Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a cyclone chamber comprising a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a cyclone axis of rotation, an axially extending cyclone chamber sidewall extending between first and second axially opposed ends. The cyclone chamber sidewall has a first sidewall portion that is axially moveably mounted with respect to a second sidewall portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall between a closed position in which the cyclone chamber is closed and an open position in which the cyclone chamber is opened.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation and an openable portion wherein the openable portion is rotatably mounted about an opening axis that is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.

Abstract: A separator apparatus includes an intake nozzle, first cyclone device, and a second cyclone device. The first and second cyclone devices each include an inlet section, a scroll, a barrel centered on a first axis, a vortex finder, and an underflow portion. The scroll is attached to the inlet section and to the barrel such that the scroll connects the inlet section to the barrel. The vortex finder has a vortex tube arranged concentrically on the axis in an interior volume of barrel. The underflow portion defines an annular gap in fluid connection with the interior volume. The intake nozzle is fluidly connected to the inlet sections of the first and second cyclone devices.

Abstract: A cyclone sand separator kit, method, and separator, of which the kit includes a cyclone body having an inlet, a fluid outlet, and a solids outlet, the inlet being configured to receive a mixed fluid including a solid portion and a fluidic portion, the solids outlet being configured to receive the solid portion separated from the fluidic portion, and the fluid outlet being configured to receive the fluidic portion separated from the solids portion. The kit includes a plurality of cyclone inserts configured to be positioned in the cyclone body, at least partially between the inlet and the solids outlet and at least partially between the fluids outlet and the solids outlet. The cyclone inserts each define a vortical section configured to induce inertial separation of the mixed fluid, have different geometries including different inner diameters, lengths, angles, underflow outlet sizes, vortex finder placements, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A centrifugal separation type oil separator includes an oil separator body having a cylindrical body portion, and a bent pipe provided on an outer peripheral side of the body portion to surround the body portion in a circumferential direction, to introduce a fluid containing an oil into the oil separator body. The bent pipe includes an outer wall portion extending in the circumferential direction of the body portion and expanding radially outward from the body portion, and an inner wall portion extending along the outer wall portion and blocking an open part of the outer wall portion. The outer wall portion and the inner wall portion are formed by different members. An upper side of the body portion is open. The oil separator body has an upper cover blocking an open portion of the body portion. The inner wall portion and the upper cover are formed by an integral member.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially opposed second end, an axis extending between the first and second axially opposed ends and an axially extending air treatment chamber sidewall. The air treatment chamber air outlet is provided at the second opposed end and the first opposed end is moveably mounted between a closed position and an open position in which the air treatment chamber is open. The air treatment chamber has a stationary portion and an openable portion and the openable portion is moveably mounted between a closed position and an open position in which the air treatment chamber is open. When the openable portion is in the closed position, the openable portion and the stationery portion abut along peripheral edges that extend along a length of the air treatment chamber sidewall.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment chamber having a first end comprising a first end wall, an axially spaced apart second end comprising a second end wall, a sidewall extending between the first and second end walls, an air treatment chamber air inlet and an air treatment chamber air outlet provided at the second end. A dirt collection region, which is contiguous with the air treatment chamber, is positioned axially from the first and second end walls and is closer to the second end wall than the first end wall.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment chamber having a porous member at the air outlet. The air treatment chamber has a stationary portion and an openable portion, the openable portion is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position in which the air treatment chamber is closed and an open position in which the air treatment chamber is open. The porous member is moveable concurrently with the openable portion. When the openable portion is in the closed position, the openable portion and the stationery portion abut along peripheral edges that extend along a length of the air treatment chamber sidewall.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for growing agricultural products with a reduced abundance of radioactive carbon-14 (14C) by employing centrifugal separation of atmospheric gases to selectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) with 14C. Agricultural products with reduced 14C content can be grown in controlled environments with filtered atmospheric gases for the benefit of reducing harmful damage to human DNA that is unavoidable with our current food chain, due to the natural abundance of 14C in atmospheric gases. Bilateral and unilateral compression helikon vortex apparatus provide efficient and economical removal of CO2 with 14C from atmospheric gases with a single filtration pass, which is ideally suited for large scale agricultural production.

Abstract: A contactor is positioned coaxially with and substantially within at least one separator, and otherwise is configured to receive aerosolized target particles of interest as a sample. The use of a plurality of separators that are coaxial with each other and the contactor increases the number of separations involving target particles and other constituents of air at a sampling point, whereby in some embodiments the separators are rotatably configurable relative to each other and to the contactor.

