Centrifugal separator for mixtures in a liquid or gaseous medium

Abstract

The invention concerns a separator, wherein the mixture, after passing through the inlet channels of the container body ( 1 ), penetrates into the admission chamber ( 30 ) of the rotor ( 2 ), where blades ( 35 ) arranged in star formation and perpendicular to the axis of rotation produce a centrifugal propulsion and, further, compact the components with greater density, thus facilitating extraction thereof. The thus modified mixture passes into the separating chamber ( 31 ), where blades ( 36 ) arranged in star formation and parallel to the axis of rotation, through their centrifugal force, push the components with greater density outwards; the latter having penetrated into the collecting cells ( 41 ) of the grid ( 34 ) which is coated on the outside of the separating chamber, through holes ( 42 ) exit from the rotor upon reaching the accumulation chamber ( 13 ). The fluid medium which, countered by a suitable pressure, cannot penetrate into the accumulation chamber, exit through evacuation channels. An electromechanical control system ( 3 ) adjusts the functioning of the method.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A centrifugal separator apparatus for separating continuously flowing liquids or gases mixtures in a liquid or gaseous medium, wherein higher density components present on entry is are absent when the liquids or gases exit medium exits the separator, comprising:
 a rotor with a separation chamber, the separation chamber having an annular cross-section and an uncovered outer surface to provide a centrifugal force in the separation chamber to act, said centrifugal force acting in a perpendicular direction to flow of mixture, thereby expelling the higher density components directly into an accumulation chamber; 
 a housing with the rotor and the accumulation chamber contained inside, the housing accumulation chamber for accumulating and draining off the expelled higher density components; and 
 a control system, the control system for regulating opposing pressure to a separating centrifugal force, thereby limiting an expulsion of median density component, simultaneously expelling high the higher density components and allowing high angular velocities with liquid fluids. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a reduction in angular velocity is disregarded due to friction of the rotor with a liquid that would invade the accumulation chamber is prevented. 
     
