Including Auxiliary Fluid (e.g., Air Or Gas Core, Dilution Water, Elutriation Liquid, Etc.) Patents (Class 209/730)
  • Patent number: 11759755
    Abstract: A fine bubble generator which is an ultrafine bubble generator includes a side wall whose inner face is cylindrical, and closing walls closing both ends of the side wall, respectively, with a gas-liquid discharge port in one of the closing walls, wherein a fluid inlet port is provided closer to the gas-liquid discharge port than is a midpoint between both closing walls, and the fluid inlet port penetrates the side wall in a tangential direction of the inner face of the side wall, wherein a spiral groove is formed in the inner face of side wall, and wherein the spiral groove has an angle of inclination of 1° to 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: AKIMOKU IRON WORKS CO., LTD., AKITA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Akira Nakagawa, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8894819
    Abstract: An in-line drainer or liquid separator for draining liquid from a moving black liquor slurry stream having a screen basket mounted in the internal chamber of the in-line drainer. The screen basket includes slots to retain solid particles of the moving black liquor slurry stream within the black liquor slurry stream flow chamber and block the solid particles from entering the liquid collection chamber. The slots each have a curved corner edge adjacent a surface screen basket facing the black liquor slurry stream flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Sheerer, Jeffrey Lawrence Gazdik
  • Patent number: 8747679
    Abstract: A separation system for separating a fluid mixture includes a uniaxial cyclonic separator (2) having a first inlet (16) for receiving a fluid mixture, a separation chamber (18) for separating the fluid mixture by cyclonic action into a dense first fluid and a less dense second fluid, a first outlet (22) for the first fluid and a second outlet (26) for the second fluid. The system further includes a reverse flow cyclonic separator (32) having a second inlet (30) for receiving the first fluid from the first outlet (22), a separation chamber for separating the first fluid by cyclonic action into a dense third fluid and a less dense fourth fluid, a third outlet (34) for the third fluid and a fourth outlet (36) for the fourth fluid. A method for the bulk separation of water from an oil/water mixture is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mir Mahmood Sarshar, Mirza Najam Ali Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Patent number: 8715512
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating components of a fluid mixture. The apparatus includes a vortex generation zone shaped as an inverse truncated cone, a solids collection zone, a separation zone, one or more fluid inlets, one or more gas inlets, one or more fluid outlets, and one or more gas outlets. Gas is introduced into fluid in the vortex separation zone to facilitate the separation of components of the fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Howdeshell, Edward J. Godeaux, Asadollah Hayatdavoudi, Curtis D. Cooley
  • Patent number: 8506824
    Abstract: A method for treating waste water and sewage by introducing high pressure wash water or other fluids including gas into a housing of a hydro-cyclone and creating a cyclone with an enhanced and controllable vortex for increased removal of putrescible materials. Waste water and sewage is introduced into the housing and into the cyclone vortex. By the very high centrifugal force generated, suspended inorganic grit is quickly separated from the wash water and organic matter. The water with organic matter is then discharged typically out of the top of the housing, for returning to a water treatment plant for further processing. At this time, the separated inorganic grit, as a concentrated grit liquid, is typically funneled downwardly by gravity through a bottom of the hydro-cyclone housing for waste discharge removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Charles M. Schloss
  • Patent number: 8317033
    Abstract: A method for concentrating a particulate matter, comprising at least two constituents of different densities, in which a slurry of particulate matter is subjected to centrifugation and to centripetal pulses in a centrifugation chamber. A dense fraction of the slurry and a light fraction of the slurry are drawn off separately from the centrifugation chamber. In order to produce the centripetal pulses, a fluid is injected into the slurry, in a direction oblique or tangential to the direction of centrifugation. The fluid is injected substantially continuously into the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Genimin SPRL
    Inventor: Pol Huart
  • Patent number: 7404492
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone unit for separating a fibre pulp suspension containing relatively heavy contaminants has an elongate tapering separation chamber, an inlet member that feeds the suspension tangentially into the separation chamber at a base end, so as to form a vortex in the separation chamber, a reject fraction outlet at the apex end of the separation chamber for discharging a reject fraction containing heavy contaminants, and a central accept fraction outlet at the base end for discharging a central fraction containing fibres. A fluid injection member is adapted to inject a fluid tangentially into the separation chamber at a distance from the apex end which is at least 40% of the length of the separation chamber, such that the injected fluid increases the rotational speed of a portion of the vortex in the chamber to increase the separation efficiency with respect to fibres existing in the vortex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: GLV Finance Hungary KFT
    Inventors: Valentina Kucher, Jan Backman
  • Patent number: 7306730
