Abstract: In one embodiment, a monolithic array of particle separators is described that is formed as a single component using an additive manufacturing process. The array may be used as building blocks to generate any sized array of inlet particle separators for jet engines (e.g., a gas turboshaft engine for a helicopter) as desired. If damage occurs to the inlet array during operation of the engine, the modular construction of the inlet array enables the damaged block(s) to be replaced with new blocks, thereby reducing downtime of the aircraft.

Abstract: A forward secant swirl tube may be used to separate heavier particles such as oil and moisture from an air flow. The swirl tube includes a central hub having a centerline and a circular perimeter. An outer circular housing extends from an inlet edge to an outlet edge. A plurality of vanes extends from the central hub to the outer housing. The vanes are equally spaced around the central hub. Each vane has an inlet transition portion connected to a discharge portion. The top edge of the inlet transition portion of each vane is offset from the centerline of the central hub forming a forward secant line with respect to the centerline of the central hub and a direction of spin induced by the plurality of vanes.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a flow of gas comprises a spiral path guiding member. The spiral path guiding member comprises at least two groups of guiding plates. Each guiding plate of each group is disposed in an axial direction to form a longitudinal axis. Each group is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. A surface of each guiding plate is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one guiding plate of each group has a guiding plate opening. Guiding plate openings of the guiding plates may facilitate gas to flow in a spiral flow path.

Abstract: A filter for precipitating solid materials from a pressure medium or a gas includes an inlet and an outlet channel implemented in a filter housing. A filter element is disposed in the filter housing. Pressure medium flows through an outer surface of the filter element by means of the inlet channel into an interior area, and from the area to the outlet channel. The outer surface of the filter element, together with an inner surface of the filter housing, delimits an inlet chamber in which the pressure medium encompasses the filter element. The inlet channel and/or the inlet chamber are thereby embodied such that a centrifugal force acting approximately radially to the filter housing acts on the medium flowing into the inlet chamber, whereby the particles can be filtered out of the pressure medium in addition to the filter element.

Abstract: A cyclone dust collector having a single or multiple dust collection bodies installed within a housing, wherein the dust collection body is composed of an upper primary cylindrical dust collection part and a lower secondary conical duct collection part, and a single or multiple slits are cut in the wall surfaces of the primary and secondary dust collection parts in such a manner that large dust particles with large inertial force are removed between the dust collection housing and the dust collection body via the slit(s), while small dust particles with small inertial force make a swirling flow motion within the dust collection body and are removed by the centrifugal force.

Abstract: A method of designing a gas-solid separator that has an inner cylinder having a closed lower end and an opened upper end, and extending in a vertical direction; an outer cylinder that coaxially covers the inner cylinder from the outside and has a gas vent port formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior; and a plurality of axially extending long holes formed a side surface on the lower end side of the inner cylinder in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes being provided with a guide blade that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole.

Abstract: A purifying system for combustive air in an internal combustion engine is provided. The system includes an intake conduit of combustive air into the engine, a discharge conduit of the exhaust gases produced by the engine, and a cyclone separator associated to the intake conduit and provided with a collecting tank of detritus, a link conduit which has a greater diameter than the discharge conduit and which is inserted on at least a terminal tract of the discharge conduit, such that a hollow space is defined between the terminal tract and the link conduit, and a connecting conduit destined to connect the collecting tank with the hollow space by flowing into the link conduit upstream of an end of the discharge conduit with respect to an outflow of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for implementing water separation in the vacuum system of a paper machine. The apparatus includes a guiding baffle structure connected to an inlet pipe and a water trap vessel, and a droplet separation cell mounted at the mouth of an outlet pipe.

Abstract: A forced air open-ventilation systems for cooling electrical machines is provided. The forced air open-ventilation system includes an air cleaner having an air chamber with a first end, where air is drawn in from the surroundings, and a second end, opposite the first end, where air is drawn out of the air chamber, via a first outlet. A rotating means is contained within the air chamber and may be driven to rotate about an axis that extends between the first end and the second end of the chamber. The rotating means applies a centrifugal force to any airborne particles entering the air chamber and throws them radially outwards from the central axis. These particles are then drawn out of the air chamber, via at least one second outlet formed adjacent to a radially outer edge of the rotating means, by a high-velocity outlet stream of the open-ventilation system.

Abstract: Process to separate particles from a particles-containing gas stream, by subjecting the particles-containing gas stream to a centrifugal separation step, wherein the particles-containing gas stream is separated in a gas rich flow and a particles-rich flow and wherein the particles-rich flow is cooled from a temperature in the range from 600 to 800° C. to a temperature in the range from 200 to 450° C. before it is subjected to a second separation step, wherein particles are separated from the particles-rich flow.