Abstract: In a rotary classifier and a vertical mill, a rotary separator (33) is configured such that plural rotary blades (43) are fixed to an outer circumference portion at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction between an upper support frame (41) and a lower support frame (42), which have a disk-like shape, wherein a tilted surface (52), which tilts at an acute angle relative to a tangent line (T) to a rotation locus (G1) on an outer circumference side and includes a concave portion (51) formed between an outer end (43a) and an inner end (43b), is formed on a front surface of each of the rotary blades (43) in a rotating direction.

Abstract: A fractionating device comprises at least one inlet for feedstock, at least one light material outlet for a light material fraction and at least one heavy material outlet for a heavy material fraction. A flow generator for generating gas flow in the fractionating device for separating the light and heavy fractions. A curved centrifugal separating device separates the light material fraction from the gas flow. A conveyor downstream of the inlet carries the feedstock into the centrifugal separating device. At least 50% of the gas can be conducted in the fractionating device as a circulatory flow which is conducted around the conveying device.

Abstract: A substance detection device, including a chemical substance analyzer, including an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), a desorber, a conduit, and a membrane. The membrane extends across a cross-section of the conduit, and the membrane is positioned to have a desorber side in gas communication with the desorber and an analysis side opposite the desorber side. The substance detection device can be configured to direct a portion of a chemical substance to the desorber through the conduit so that at least a portion of the entrained chemical substance is transferred to the membrane by interacting with the desorber side of the membrane. The membrane is adapted to diffuse at least a portion of the chemical substance transferred to the membrane through the membrane to the analysis side. The device also includes a particle separator including a protuberance extending into a collection chamber of the particle separator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separating cyclone for separating a mixture of liquids into a heavy fraction, the cyclone comprising:—a cyclone tube (2) in which a flow space is defined, wherein the cyclone tube is provided with an inlet for infeed of a mixture of at least two different liquids, a heavy fraction outlet for discharging the heavy fraction separated from the mixture and a light fraction outlet for discharging the light fraction separated from the mixture;—a rotation generating unit (8) for setting into rotation the mixture fed in via the inlet;—a flow body (6) arranged substantially concentrically in the cyclone tube, in which body is provided a light fraction discharge channel (12) connected to the light fraction discharge, wherein the discharge channel has in flow direction a cross-section substantially decreasing along at least a portion of the length thereof.

Abstract: A wet cyclone particle collector is disclosed. The wet cyclone particle collector includes a cyclone unit, a liquid delivery unit and a sample collection unit. The cyclone unit draws a gas sample into a cyclone chamber and creates a circular flow of the gas sample inside the cyclone chamber so that particles in the gas sample are separated from said gas sample by centrifugation force. The liquid delivery unit delivers a collection liquid into the cyclone in a non-continuous fashion. The sample collection unit harvests the collection liquid from the cyclone unit. The non-continuous delivery of the collection liquid significantly reduces consumption of collection liquid during operation of the particle collector.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a wetted wall cyclone comprises a cyclone body including an inlet end, an outlet end, an inner flow passage, and an inner surface defining an inner diameter. In addition, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a cyclone inlet tangentially coupled to the cyclone body. The cyclone inlet includes an inlet flow passage in fluid communication with the inner flow passage. Further, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a skimmer extending coaxially through the outlet end of the cyclone body. The skimmer comprises an upstream end disposed within the cyclone body, a downstream end distal the cyclone body, and an inner exhaust passage in fluid communication with the inner flow passage. Still further, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a first annulus positioned radially between the upstream end and the cyclone body having a radial width W1 between 3% and 15% of the inner diameter of the cyclone body.

Abstract: An air sieving apparatus capable of sieving particles in a particle size range below 50 ?m includes a cylindrical screening case defining an internal space and provided with a screen dividing the internal space into an upper space and a lower space. Powdered material is fed through a powdered material feed opening onto a bottom plate disposed to cover the lower open end of the screening case with gaps formed therebetween. Air in the screening case is sucked upward by a suction blower. The fed powdered material is dispersed by currents of air sucked through the gaps and the dispersed powdered material is sucked upward. Fine particles that have passed through the screen 3 flow through a fine particle recovery duct into a cyclone and a fine particle container. Coarse particles remaining in the lower space drop through the coarse particle recovery opening into a coarse particle container.