    Abstract: A cyclone-type separator comprises a hollow cylindrical main body in to which liquid containing foreign matter is introduced, a clean room provided in an upper end of the main body, a communication pipe which connects the clean room to an interior of the main body, and a porous separating pipe arranged in the clean room. As the liquid swirls in the main body, an eddy stream is generated. A columnar air layer and a clean liquid layer are formed, both aligned with the centerline of the eddy stream. The air layer and the liquid layer are guided via the communication pipe into the separating pipe. At the bottom of the clean room, there are provided a first reservoir for storing the liquid coming through the separating pipe, a second reservoir for storing the liquid flowing from the first reservoir, and a coolant outlet port for discharging the clean liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Bunri Incorporated
    Inventors: Minoru Tashiro, Makoto Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20070231480
    Abstract: A film-forming apparatus includes a mixing section which mixes material particles and core particles having a large particle size than that of the material particles; a separating section which separates the material particles and the core particles; an aerosol-generator which generates aerosol by dispersing the separated material particles in a carrier gas; and a nozzle which ejects the aerosol containing the material particles. The core particles having the large particle size can be easily controlled in terms of transport amount of the core particles, as compared to the material particles which are fine particles used for the film formation. Further, since the core particles hardly cause clog-up in the system, the concentration of aerosol can be maintained stably by appropriately controlling the transport amount of the core particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Motohiro Yasui
  • Patent number: 7267232
    Abstract: An apparatus for froth flotation including a flotation vessel including a side wall and a bottom wall that includes a fluid drain, and a mixing eductor inside the vessel disposed to impart net rotational force to contents of the vessel about an axis; and a method of separating a desired constituent (e.g., coal) from a mixture of particulate matter, including the steps of conditioning a liquid mixture of particulate matter including a desired constituent with a frothing agent to create a pulp, and injecting the pulp into a vessel to impart net rotational movement of pulp in the vessel, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
    Inventors: Latif Khan, Christopher R. Manrique
  • Patent number: 7231927
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for recycling plastics which is improved with respect to operation efficiency, operation environment, lowering degradation of plastics, recycling cost and environment load including saving energy. The recycling is made as follows: coarse-crushing used-up plastic products, separating plastic materials from other foreign matters by air blow separation, fine-crushing the separated plastics, washing the fine-crushed plastics by the process using a circulation flow including a spiral flow in which interaction between crushed plastics helps themselves clean without washing agents, dewatering the washed plastics, drying them, removing metallic matters by using metal detector, then feeding them directly without pelletizing to an injection molding machine of which nozzle part is equipped with filter and flow-switching mechanism for cleaning the filter by backwash reverse filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Suehara
  • Patent number: 7108136
    Abstract: A separating device (10) especially for use in a pneumatic flotation system comprises an annular channel (18), at least one nozzle (16) for introducing aerated pulp substantially horizontally and tangentially into the annular channel (18), froth extraction means (26) for the removal of separated froth from the annular channel (18), and pulp extraction means (24) for the removal of separated pulp from the annular channel (18), the at least one nozzle (16) being configured so that the aerated pulp introduced into the annular channel (18) rotates therein with centrifugal forces of between 5 and 20 ms?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Rainer Imhof
  • Patent number: 7090082
    Abstract: A method for separating materials, in which a mixture of materials is guided through a channel in a direction of flow that extends at least approximately parallel to the gravitational field. Utilizing a wash fluid conveyed through the channel in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of the mixture of materials, at least one material component of the mixture of materials that is to be separated is displaced from the mixture of materials and removed from the channel. A device is also provided that is particularly suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Bokela Ingenieurgesellschaft fuer mechanische Verfahrenstechnik mbH
    Inventors: Werner H. Stahl, Bernhard Hoffner
  • Patent number: 7028848
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axial feeding method of the material to be separated in a dense-medium dynamic separator (1). This method is based on the principle of imparting to the material and to the fluid in which it is dispersed, in order to facilitate introduction thereof into the separator (1), a rotational velocity component with respect to the axis of the latter, in this way the particles of material have a movement corresponding to that of the dense medium circulating in the separator, so as to prevent uncontrolled dispersion of the particles inside it. The invention also comprises a feeding apparatus (2) for carrying out the abovementioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ecomin SRL
    Inventor: Paolo Bozzato
  • Patent number: 6848582
