Abstract: A separating system for separating material transported by air utilizing apparatus having a tangential inlet for a stream of air and entrained material, a bottom material exit, a boundary wall air exit and a central interior air exit. Each air exit includes a perforated wall or screen through which air is removed or separated from the entrained material. Enhanced separating action is achieved through coupling two such separators in a loop arrangement such that the material discharge from a first separator is conveyed via a relay stream of air to serve as the input to a second separator, while the entire air exhaust from the second separator is returned as one of a plurality of inlet streams to the first separator. A further advantage is realized by partitioning the air exhaust of the first separator into a plurality of parallel passageways which can be individually closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating material transported by air is disclosed which includes a separator casing having a tangential inlet adapted to receive a stream of air and entrained material and a plurality of exits. One of the exits of the disclosed separator is a material discharge exit which, like the inlet is peripherally attached to the casing. There are also two separate air exits including a first air exhaust conduit peripherally attached to the casing proximate the inlet and a second air exhaust conduit centrally disposed within the interior of the casing. Operatively associated with each of the air exits is a separator means, such as a perforated surface or screen, which removes or separates the entrained material from the air.