Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing nonwoven materials are disclosed. The process comprises the following steps: a) providing a three-phase (gas-liquid-solid) suspension containing air, water, fibrous material and a surfactant, b) depositing the suspension onto a moving carrier sieve to produce a fibrous web on the carrier, c) removing aqueous residue of the suspension through the carrier sieve, d) conveying the aqueous residue through one or more phase separation tanks in an essentially horizontal direction while providing a depressurised headspace above the aqueous residue, e) recycling the aqueous residue conveyed in step d) to step a), f) preferably pre-integrating the fibrous web.

Abstract: A sand trap for use in oil and gas extraction operations includes a cylindrical vessel for receiving a high-pressure fluid stream with particulates. The vessel has a vertical longitudinal axis and a hollow cylindrical wall having upper and lower ends and an inlet opening generally perpendicular to but askew to the vessel longitudinal axis. Upper and lower caps extend from the upper and lower ends and have openings along the vessel longitudinal axis. An annular diverter has top and bottom ends and a longitudinal axis coaxial with the vessel longitudinal axis. A diverter outer wall permanently extends from an inner face of the cylindrical wall, and a diverter inner wall has an upper portion narrowing to a choke area and a lower portion flaring out from the choke area. A vent pipe extends from the upper cap opening to a location between the upper cap and the diverter top end.

Abstract: A hydraulic particle separator is described. The particle separator comprises a main body having a top, a bottom, and a wall enclosing an interior cavity. At least one feed port is disposed on the top of the main body to introduce crude particle mixtures. A partition disposed within the cavity separates the cavity into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The partition has at least one orifice for fluidic communication between the upper chamber and lower chamber. One or more grooves extend vertically along the interior surface of the wall. At least one tangential flow inlet port is disposed along the wall of the upper chamber above the partition.

Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning of gases, particularly sealing gas, includes a separator unit (3), particularly for separating liquids and/or particles from the gas flowing through the apparatus, and a collecting container (1) for the trapped substances. The separator unit (3) has a cyclone separator (3).

Abstract: A method for obtaining gypsum using a flue-gas desulfurization system (FGD) having a gypsum suspension, which includes fine materials such as active carbon particles or residual carbonate particles for example, accumulates in the scrubber of a wet flue gas scrubber. The gypsum-containing suspension is thickened by at least one hydrocyclone, and the thickened gypsum suspension is discharged via the underflow of the hydrocyclone. Water is fed to the hydrocyclone in addition to the gypsum suspension via a dedicated feed line such that the content of fine material is thus reduced with respect to the suspension volume in the underflow.

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.

Abstract: A classifying device for classifying particles using a centrifugal force contains a microchannel includes a curved portion including a first tubular channel and a second tubular channel; and a diaphragm that is provided within the curved portion, and that is located at a position between the first tubular channel and the second tubular channel; and wherein the diaphragm has at least a first apertured group formed in a central region of the diaphragm and a second apertured group formed in a first end region and a second end region of the diaphragm, the first apertured group and the second apertured group communicate the first tubular channel with the second tubular channel along a direction of the centrifugal force, the first apertured group has a mesh, and the second apertured group has a mesh that is different in size from the mesh of the first apertured group.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone can be used for separating components of a fluid. The hydrocyclone can include a substantially open cylindrical vessel and a helical confined path connected upstream of the cylindrical vessel. The open vessel can include an open vessel inlet configured to introduce a fluid tangentially into the open vessel. The helical confined path can be connected to the open vessel at the open vessel inlet. One or more wash inlets can be used to introduce a wash fluid into the helical confined path and/or the open vessel. An overflow outlet and underflow outlet can be operatively attached to the open vessel for removal of the separated fluid components. Although a number of fluids can be effectively treated, de-sanding of bitumen slurries from oil sands can be readily achieved.

Abstract: Screening apparatus is disclosed for separating fiber suspensions comprising a housing having an inlet for the fiber suspension, a stationary tubular screen dividing the interior of the housing into a central chamber for receiving the fiber suspension from the inlet and an outer accept chamber for receiving an accept portion of the fiber suspension which has passed through the stationary tubular screen, a rotor journalled on the housing for rotation within the central chamber coaxially with the stationary tubular screen, the rotor including a rotationally symmetrical element, a reject chamber for receiving a reject portion of the fiber suspension at one end of the stationary tubular screen, and an annular passage for dilution liquid including a stationary annular wall portion juxtaposed with the rotationally symmetrical element of the rotor.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone and a process for discharging impurities from a suspension containing paper fibers using a hydrocyclone having a radially inner area. The hydrocyclone includes an inflow for introducing the suspension to be purified, an accepted stock outflow for discharging the purified suspension, a separating part, a reject discharge device for discharging impurities of the suspension, at least one element for adding a diluting liquid at an addition point which is located in a radially inner area of the hydrocyclone, wherein the at least one element has at least one aperture opening axially and opposite to a discharge direction of the impurities. The process includes adding a diluting liquid into the suspension in the radially inner area of the hydrocyclone, wherein the diluting liquid is added in a flow direction opposite to an axial discharge direction of the impurities.