     
       3. A centrifugal separator apparatus for separating continuously flowing liquids or gases mixtures in a liquid or gaseous medium, wherein components present on entry is are absent when the liquids or gases exit medium exits the separator, comprising:
 a rotor with a separation chamber, the separation chamber having an annular cross-section and an uncovered outer surface to provide a centrifugal force in the separation chamber to act, said centrifugal force acting in a perpendicular direction to flow of mixture, thereby expelling the higher density components directly into an accumulation chamber; 
 a grill inserted to cover an outer wall of the separation chamber from the outside, the grill being in direct allowing the separation chamber to remain in communication with the accumulation chamber; 
 a housing with the rotor and the accumulation chamber contained inside, the housing accumulation chamber for accumulating and draining off the expelled higher density components; and 
 a control system, the control system for regulating opposing pressure to a separating centrifugal force, thereby limiting an expulsion of median density component, simultaneously expelling high the higher density components and allowing high angular velocities with liquid fluids. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim  3  1, wherein the rotor further comprises:
 a separation chambera diaphragm chamber, the diaphragm chamber located inside the separation chamber; 
 an inlet chamber, the inlet chamber located on above the separation diaphragm chamber; 
 an outlet chamber, the outlet chamber located below the separation diaphragm chamber; 
 an upper cover plate, the upper cover plate located above the inlet chamber; and  
 a lower cover plate, the lower cover plate located below the outlet chamber; and 
 a diaphragm chamber, the separation chamber located inside the diaphragm chamber. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim  4  3, further comprising collection cells, the collection cells positioned on the grill, perpendicularly to an axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim  5  4, wherein the inlet chamber further comprises:
 a plurality of vanes, the plurality of vanes being attached to the upper cover plate and an upper wall of the diaphragm chamber; wherein: 
 the plurality of vanes are mounted in a radial symmetry, tilted backwards in relation to direction of rotation, and optionally curved; and 
 the plurality of vanes ensure propulsion of mixture to be treated to and bring about a compaction of higher density components, facilitating their migration through a medium upon reaching the separation chamber. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim  6  1, wherein the a plurality of vanes are mounted with radial symmetry in the separation chamber. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim  6  7, wherein:
 the plurality of vanes are tilted backwards in relation to a direction of rotation to create an angle of about 45-60 degrees with a radius of a rotation plane passing through innermost extremities of the vanes; 
 the plurality of vanes are curved on an axis perpendicular to an axis of rotation, with convexity directed toward front and a central angle of about 20 degrees; and 
 the plurality of vanes continue through longitudinal lateral walls of the collection cells of the grill. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 separation vanes; 
 channels, the channels located in between the separation vanes and communicates with the collection cells; wherein: 
 an inner edge of the plurality of vanes adhering to a tubular wall portion of the diaphragm chamber, the tubular wall portion being closed except in connection with the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; and 
 an outer edge of the plurality of vanes, if the grill is not used, being in direct contact with the accumulation chamber, except its extremities at the belt which are covered by the plates. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to claim  9  4, wherein the diaphragm chamber further comprises:
 an upper wall, the upper wall located directly below the inlet chamber; 
 a lower wall, the lower wall located directly above the outlet chamber; wherein: 
 the tubular wall is an outer circumference of the diaphragm chamber; 
 a space between the upper wall and the lower wall being completely enclosed forming a volume defined by two truncated cone shaped structures; 
 a driving shaft is fitted into center of the upper wall for a mechanical transmission of the rotor; and 
 a watertight ball bearing mounted onto a pivot of an outlet manifold through an aperture in the lower wall. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim  5  3, wherein the grill further comprises:
 a tubular structure, the tubular structure enclosing an entire exposed surface of the separation chamber; 
 bored channels, the bored channels embedded in a wall of the grill and parallel to an axis of rotation of the grill; wherein 
 the cross section of the channels are is a semi-circle or semi-ellipse such that a convexity portion of the semi-circle or the semi-ellipse is directed toward an exterior direction; 
 an axis of a chord of a cross-section passes through the axis of rotation; 
 the bored channels are equal in number to the number of vanes present in the separation chamber; and 
 a plurality of walls are subdivided subdivide transversally the channels into an equal number of collection cells. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a mixture is a dense medium and an amount of longitudinal rows of the collection cells are equal to an amount of longitudinal rows of apertures; and   the amount of longitudinal rows of apertures are equal to a length of an external circumference of the grill divided by a circular arc.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein outer walls of the collection cells are completely exposed when mixture is in a gaseous medium. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein outer walls of the collection cells are pierced by circular apertures with a diameter proportionally limited to a superficial tension of a medium and to a total density of the mixture. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein an external surface of the grill has a polygonal section such that apertures are situated on a flat surface. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the inlet chamber further comprises:
 an upper portion of the inlet chamber, the upper portion of the inlet chamber being a wider end of an empty truncated cone shaped structure and a lower portion of the inlet chamber being a narrower end of an empty truncated cone shaped structure; 
 an inlet axial tube, the inlet axial tube penetrating an aperture, the penetration means being a watertight moveable juncture to enable the rotor to revolve; 
