having fractions of ceramic or metallic hard materials and a metallic binding phase; and (iii) powder metallurgical materials with hard material phases formed in-situ,   and wherein the protective bush comprises a metallic material or a polymeric material.   
     
     
         3 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region comprises one or more rods arranged within the central annular region. 
     
     
         4 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region comprises
 a perforated pipe which is co-centric with and located inside the central annular region, and   an end cap at the upper end and an end cap at the lower end of the central annular region, the end cap being co-centric with the perforated pipe and being firmly connected to the perforated pipe,   and wherein the intermediate element is co-centric with the perforated pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the intermediate element is larger than the outer diameter of the central annular region. 
     
     
         6 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective bush is firmly connected to the intermediate core element. 
     
     
         7 . The separating device of  claim 4 , wherein the separating device further comprises one or more bands which are provided on the lateral surface of the perforated pipe and which are inside the central annular region and inside the intermediate element, and wherein the annular discs are centered by the one or more bands on the perforated pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element is movable in axial direction. 
     
     
         9 . The separating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element further comprises an annular element which is co-centric with the intermediate core element and which is located inside the intermediate core element. 
     
     
         10 . The separating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate element further comprises an annular element which is co-centric with the intermediate core element and which is located inside the intermediate core element and between the intermediate core element and the perforated pipe, and wherein the annular element is provided with one or more recesses in axial direction distributed along the circumference of the annular element, and wherein the number of recesses is equal to or larger than the number of bands which are provided on the lateral surface of the perforated pipe, and wherein each of the bands is placed in one of the recesses of the annular element. 
     
     
         11 . The separating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the annular element is firmly connected to the intermediate core element. 
     
     
         12 . The separating device of  claim 1 , wherein the separating device further comprises a number of n further intermediate elements, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, and wherein the central annular region further comprises a number of n further sections, and wherein each further intermediate element is placed between two adjacent sections of the central annular region. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The separating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region comprises one or more rods arranged within the central annular region. 
     
     
         15 . The separating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the supporting structure for axial bracing of the central annular region comprises
 a perforated pipe which is co-centric with and located inside the central annular region, and   an end cap at the upper end and an end cap at the lower end of the central annular region, the end cap being co-centric with the perforated pipe and being firmly connected to the perforated pipe,   
       and wherein the intermediate element is co-centric with the perforated pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The separating device of  claim 15 , wherein the separating device further comprises one or more bands which are provided on the lateral surface of the perforated pipe and which are inside the central annular region and inside the intermediate element, and wherein the annular discs are centered by the one or more bands on the perforated pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The separating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate element further comprises an annular element which is co-centric with the intermediate core element and which is located inside the intermediate core element and between the intermediate core element and the perforated pipe, and wherein the annular element is provided with one or more recesses in axial direction distributed along the circumference of the annular element, and wherein the number of recesses is equal to or larger than the number of bands which are provided on the lateral surface of the perforated pipe, and wherein each of the bands is placed in one of the recesses of the annular element. 
     
     
         18 . The separating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate element is movable in axial direction. 
     
     
         19 . The separating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate element further comprises an annular element which is co-centric with the intermediate core element and which is located inside the intermediate core element. 
     
     
         20 . The separating device of  claim 2 , wherein the separating device further comprises a number of n further intermediate elements, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, and wherein the central annular region further comprises a number of n further sections, and wherein each further intermediate element is placed between two adjacent sections of the central annular region.