Abstract: The powder classifying device classifies powder having a particle size distribution and collects the classified powder. The device includes a disc-like cavity to which the powder is supplied and where the supplied powder is classified, a powder supply port for supplying the powder to the cavity, guide vanes arranged so as to extend from an outer periphery of the cavity in an inner direction at a predetermined angle, a discharge unit for air streams including fine particles discharged from the cavity, a collection unit for coarse particles discharged from the cavity and air nozzles arranged below the guide vanes on an outer peripheral wall of the cavity along a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall and blow compressed air into an inside of the cavity.

Abstract: A separator apparatus for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities. A body includes an internal flow channel for a mixture of fluid components to be separated. A rotation generating device brings the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel. An extraction device withdraws a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel. A bubble introducer introduces micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture so as to thereby enhance the separation of the fluid components. Also a method for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cyclone separator for separating a mixture containing solid particles, liquid and/or gas into a heavy fraction and a light fraction, the separator comprising:—a casing (2) defining a flow space through which the mixture is to flow;—an elongated flow body (5) arranged in the flow space along which the mixture to be separated can be carried;—at least one swirl inducing element (10) arranged between the flow body and the inner casing, the swirl inducing element being curved so as to set the incoming mixture into a rotating movement for the purpose of separating the mixture into the heavy fraction and the light fraction;—discharge means for discharging the separated heavy and light fraction, wherein the discharge means comprise at least one flow passage defined inside said at least one swirl element.

Abstract: Device and method for removing heavy contaminants from an apparatus for treating a fibrous suspension. The device includes at least one connection part being coupleable to a heavy contaminants outlet of the apparatus. The at least one connection part includes an inner surface having a polygonal cross section and at least one heavy contaminants outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatus and methods for separating particles in a fluid stream by size. In one illustrative embodiment of an apparatus for separating such particles, a housing is provided, which defines a channel for a fluid stream containing particles. A suction channel is provided, which terminates at a suction port. The suction port is positioned adjacent to the fluid stream. A blowing channel terminating at a blowing port is also provided. The blowing port is positioned adjacent to the suction port such that the suction port is positioned in between the fluid stream and the blowing port. The blowing port and the suction port are configured to create a low pressure region and thereby redirect the first fluid stream towards the low pressure region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ablative thermolysis reactor (12) comprising a reaction vessel (20), and inlet (14) into the reaction vessel (20) for receiving feedstock, and an outlet from the reaction vessel (20) for discharging thermolysis product. Within the reaction vessel (20), is provided an ablative surface (20a) defining the periphery of a cylinder, and heating means (22) are arranged to heat the ablative surface (20a) to an elevated temperature. In addition at least one rotatable surface (28) having an axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axis of said cylinder. The rotatable surface (28) is provided relative to the ablative surface (20a) such that feedstock is pressed between a part of the rotatable surface (28) and said ablative surface (20a) and moved along the ablative surface (20a) by the rotatable surface (28), whereby to thermolyse said feedstock.

Abstract: A method and a device classifies splinters and wood chips. The device includes a centrifugal classifying unit, a countercurrent classifying unit, a separating funnel for the coarse fraction and a separating cyclone for the fine fraction. A gas or a gas mixture is circulated in the system via a blower. It is tangentially introduced into the lower classifying chamber, initially flows through the countercurrent classifier, through the gaps between the blades of the centrifugal classifier and then into the separating cyclone before being returned to the blower.

Abstract: A classification apparatus including a magnetic stirrer composed of main body (1) and rotor (2) and, arranged on the main body of the magnetic stirrer, classification tube (3). The interior of the classification tube is provided with classification compartments (A-E) partitioned from each other by divider plates (5a-5b). The lowermost classification compartment (A) is furnished with gas emission conduit (7). In the classification compartment (A), the rotor (2) of the magnetic stirrer is arranged. From gas supply source (8), a high-pressure gas is fed into the gas emission conduit. By means of the gas emitted from the gas emission conduit, a vortex flow rising from the lowermost classification compartment sequentially toward higher classification compartments is generated in the classification tube.

Abstract: A separator for separating multiphase flow, the separator comprising: an inlet for multiphase fluid; a plurality of outlets at least one for each selected separator phase; and a main annular tubular bore through which the multiphase flow is caused to flow and to separate into lighter and heavier fluids, the bore having an outlet for each of the lighter and heavier fluids.