 an upper wall portion of the diaphragm chamber being located below the upper cover plate and an outer surface portion of the diaphragm chamber being open to the separation chamber; and wherein 
 the upper cover plate enclosing the inlet chamber and an aperture in a center region of the upper cover plate a partially enclosed space located directly above the diaphragm chamber, an upper wall portion of the diaphragm chamber forming a lower enclosure of the inlet chamber, wherein the upper cover plate is an upper enclosure of the inlet chamber, and wherein an exterior portion of the inlet chamber is adapted to communicate with the separation chamber. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the separation chamber has a circular crown cross-section and its internal and external radii remain constant throughout the separation chamber, forming a tubular shaped volume. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the separation chamber has an uncovered external surface except two surfaces at belt corresponding to levels of apertures at belt, enabling the separation chamber to communicate with the inlet and outlet chambers; and 
 the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate are curved in order to cover the two surfaces at belt. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the upper cover plate further comprises: a hermetic seal, the hermetic seal continuously covering the inlet chamber, the separation chamber, the a grill and a tract in belt of outer surface of the separation chamber at a level with communication of the chamber with the inlet chamber; and a central aperture housing an inlet axial tube through a watertight moveable juncture. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the lower cover plate further comprises:
 a hermetic seal, the hermetic seal continuously covering the outlet chamber, a grill and a tract at bottom of external surface of the separation chamber at level corresponding to communication with the outlet chamber; and 
 an outlet axial tube, the outlet axial tube being housed in its central aperture through a watertight moveable juncture and a central aperture housing an outlet axial tube through a watertight moveable juncture. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the outlet chamber further comprises:
 a partially enclosed space, the partially enclosed space being located directly below the diaphragm chamber and a lower wall portion of the diaphragm chamber being an upper enclosure of the outlet chamber; and wherein: 
 the lower cover plate is a lower enclosure of the outer outlet chamber; and 
 an exterior portion of the outlet chamber is adapted to communicate with the separation chamber. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an outlet manifold, the outlet manifold housed in the outlet chamber; 
 an outlet axial tube, the outlet axial tube protruding through the lower cover plate, by means of a juncture being moveable and watertight; and 
 a space between the outlet manifold and the outlet chamber, enabling the rotor to freely rotate. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to claim  22  1, wherein the housing further comprises:
 an inlet tube; the inlet tube eccentrically located on one end of the housing, extending from an exterior portion of the housing to an interior portion of the housing; 
 an inlet manifold, the inlet manifold being located inside the housing and being connected to the interior portion of the inlet tube; and 
 a discharge pump, the discharge pump located inside the housing and opposite the inlet manifold, wherein a capsule of the discharge pump being a discharge manifold when the discharge pump is not used. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim  23  1, wherein:
 the capsule of the outlet pump communicates with the separation chamber of the rotor by means of an outlet axial tube; and 
 the outlet axial tube penetrates the outlet chamber through a central aperture of the lower cover plate the housing further comprises a discharge pump located inside the housing and connected to an outlet axial tube, the discharge pump comprising a capsule acting as a discharge manifold when the discharge pump is not used. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the inlet manifold further comprises an inlet axial tube, the inlet axial tube connected to the inlet manifold, wherein:
 the rotor is connected to the inlet axial tube through an aperture in center of the upper cover plate; and 
 a juncture being a watertight moveable means. 
 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the inlet axial tube, the outlet axial tube, and the outlet manifold are immobile such that the rotor revolves around the inlet and outlet axial tubes. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the outlet axial tube manifold is connected to the outlet manifold axial tube and equipped with vanes and housed in the outlet chamber. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein:
 the outlet chamber and the entire rotor revolves around the outlet manifold; and 
 the outlet manifold is fixed. 
 
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to claim  3  1, wherein the accumulation chamber and the rotor are contained inside the housing and components to be separated from fluid are expelled directly into the accumulation chamber during their transit through the separation chamber. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system further comprises a pressure sensor or and a liquid level sensor. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system further comprises:
 a first electromagnetic valve, the first electromagnetic valve enabling discharge of gas to an exterior; 
 a second electromagnetic valve, the second electromagnetic valve enabling communication of the accumulation chamber with a gas compressor; 
 a third electromagnetic valve, the third electromagnetic valve suitable for dense liquids allowing passage of the liquid into an ancillary reservoir. 
 
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system further comprises a gas compressor. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system further comprises an electromechanical inlet diaphragm and an electromechanical outlet diaphragm. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the electromechanical outlet diaphragm is a valve with an adjustable aperture pressure when mixture is a liquid medium. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system comprises a reservoir. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control system comprises an electronic control circuit, wherein the electronic control circuit integrates functions of components of the control system by maintaining gas pressure levels and volumes of liquid in the accumulation chamber. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to claim  36  3, wherein the control system further comprises an axial pump, a turbidimeter and a densimeter.