Abstract: A rotational separator for separating particulate material from gas includes a housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A centrifuge is rotatably mounted in the housing along a rotation axis extending through the housing. The centrifuge includes a plurality a radially-spaced individual separation channels which extend parallel to each other and parallel to the rotaton axis. The separation channels extend azimuthally about the rotation axis by less than 360.degree. to prevent azimuthal flows greater than 360.degree. about the rotation axis in any of the individual separation channels.

Abstract: A rotational separator for separating particulate material from gas includes a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and an outlet for separated particulate material; a centrifuge mounted for rotation in the housing and including separation channels which extend parallel to a common rotation axis; and a driver for rotating the centrifuge; wherein the particulate material separated has a cross-sectional dimension from about 0.1 to about 5 um, that the separation channels are provided with singly-connected cross-sections over a substantial part of the axial separation channel length, and that the hydraulic diameter of the separation channels and the average axial gas velocity are selected in mutual dependence such that the Reynolds number is less than 2400 and the gas passes through the separation channels in a laminar flow.