Abstract: Hydrocyclone and method for separating and classifying solids in which a slurry is introduced into the cylindrical inlet section of the separation chamber of the hydrocyclone so that the slurry rotates about the axis of the chamber, then passes through a first conically tapered section of the separation chamber, and thereafter through a second conically tapered section which has a smaller cone angle than the first conically tapered section. The finer solids are removed through an overflow outlet toward the upper end of the separation chamber, and the coarser solids are removed through an underflow outlet toward the lower end of the chamber.

Abstract: A liquid vortex separator including a vortex tube (16) with an impeller (13) in the feed end to impart a rotational motion to liquid within the tube, a feed cylinder (12) connected to the vortex tube by a reducing cone (14). The separator has a separating cone (17) at the outlet end, an annular collecting ring (18) for heavy solids and a liquid discharge pipe extending axially from the separating cone. A feed tank (31) and circulating stream arrangement ensures operation of the system at varying feed rates. The liquid vortex separator may also be fitted with microwave generators (40), electrodes (51)powered from a DC source or magnets (60) to produce desired effects or chemical reactions in the material being processed through the liquid vortex separator.

Abstract: Erosion-resistant liquid/liquid hydrocyclone liners, wherein the weight and cost of the liners are kept within acceptable parameters through the construction of a composite hydrocyclone liner, comprised of two or more different materials. The hydrocyclone liner includes a head section that is fashioned, primarily, of a highly erosion-resistant material, such as tungsten carbide. The liner also includes a separate separation section that is primarily fashioned of a material that may be less erosion-resistant but which is less brittle and more physically durable than that used to construct the head section. As a result of this composite construction, the liner is less likely to fail mechanically during installation or use. The head and separation sections are removably affixed to one another. The separation section of the hydrocyclone liner is provided with one or more structural supports to provide mechanical strength and resistance to bending.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for classifying fine particles from a particulate material, such as toner and pigment powders. The apparatus is generally a dynamic centrifugal gas (air) classifier that combines the operational advantages of centrifugal air classifiers with increased aerodynamic forces provided by a rotating member to classify powders at cutpoints of fifteen micrometers and finer. The classifier is configured to have an annular-shaped inner passage, an annular-shaped outer passage circumscribing the inner passage, and an inlet through which a gas-entrained particulate material is introduced substantially tangentially into the inner passage so as to impart a centrifugal force to the particulate material. A portion of the entraining gas is preferably separated and directed into the outer passage.

Abstract: Filter devices and methods for collection of carbon nanomaterials, including fullerenes, produced in gas phase reactors are provided. The filter devices provide for in situ cleaning of filters to release captured product for collection. Product can be released and removed from the reactor without disrupting continuous synthesis of carbon nanomaterials. The filter devices facilitate increased reactor operation and larger scale production of carbon nanomaterials. The filters are cleaned by application of a motive force and/or a gas flow to the filter. In a specific embodiment filters are cleaned by a reverse flow of gas pulses to the filter provided. The invention also provides reactor systems for gas phase synthesis of carbon nanomaterials that can be operated continuously employing the filter device of this invention. Preferred reactor systems are those which synthesize carbon nanomaterials by combustion.

Abstract: A device for separating high mass to charge particles (M1) from low mass to charge particles (M2) in a plasma includes a cylindrical wall that surrounds a chamber and defines an axis. Rectangular shaped coils are mounted on the wall to establish a magnetic field, B0, in the chamber that is aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis and which rotates about the axis. Circularly shaped coils are provided to generate a time-constant, axially aligned magnetic field, Bz, in the chamber. Passive, ring-shaped electrodes are positioned at the ends of the wall and connected to resistors which are then grounded. The rotating magnetic field, B0, rotates the plasma in the axially aligned magnetic field, Bz, which in turn, induces a radially oriented electric field, Er, in the chamber. The crossed fields (i.e. Er×Bz) cause the particles, M1, to strike the wall while the particles, M2, transit through the chamber.