Abstract: A tubular vortex separator which can be used to separate particulate matter of higher density from fluids. In a preferred embodiment, the vortex separator is generally tubular, simple in design, and economical to produce.

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.

Abstract: The conventional infeed head and inverted cone of a Uniflow cleaner are connected by a generally cylindrical channel dam segment which has an annular inwardly extending channel dam. The narrow end of the inverted cone is connected to a separation body through which a vortex finder extends into the inverted cone. The light reject particles are removed from the input flow through the vortex finder. Accepts and heavy rejects flow into an inverted hydrocyclone chamber within the separation body defined between an outer cylindrical ring and an inner cylindrical ring and the vortex finder. An annular heavy rejects chamber is defined exterior to the outer ring, and fluid is drawn off tangentially therefrom. Accepts flow downwardly though the inner ring into a bowl beneath the separation body, where they are removed from an accepts outlet. The cylindrical or concave surfaces of the separation body are economical to manufacture.

Abstract: A cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation apparatus which includes a single unit flotation device having a cyclonic separation unit in the bottom portion of the device and a column flotation portion which includes packing in the upper portion of the flotation device.

Abstract: The centrifugal cleaner of this invention is of the type having an inverted cylindrical cone, with a tangential inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom. The improvement consists of placing a ring or flow smoothing means on the inside surface of the cylindrical cone about one-half the diameter of the base of the cone down from the inlet. The ring forces the stock injected into the centrifugal cleaner to flow towards the axis of the cone away from the inside cone wall. Once the stock passes over the dam it once again flows to the inner wall of the cone. The stock, in being forced to flow over the ring, is made uniform, eliminating spiraling of the flow which has been found to decrease the efficiency with which separation within the cleaner is accomplished.

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.

Abstract: A fluid separation device (20) is provided for separating a raw fluid (51) into a plurality of components (36, 37 and 38). A body (21) has a cylindrical bore (39) defined by an inner wall (41) of the body (21). A generally solid cylindrical core (22) has a helical channel (46) formed in a periphery of the cylindrical core (22). The helical channel (46) has a generally rectangular cross-section. The cylindrical core (22) is disposed in the cylindrical bore (39) such that the inner wall (41) of the body (21) and the helical channel (46) form a helical coil (24). A feeder assembly (23) is in fluid communication with the helical coil (24), such that the feeder assembly (23) is operable to transport a raw fluid (51) to the helical coil (24). A splitter assembly (25) is also in fluid communication with the helical coil (24 ). The splitter assembly (25) comprises at least one separator vane (31) defining a plurality of conduits.

Abstract: A cleaner receives input pulp stock in an inverted conical chamber, which acts as a hydrocyclone to direct heavyweight reject flows outwardly, lightweight reject flows into a discharging vortex chamber and accept flows in between to a vortex finder for removal. The cleaner body has an inverted hydrocyclone chamber formed beneath the inverted cone and a ceramic splitter below which skims off the heavyweight reject flow from the accept flow, and diverts it into the inverted hydrocyclone chamber. A portion of the diverted heavyweight reject flow is removed through a toroidal heavyweight rejects relief outlet, but the larger fraction of the heavyweight reject flow is recirculated within the inverted hydrocyclone chamber. Because the chamber narrows as it extends upwardly, the flow increases in speed and angular velocity to such an extent that the flow within the inverted hydrocyclone chamber matches the flow passing by the chamber, thereby preventing turbulent mixing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating from a mixture materials having different specific gravities which can operate in a continuous manner and can separate particles of materials of non-uniform grain size. Water or other fluid is passed upwardly through an apparatus having an upper funnel in which is disposed a rotatable agitator having vanes or paddles which pass close to riffles on the wall of the funnel. Material to be separated is fed into the funnel and the upward flow of fluid is adjusted so that material of low specific gravity is carried up the funnel to an overflow discharge. With the agitator rotating, fine particles of the material to be separated and having a specific gravity higher than a certain figure are captured in "dead-zones" created behind the riffles and move down through the fluid to a discharge tube. Larger particles of the material to be separated move down through the upward flow of fluid to the discharge tube.

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.

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.