Abstract: A multi-stage cyclone separator apparatus is provided for separating particulates from gas in a particulate laden gas. The apparatus is particularly useful for separating particulates such as catalyst particles from hot refinery gas in fluid catalytic cracking reactors and regenerators. The apparatus makes economical use of space and provides for accommodation of stresses due to differential temperature expansion by providing a manifold or plenum chamber receiving partially cleaned outlet gases from a first stage of cyclone separators and providing an inlet therefore to a second stage of separators. The number of separators in each stage are independent of those in the other stage. By arrangement around the periphery of the intermediate manifold chamber and suspension from a top of the housing the separators in the different stages may be efficiently interfitted without interference from separator dip legs as well as providing support for the structure to accommodate thermal stresses.

Abstract: An improved cyclone separator and method of construction are disclosed. Such cyclone separators are employed for separating particulates from hot gas entering the separator barrel through an axially disposed slot in its periphery. An improvement in efficiency and recovery of very small particulates is achieved by making the slot very narrow so that the particulates enter the barrel very near its inner surface, thus having less distance to travel under centrifugal force in order to reach said inner surface. In accomplishing this objective, however, it has been discovered that, for the particular inlet gas velocity selected, the structure under certain design conditions will act as a cavity resonator with the characteristic frequencies of the cavity matching the frequency of the incoming gas as it rotates in the barrel, thus causing the structure to function as a resonator thereby destroying the efficiency or, in extreme cases, having catastrophic results (in the mathematical sense).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating particulate material from hot gas. Provisions are made for accommodating relative thermal expansion between a hot particular laden gas chamber, a particulate discharge chamber and a clean gas chamber. A main housing supports an interior subhousing supported from the top of the main housing while a further discharge chamber housing is supported from a lower part of the subhousing in such a manner that they are free to expand and contract independently of one another. Gas and particulate separators which are free from load bearing stresses are designed to receive the particulate laden gas and pass particulates to the particulate discharge chamber for bottom discharge and the gas to the clean gas chamber for discharge at the top of the main housing. Provisions are made for auxiliary discharge of particulates bypassing the separators at a bottom of the clean gas chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus are disclosed for separating particulates from hot gas in the type of system employing a particulate gas chamber, a clean gas outlet chamber and an array of separator units. The structure defining the clean gas chamber is suspended solely from a top cover of a housing thus avoiding serious heat differentiala problems. The separator units are provided with a novel inlet to enhance separation efficiency, and a method is provided for increasing bypass of particulate past the separator units without adversely affecting the operation thereof.