Abstract: A material separator includes a chamber and electrode(s) to create a radially oriented electric field in the chamber. Coils are provided to generate a magnetic field in the chamber. The separator further includes a launcher to propagate a high-frequency electromagnetic wave into the chamber to convert the material into a multi-species plasma. With the crossed electric and magnetic fields, low mass ions in the multi-species plasma are placed on small orbit trajectories and exit through the end of the chamber while high mass ions are placed on large orbit trajectories for capture at the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A stopper debris separator useful for removing unwanted debris from stoppers utilized to seal bottles of IV pharmaceutical compositions at the manufacturing process. Debris-containing stopper in the stopper injection hopper are drawn through the stopper duct into the cyclone separator tube by the vacuum wherein the debris on the stoppers is separated therefrom and drawn through the vacuum duct into the vacuum filter.

Abstract: An air material separator may be used to separate scrap from a conveying air flow while having a relatively low weight and short height so that the separator may be positioned within today's single-story manufacturing or processing facilities. The air material separator of the invention includes a generally cylindrical inlet chamber having a spiral wall that directs the inlet flow circumferentially and downwardly. An outlet chamber is positioned below the inlet chamber and includes a conical, perforated wall that allows the conveying air flow to escape through the perforated wall. The scrap carried by the conveying air flow cannot pass through the perforated wall and moves down and out an outlet at the bottom of the conical wall. The overall height of the device is substantially less than prior art air material separators.

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.

Abstract: A diffuser system for multi-outlet pipe structures of the type found in coal pulverizer classifier skirts and in the piping between such classifiers and combustion chambers in coal-fired power plant delivery systems. A plurality of vertical and horizontal diffuser elements comprising toothed bars and rings are arranged in the “skirt” or plenum just prior to the multiple pipe outlets so as to effectively diffuse both axial and radial components of uneven flow distributions.

Abstract: A self-cleaning separator is described for cohesive or adhesive solids from a fluidborne stream of solids on the basis of a cyclonelike separation. The separator consists at least of a cylindrical upper section (8) having a separating chamber (3), a product inlet (2), a fluid outlet (5), and of a conical lower section (6) having a solids outlet (7) adjoining below the lower section (6), at least the side wall (4) of the upper section (8) being produced from an elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.

Abstract: A cyclone separator has an inlet chamber 52 and an outlet chamber 53, means 51 for introducing a fluid mixture into the inlet chamber so that it swirls around the chamber and passes to the outlet chamber in which it swirls about an outlet chamber axis, the outlet chamber being provided with means 62 for conducting heavier phase fluids from the outlet chamber at a relatively large distance from the outlet chamber axis and an outlet 63 for lighter phase fluids at a relatively small distance from the outlet chamber axis 55. The flow through the separator and the efficiency of separation are improved by forming at least one of the chambers 52, 53 as involute shaped, the corresponding one 51, 62 of said means being defined by the curved wall of the involute of maximum radius.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a leadframe stip counting gauge and comprises a gauge member having an engagement portion adapted for association with a leadframe carrier having leadframes contained therein. The leadframe strip counting gauge further comprises leadframe count indicia associated with the gauge member, wherein the indicia are spatially distributed with respect to the gauge member and are adapted to provide a count representing a number of leadframes residing in the leadframe carrier. The present invention also relates to a method of counting leadframes residing in a leadframe carrier, and comprises positioning a leadframe counting member near a leadframe carrier containing leadframes therein. The method further comprises determining a number of leadframes in the leadframe carrier using leadframe count indicia associated with the leadframe counting member.

Abstract: A classifier is proposed which includes a dispersion chamber for dispersing a powder material therein, a classification chamber connected to the dispersion chamber, and a conical member disposed between the dispersion chamber and the classification chamber, wherein the dispersion chamber includes a particle residence prevention member for preventing the powder material from residing within the dispersion chamber by charging the speed of the cyclonic flow of the powder material in the dispersion chamber so as to be decreased in the direction of the feed inlet within the dispersion chamber, and a method of preparing toner by use of the classifier is also proposed.

Abstract: A self-cleaning separator is described for cohesive or adhesive solids from a fluidborne stream of solids on the basis of a cyclonelike separation. The separator consists at least of a cylindrical upper section (8) having a separating chamber (3), a product inlet (2), a fluid outlet (5), and of a conical lower section (6) having a solids outlet (7) adjoining below the lower section (6), at least the side wall (4) of the upper section (8) being produced from an elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.

Abstract: A plasma filter for separating particles includes a hollow semi-cylindrical chamber that is enclosed by a wall. At least one plasma source is mounted in the chamber between the longitudinal axis of the chamber and the wall for generating a multi-species plasma containing light mass particles (M1) and heavy mass particles (M2). A magnetic coil is used to generate a magnetic field, Bz, in the chamber that is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, and electrodes at each end of the chamber generate an electric field, Er, in the chamber that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. These crossed electric and magnetic fields rotate the multi-species plasma on a curved path around the longitudinal axis, and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to separate M1 from M2.