    Abstract: A longitudinal micrometric separator for the classification of solid particulate materials comprising an outer casing having an inflow opening and an outflow opening for the particulate material, a collection chamber at the bottom, as well as a sliding support for the particulate material extending substantially along a longitudinal drawing axis, in which the material is conveyed in the direction of the aforesaid longitudinal axis by a forced fluid flow. The sliding support comprises at least one first inclined wall, lying in a plane parallel to the drawing axis, and at least one dropping channel with axis parallel to the drawing axis and connected to a side end of the same inclined wall, the other side end of the inclined wall being set at a distance from the internal surfaces of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: DDS Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Manola
  • Patent number: 6840383
    Abstract: A particle separating apparatus is provided with a stock solution feeder (1) for supplying a stock solution containing particles, a bubble generator (2) for generating air bubbles to promote the separation of particles, a first separator (3) for separating the stock solution into a first concentrated solution and a first clear solution, a first discharge passage (4) for discharging the first concentrated solution separated by the first separator (3), a filtering device (5) provided inside the first separator (3) for filtering the particles in the first clear solution, a second separator (6) provided inside the filtering device (5) for separating the first clear solution into a second concentrated solution and a second clear solution, a second discharge passage (22) for discharging the second concentrated solution separated by the second separator (6) to the outside, and a clear solution guide passage (8) for guiding the second clear solution to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Kitano, Hironari Nagahara, Tetsuya Kanbara
  • Publication number: 20030201213
    Abstract: A separation device is disclosed for a cellulose fiber processing system comprising: a particle separation tank having an axis, an upper tangential stream inlet, and a lower particle outlet; an inline drainer column extending at least partially down into the tank and said drainer, wherein the drainer has an inlet within the tank and aligned with the axis of the tank, and the drainer has a clear fluid outlet and an outlet for a mixture of fluid and cellulose fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: John F. Bolles, Keith P. Vogel, Erkki Pulkkinen
  • Patent number: 6638433
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation and performance of water-only cyclones used in coal preparation plants for separating a fine raw coal slurry into fine coal and fine refuse slurries includes a variable speed pump for feeding the slurry from an underpan of a deslime screen to a water-only cyclone. A nuclear density gauge measures the specific gravity of the slurry feeding the cyclones and generates a signal used to control the addition of water. A level sensor measures the level of the fine raw coal slurry in the underpan. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of the fine raw coal slurry pumped to the water-only cyclone. A speed control device uses signals from the level and pressure sensors to control the speed of the pump in order to maintain an appropriate level of slurry in the underpan, and an appropriate feed pressure to the water-only cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sedgman, LLC
    Inventors: Larry A. Watters, Daniel S. Placha
  • Patent number: 6450344
    Abstract: A particle separating apparatus is provided with a stock solution feeder (1) for supplying a stock solution containing particles, a bubble generator (2) for generating air bubbles to promote the separation of particles, a first separator (3) for separating the stock solution into a first concentrated solution and a first clear solution, a first discharge passage (4) for discharging the first concentrated solution separated by the first separator (3), a filtering device (5) provided inside the first separator (3) for filtering the particles in the first clear solution, a second separator (6) provided inside the filtering device (5) for separating the first clear solution into a second concentrated solution and a second clear solution, a second discharge passage (22) for discharging the second concentrated solution separated by the second separator (6) to the outside, and a clear solution guide passage (8) for guiding the second clear solution to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Kitano, Hironari Nagahara, Tetsuya Kanbara
  • Patent number: 6426010
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for separating the constituents of a heterogeneous mixture and its uses. Said device comprises a separation chamber (100, 250, 350, 450, 650, 724, 850, 903, 1106) having a one of its ends an inlet and at the other an outlet comprising a first ring-shaped orifice (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 919) coaxial with said chamber, and a second ring-shaped orifice (111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, 920) coaxial with said first ring-shaped orifice and whereof the external diameter is smaller than said first ring-shaped orifice internal diameter. The invention is characterized in that said separation chamber has a cylindrical shape and said first orifice external diameter D1 is smaller than said chamber internal diameter D0. The invention also concerns a method using said device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Total
    Inventors: Yves Lecoffre, Jean-Claude Gay
  • Patent number: 6119870