Abstract: A dual cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust-collecting apparatus includes an air inlet through which an external air is drawn in, two cyclone chambers into which the external air drawn in through the air inlet air is drawn in, the two cyclone chamber being disposed in parallel, at least one dust-collecting chamber divided in parallel with respect to the two cyclone chambers, and two air outlets through which the external air from the two cyclone chambers is discharged. The air inlet is formed between the two cyclone chambers at a lower part of a cyclone body and the two air outlets are formed in bottom surfaces of the two cyclone chambers, respectively, so that the external air is drawn in through lower parts of one sides of the two cyclone chambers and then discharged through the bottom surfaces of the two cyclone chambers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air cleaner suitable for forced air open-ventilation systems used to cool electrical machines. The air cleaner comprises an air chamber with a first end where air is drawn in from the surroundings, via an inlet, by the open-ventilation system and a second end, opposite the first end, where air is drawn out of the air chamber, via a first outlet, by the open-ventilation system. A rotating means is contained within the air chamber and may be driven to rotate about an axis that extends between the first end and the second end of the chamber. When driven to rotate, the rotating means applies a centrifugal force to any particles contained in the air entering the air chamber and throws them radially outwards from the central axis. These particles are then drawn out of the air chamber, via at least one second outlet formed adjacent to a radially outer edge of the rotating means, by a high-velocity outlet stream of the open-ventilation system.

Abstract: Swirl tube separator for separating solids from a gas-solid containing feed comprising a tubular housing, an inlet for introducing a gas-solids mixture at one end of said housing, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co-axial positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, wherein along the axis of the tubular housing a vortex extender pin is present.

Abstract: An inertial gas-liquid separator has one or more nozzle valves having a sidewall and a downstream exit axial end radially constrictable and expansible to vary axial flow of a gas-liquid stream therethrough to an inertial impactor collector.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator is provided for separating water out of wet steam, and comprises a first cylindrical tube and a second cylindrical tube that is coaxially disposed in the first tube. The inner diameter of the first tube is greater than the outer diameter of the second tube. Disposed in the first tube is a swirl producer that comprises a ring of swirl vanes secured onto a hub. The first and second cylindrical tubes are provided on their ends that face away from one another with a connector that is insertable into a steam line that conveys the wet steam. The first and second cylindrical tubes are sealingly surrounded by a casing that is provided with a water drain and is radially spaced from the tubes to form a separation chamber.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system for an aircraft, two pre-mixing units respectively mix cold air from two air conditioning units with recirculated fuselage interior air from two recirculation units, to prepare two pre-mixed air flows that are both directed into and mixed together in a common air distribution mixing chamber, from which mixed air distribution lines branch off to respectively associated separate air conditioning zones within the fuselage. Post-mixing units are respectively interposed in the mixed air distribution lines and respectively mix additional quantities of recirculated fuselage interior air into the mixed air distribution lines. Thereby, the admixture of recirculated air is divided into at least two stages, the system provides redundant failure tolerant operation, and the danger of ice formation in the air lines is reliably prevented even while the air conditioning units provide cold air at a temperature below the water freezing point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing solid particles from a particle containing stream of fluid, the method including the steps of: inducing the stream to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit; inducing a swirling motion to the supersonic stream of fluid thereby causing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream; and extracting the solid particles into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone. The apparatus is an apparatus effective for performance of this method.

Abstract: An air precleaner includes a base assembly, a hood mounted to the base assembly and spaced from the base assembly to define a circumferential gap, and a rotor assembly mounted for rotation within the air space between the hood and base assembly. The base assembly has an outlet port that is connectable to an engine intake. Inlet ports may be formed between web supports connecting an outer circumferential wall to an inner circumferential wall of the base assembly. A series of vanes are mounted in the gap between the hood and base assembly at an angle between radial and tangential to define channels between them through which air is directed into the air space between the hood and base assembly with both an inward and tangential component of velocity. The air drawn in through the channels between the vanes provides a strong tangential component of air velocity impacting upon the rotor to maintain high efficiency of particulate removal.

Abstract: A multi stage separator for separating fluid and material. The conduit has a series of tubes arranged to convey material in a fluid stream with the last tube emptying into a receptacle. Each tube is separated from the prior tube forming exhaust vents whereat at least some of the fluid from the stream is exhausted. The downstream tube at each vent has a smaller cross-sectional area as compared to the adjacent upstream tube with a cone shaped vane extending outwardly to direct the exhausting fluid. The heavier than fluid material is provided with sufficient kinetic energy by the reduced size tubes to allow the fluid to exhaust while the material flows along the longitudinal axis of the tubes.

Abstract: A vortex tube including an annular downstream scavenge duct is provided with a number of occluding members spaced circumferentially around the upstream entrance to the scavenge duct so as to restrict the entrance area of the duct. The occluding members are each generally triangular in section, are each attached to the wall of the vortex tube, and taper upstream from the entrance to the scavenge duct.