Abstract: A diffuser system for multi-outlet pipe structures of the type found in coal pulverizer classifier skirts and in the piping between such classifiers and combustion chambers in coal-fired power plant delivery systems. A plurality of vertical and horizontal diffuser elements comprising toothed bars and rings are arranged in the “skirt” or plenum just prior to the multiple pipe outlets so as to effectively diffuse both axial and radial components of uneven flow distributions.

Abstract: The object of the classifier of the present invention is to reduce the classification point for classifying powder. The classifier includes a classifying cover having a conical bottom surface, a classifying plate provided under the classifying cover and having a conical top surface opposite the conical bottom surface of the classifying cover, and a plurality of louvers provided annularly around a classifying chamber defined between the conical bottom surface and the conical top surface to define passages for secondary air therebween. The conical bottom surface is inclined at a larger angle than the conical top surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing uneven distributions of coal fines in the upper, outlet end of a coal mill classifier. A plurality of static diffuser elements is positioned in the upper end of the classifier, preferably within the classifier skirt if the classifier includes such structure, adjacent the inlets of multiple coal discharge pipes leading from the upper end of the classifier to a combustion chamber. In a preferred form the diffuser elements comprise vertically-arranged toothed bars mounted on the inside wall surfaces of the skirt.

Abstract: A plasma filter for separating positive ions from negative ions in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical shaped chamber. Magnetic coils surrounding the chamber generate a magnetic field that is aligned substantially parallel to the chamber's longitudinal axis. An electrode generates an electric field that is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field to create crossed magnetic and electric fields inside the chamber. The inward directed electric field has a negative potential on the longitudinal axis and a substantially zero potential at the wall of the chamber. An injector injects the multi-species plasma into said chamber to interact with said crossed magnetic and electric fields.

Abstract: A method for separating charged particles according to their mass requires providing a multi-species plasma in a chamber. The plasma includes both relatively low-mass charged particles (M1) and relatively high-mass charged particles (M2) which are influenced by crossed electric and magnetic fields (E×B) in the chamber. Specifically, the crossed fields (E×B) rotate the particles M1 and M2 in respective orbits that are characteristic of the mass of the particular particle. Inside the chamber, each charged particle has a respective cyclotron frequency (&OHgr;), and the plasma is maintained with a density wherein the collisional frequency (&ngr;) of particles in the chamber relates to the cyclotron frequency such that their ratio is greater than approximately one (&OHgr;/&ngr;≧1). Additionally, a collector is positioned to intercept the particles (M2) in their orbits and to thereby separate the particles (M2) from the particles (M1).

Abstract: The present invention provides for discharge (exit) ports for exit fluid flow disposed at or adjacent to one another on one end of a vortex separating body; an inlet port(s) disposed at one end of a separating body having discharge (exit) ports for exit fluid flow disposed at or adjacent to one another at an opposite end of the separating body; increased separation efficiency; solid mass separated per unit energy expended; a body that is predominantly cylindrical in shape that can be made inexpensively from standard sizes of pipe or tubing; a device that is predominantly cylindrical in shape so that the separation (vortex) length of the device can be changed simply by installing or removing sections of pipe or tubing; a device which promotes smooth rotational flow within the vortex region, therefore affecting an efficient separation of particles carried by the transporting fluid therein and reducing the pressure and/or energy required to move the fluid through the device; a device with entrance and especially

Abstract: Apparatus of theforced air vortex type for classification of particulate material into a fine portion and a coarse portion, the apparatus comprising a truncated cone shaped upper section (101) comprising a separating wheel (111) rotating about a substantially vertical axis, a vertically arranged inlet pipe (106) for supplying a particulate material dispersed in an air flow, a conical feed distributor (107) having a tip end directed downwards and arranged concentrically with the inlet pipe (106) and the separating wheel, and a spiral shaped outlet (102) for removal of classified fine material dispersed in air, and a substantially truncated cone shaped lower section (103), the upper section of which exhibiting a secondary air inlet (105) arranged tangential to the circumference of the lower housing (103) to supply secondary air in a direction concurrently with the direction of rotation of the separating wheel (111) and a second outlet (104) for classified coarse particulate material.