    Abstract: A large capacity cyclonic separator is used for desanding a conditioned aqueous oil sand slurry comprising aerated bitumen, water and sand to produce pumpable, pipelineable lean froth and sand tailings. The cyclone separator is a vessel which forms an elongated cylindrical separation chamber and has a tangential slurry inlet at one end and, at the opposite end, a peripheral sand removal outlet and a centrally positioned vortex finder. Oil sand slurry is continually tangentially introduced into the cyclone separator to form a rotating vortex, which generates a centrifugal force. The lean froth migrates to the center of the vortex to form an inner core and is removed via the vortex finder. The sand tailings migrate to the outer reaches of the vortex and are co-currently is removed via the sand removal outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignees: AEC Oil Sands, L.P., AEC Oil Sands Limited Partnership, Athabasca Oil Sands Investments, Inc., Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd., Canadian Oil Sands Investments, Inc., Gulf Canada Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company, Ltd., Petro-Canada
    Inventors: Waldemar Maciejewski, George Cymerman
  • Patent number: 5916446
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation of solid matter via flotation. The flotation process for the separation of solid matter from a suspension takes place via the utilization of centrifugal forces wherein the suspension is brought into rotation in a separating zone so that the floated components are particularly effectively routed to and concentrated at the center of the separating space, whereby, when viewed axially, floated components and the remaining portion of the suspension is guided in the same direction and out of the separating zone, with the avoidance of vortexes in the flow stream achieving particularly favorable separation effects. In addition, several apparatuses, for carrying out the process, are also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Sulzer-Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Britz, Alexander Peschl
  • Patent number: 5855769
    Abstract: Hydrophobic material is selectively separated from an aqueous feed by forming gas bubbles in a flow of the feed, forming hydrophobic material/gas bubbles aggregates by motionless mixing and separating the aggregates as a froth by use of centrifugal action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Bruce Andrew Firth, Philip Kwadwo Ofori
  • Patent number: 5728262
    Abstract: An asymmetric hydrocyclone is modified and controlled so as to effectively remove contaminants of substantially neutral buoyancy from a paper cellulosic pulp. More specifically, a method includes prepositioning a substantially frusto-conically-shaped separation chamber of the hydrocyclone at an oblique angle to a vertical axis, and introducing a cellulosic pulp through an inlet and into the separation chamber for separation processing. As is known, the pulp composition forms a downwardly-directed helical path, which in turn establishes an opposingly directed, upward helical air core. Centrifugal forces motivate heavier particles toward the sidewalls of the separation chamber and lighter particles are urged toward the air core, with particles of substantially neutral buoyancy circumferentially collected in an intermediate region, but in relatively close proximity to the air core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventors: Charles S. Moss, Randolph S. Butler
  • Patent number: 5690812
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation of solid matter via flotation. The flotation process for the separation of solid matter from a suspension takes place via the utilization of centrifugal forces wherein the suspension is brought into rotation in a separating zone so that the floated components are particularly effectively routed to and concentrated at the center of the separating space, whereby, when viewed axially, floated components and the remaining portion of the suspension is guided in the same direction and out of the separating zone, with the avoidance of vortexes in the flow stream achieving particularly favorable separation effects. In addition, several apparatuses, for carrying out the process, are also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer-Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Britz, Alexander Peschl
  • Patent number: 5662790
    Abstract: A deinking system for use with recycled paper pulp includes a number of gas sparged hydrocyclones mounted around the outer periphery of a foam separation vessel, with the slurry outlet from each hydrocyclone introducing slurry into the vessel below the level of liquid in the vessel, and above the accepts outlet from the bottom of the vessel. An annular trough is provided adjacent the top and outer periphery of the vessel, and has a bottom sloping to one or more drain outlets. The hydrocyclone discharge conduits into the vessel are tangential to cause bubble-releasing swirling of the slurry in the vessel. The cyclone preferably is pedestal-less, and has a single gas inlet, and a deflector within the annular air jacket of the hydrocyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Oy
    Inventors: Keith A. Carlton, Scott M. Clum, Joseph R. Phillips, Todd A. Salvato
  • Patent number: 5651879
    Abstract: The cell 1 includes an upper cylindrical chamber 2 comprising at its center over its entire height a vertical ink removal pipe 4. A lower lateral pipe 9 receives via an opening 10 a paper pulp feed diluted in water and is fed with air from an upper pipe 12. Injectors placed on the pipe 9 inject the paper pulp and air into the chamber 2. Each injector has the shape of a tube with a constant diameter and opens at its outlet extremity through about twelve honeycomb-shaped orifices, thus ensuring a satisfactory dispersion of the air. The air bubbles lift up the ink particles so as to form a foam evacuated by the pipe 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Pierre Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5560818