Abstract: A steam processing apparatus and method in which a plurality of separators are disposed along the length of a cylindrical drum having inlet means for receiving a mixture of liquid and vapor and outlet means for discharging the separated liquid and vapor. The mixture is discharged against a baffle after which the separated liquid is passed to the drum liquid outlet and the separated vapor is passed upwardly by natural buoyant forces to the drum vapor outlet. The separators are disposed in a plurality of rows--two to each side of the axis of the drum along the length thereof.

Abstract: Cyclone separator having an elongate tapered separating chamber (25) with an axial overflow outlet (34) at the larger diameter end (10a) and an underflow outlet (23) at the smaller diameter end (10b). Inlet to the separating chamber is provided via an axially extending duct (70) which joins the separating chamber at its larger diameter end. The duct is of annular configuration and has a helical flight (90) positioned therewithin.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for an air-conditioning system including a cylindrical vessel having a plurality of inlet ports provided at an axial end portion for introducing cool air from an air-conditioning unit and warm air from passenger compartments. The vessel is further provided at the other axial end portion with outlet ports. The inlet and outlet ports are oriented in a tangential direction with respect to the vessel to thereby form a spiral air flow in the vessel. The vessel has a water capturing ring located along the inner wall surface of the vessel to prevent film of water on the inner wall surface of the vessel from flowing toward the outlet ports. A water drawing slit is formed in the vessel to open to the inner wall surface at a side of the water capturing ring adjacent to the inlet ports to discharge the water accumulated at this side of the ring.

Abstract: An improved vapor-liquid separator having a vertically disposed conduit for flow of a mixture. A first, second and third plurality of curved arms penetrate and extend within the conduit. A cylindrical member is radially spaced from the conduit forming an annulus therewith and having perforations and a retaining lip at its upper end.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin air conditioning system with an air mixing/water separation manifold providing accelerated mixing and attendant removal of water droplets, ice and snow so as to save fuel and to reduce maintenance requirements through lowering the temperature and reducing the supply rate of fresh input ventilation/pressurization air with make-ups of ventilation air requirements met by recirculation of cabin air through the manifold where such mixing and water removal occurs.

Abstract: A vessel wall cooperating with a circular array of moisture separators which have a vertical riser tube, centrally disposed hubs, a vertical baffle disposed between the hub and the riser tube, turning vanes and an outer volute partial skirt or wall to compress the steam-water mixture against the volute and vessel wall and utilize the downwardly spiraling flow of liquid film formed on the volute and vessel wall to effectively separate the entrained water from the steam and prevent reentrainment thereof.

Abstract: An improved centrifugal separator for vapor-liquid mixtures having a vertical upflow conduit closed at the top end and open at the bottom end. A plurality of curved arms similar in shape to a truncated torus of rectangular cross-section penetrate and extend within the conduit at its upper portion. A second plurality of curved arms are located immediately below the upper group and are contiguous thereto. The vertical upflow conduit has a lesser internal diameter in the lower portion, interconnected with a greater internal diameter portion in the upper portion by a frusto-conical section.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating almost all fine particles, including particles less than 10 microns in diameter, from a gas stream, which requires the input of only a small amount of water and which discharges a correspondingly small amount of particle-water slurry. The apparatus includes a vertical cylindrical chamber having a relatively wide upstream portion that gradually narrows in a transition portion into an elongated throat portion. A central core member extends axially along the throat portion and forms an elongated annular passage. A high velocity gas stream containing fine particles is generally tangentially introduced into the wide upstream portion of the conduit to provide a circulatory flow. Water is introduced through a plurality of parts in the transition portion downstream therefrom, to provide a thin layer of water along the outer walls of the throat.

Abstract: A multi-vortical separator for removing particulate matter suspended in a transport medium is described. A single pressure sealed enclosure has a plurality of contoured columnar baffles symmetrically arranged in quadruplets, the baffles having cooperating saddle portions that define four vortical flow initiating flow splitters. The columnar portions of the baffles cooperate to define regions of rotating fluid wherein the transport medium rotates and particulate matter, suspended within the medium, is separated therefrom by centrifugal action. The separated particulate matter impinges on the columnar surfaces of the baffles and falls in a gravity fall manner into a collection bin. A plurality of vortex finder tubes, placed within the regions of rotating fluid, receives cleansed air from a central portion of the regions and guides it to the separator outlet.

Abstract: A miniature centrifugal separator for use in an engine air cleaner. Two cn air take-off tubes are coaxially aligned in the main flow tube for successively removing selected fractions of the outer annular portion of the swirling gas stream. The clean air tubes are spaced pre-selected distances downstream from the swirl means such that entrained dust particles are enabled to complete approximately one swirl revolution prior to encountering each take-off tube. The invention seeks to accomplish a relatively high collection efficiency with a relatively short flow tube.