    Abstract: A conventional gas-sparged hydrocyclone, including a plug that cooperates with an interior surface of the hydrocyclone to adjust the size of an orifice defined adjacent the suspension outlet, is mechanically adjusted. The plug position is adjusted by a mechanical device from a position exteriorly of the hollow body while the hydrocyclone is running with suspension fed to its inlet, to effect direct linear movement of the plug with respect to the body interior surface. The mechanical elements include first and second pins and links within the hydrocyclone, a shaft having a drive portion extending exteriorly of the hydrocyclone, and a manually actuated link assembly or stepper motor for rotating the shaft. The manual actuator may be associated with an indexing arrangement to positively hold the plug at the position to which it has been adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Sharrow
  • Patent number: 5529190
    Abstract: A slurry of recycled cellulose fibers is deinked by introducing the slurry into the first end of a vortex, sparging gas radially inwardly into the slurry to cause gas bubbles to attach to contaminants and ink particles to form an aerated slurry, discharging the aerated slurry from near the second end of the vortex into a separation vessel, effecting separation of a foam of ink laden gas bubbles from the cellulose fiber slurry in the separation vessel, and removing from the separation vessel the foam with associated ink and contaminants in a first stream, and de-inked cellulose fiber slurry in a second stream. The separation vessel is typically a foam separating vessel with separation effected by flotation, and by discharging the foam. The slurry is introduced into the flotation vessel below the liquid level in it. The slurry typically has a consistency of about 0.5-2%, and the gas to slurry volume ratio during sparging may be 0.1-1 to 1.0 (e.g. 0.2-0.7 to 1, or 0.3-0.4 to 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Carlton, Mahendra R. Doshi, Todd A. Salvato, Erwin D. Funk, Joseph R. Phillips, Scott M. Clum
  • Patent number: 5518616
    Abstract: A plant for the separation at high temperatures of contaminants from plastic material in small pieces or in leaves, including at least one stage (2) for the separation of contaminants, which in turn includes a centrifugal separator device designed to separate an input flow of plastic material in small pieces or in leaves, with contaminants and a conveying fluid comprising water and steam, into a main flow of the material and the conveying fluid and into a secondary flow of the contaminants and the conveying fluid. The separation stage includes, moreover, a cyclone designed to receive in input the secondary flow and to divide it into a discharge flow of the contaminants and water and into a flow of steam which is conveyed towards the inlet of the separation device of the same stage and/or of the previous stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: SOREMA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Flavio Previero
  • Patent number: 5470465
    Abstract: A vortex system for separating particles of varied size and density from a liquid stream. A particle bearing liquid is introduced tangentially into one end of an elongated cylindrical chamber to form a rotating liquid vortex therein. An impeller at one end of the chamber reinforces the vortex flow. Either a series of tangentially oriented jets introducing a gas or a gas saturated liquid through the chamber wall or a rotating central chamber section further increases the vortex rotational flow. The vortex produces a heavy particle rich outer region, a gas and light particle rich axial region and a cleaned liquid annular region therebetween. The cleaned liquid flows out of the chamber through an outlet at the chamber end opposite end at which the particle bearing liquid is introduced. The heavy particles in the outer region and the gas and light particles in the axial region are each removed through an outlet. A variety of component orientations and auxiliary devices may be used to optimize system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Automatic Control Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Moorehead, Michael Maung
  • Patent number: 5458738
    Abstract: Liquid process streams--such as white water, pressate, or washer filtrate from a pulp and paper mill--are clarified in an efficient manner using a gas sparged hydrocyclone, which takes up a minimum of floor space. A liquid stream having a consistency of less than about 0.5% solids is introduced into a first end of a vortex. Gas is sparged into the liquid in the vortex to cause particles to attach to gas bubbles and move through a rejects outlet at the first end of the vortex, while clarified liquid is removed from a second end of the vortex. A pedestal is typically provided at the accepts outlet, having a radial clearance with the inside of a porous tube through which the gas is sparged that is about 8-12% the radius of the porous tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Kamyr, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Wayne Chamblee, Brian F. Greenwood, Louis O. Torregrossa, Gunther Plattner
  • Patent number: 5451318
    Abstract: A filtration system for water or other selected liquids that includes an ozone mixing station, a primary solids and gas separator and, if desired, a second vortex particle separator and filter system. The ozone mixing station includes a high efficiency ozone generator and a channel arrangement, such as a spiral tubular treatment coil, through which the ozone/liquid mixture passes to assure thorough mixing and provide time for effective treatment. The primary solids separator includes an offset inlet jet through which the liquid from the ozone treatment station is injected into a first circular chamber. The resulting rotating liquid vortex moves to a narrowed co-axial second circular chamber to cause heavy particles to concentrate at the outer perimeter then to a coaxial larger third circular chamber. The liquid exits through an annular outlet located around the chamber axis to prevent buoyant particles in the axial region and heavy particles at the outer periphery from passing out with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Jack Moorehead