Abstract: A method and system for desalting a fuel having a salt therein is disclosed. A jet of superheated steam is provided at a selected pressure and fuel is drawn into the jet of superheated steam to form a mixture of the fuel and the superheated steam. The mixture is injected into a centrifuge to desalt the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention describes a centrifuge system and method for improving the separation of entrained solids from a solution. The system and method introduces compressed gas to a fluid containing entrained solids to reduce the density and viscosity of the fluid to promote the settling of particles within the solution.

Abstract: A separator including a separator drum having a conical interior and rotatably mounted at an axial end about a vertical axis of rotation. A rotating spindle is located at either a lower or upper end of the separator drum and is configured to drive the separator drum. The rotating spindle is disposed in an oscillating manner about a hinge point. Also included is supply tube for a product to be processed and two fluid outlets. One fluid outlet is for a light phase and one fluid outlet is for a heavy phase. A solids material discharge opening is located in an area of the separator drum's largest inner circumference. Further included is a separation pan assembly. A pressure chamber is configured to be acted upon by a fluid to change a location of a separation zone between the light phase and the heavy phase.

Abstract: A three-phase solid bowl screw centrifuge includes a rotatable drum, a screw arranged in the drum, a solid material discharge located at the fist axial end of the drum, and two liquid outlets are located at a second axial end of the drum. A first of the liquid is for a lighter liquid phase and a second of the liquid outlets is for a heavier liquid phase. One of the liquid outlets includes a skimmer disk arranged in a skimmer chamber and the other of the liquid outlets is formed as an overflow. Two regulating disks are located in the front of the skimmer disk. The regulating disks extend radially from an outside of the drum toward an inside of the drum. A siphon disk extends between the regulating disks and into the skimmer chamber from a interior circumference of the skimmer chamber to an exterior circumference of the skimmer chamber. An annular chamber is formed during an operation and is located between the siphon disk and the skimmer disk.

Abstract: A solid-bowl screw centrifuge includes a rotatable drum having a horizontal axis of rotation, which drum surrounds a centrifuging space. Further included is a screw which is arranged within the drum, the screw being rotatable at a different speed relative to the drum. Further included is at least one liquid discharge sealed from its surroundings and at least one solid discharge in a tapering region of the drum. Also included is an immersion disk on the screw which disk lies between a liquid feed and the solid discharge and divides the centrifuging space into a discharge space between the immersion disk and the solid discharge, and a separation space between the immersion disk and the liquid discharge. The centrifuge includes a device for charging the separation space with a gas. A process for operating for the solid-bowl centrifuge is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for desalting a fuel having a salt therein is disclosed. A jet of superheated steam is provided at a selected pressure and fuel is drawn into the jet of superheated steam to form a mixture of the fuel and the superheated steam. The mixture is injected into a centrifuge to desalt the fuel.

Abstract: A continuously operating centrifuge for centrifuging sugar massecuites has an upwardly flaring conical sieve basket (20) which rotates about a vertical axis (16). A product distributor (40) flares downwardly and extends into the bottom region of the sieve basket (20). The product distributor (40) is substantially coaxial with respect to the sieve basket (20), has a discharge rim and rotates about the same vertical axis (16) as the sieve basket (20). Within and in the upper region of the product distributor (40), there is provided a distributor pot (30) which serves as a feeding device for the sugar massecuites in the axial region of the centrifuge. The peripheral wall of the product distributor (40) is divided up into a plurality of ring elements (41, 42, 43) which overlap in the direction of the axis (16) and the internal diameters of which differ from each other. A bell (50) surrounds the product distributor (40) and flares conically downwardly.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centrifuge in which a steam sterilization of a sample flow passage is performed, the centrifuge including: a rotor configured to centrifuging a liquid sample; a drive portion that drives and rotates the rotor; a chamber that accommodates the rotor therein, the chamber having a first and a second penetration holes provided on an upper and a bottom portions thereof, respectively; and a first and a second valves disposed on the first and the second penetration holes, respectively; wherein a cooling gas is introduced through one of the first and the second penetration holes and discharged through the other to cool a periphery of the rotor before or after execution of a centrifuging operation of the liquid sample.

Abstract: In a system for combined centrifugation and microfiltration, retentate from a cross-flow microfilter is fed to an automatic piston discharge centrifuge for solids removal, thereby enhancing the efficiency of both processes. The centrifuge includes a cylindrical bowl having a conical lower end with an opening through which feed liquid is injected. Solids separate from the feed liquid and accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl as the bowl rotates at high speed. A microfiltration membrane can be added to improve solids retention in the bowl and provide a filtered centrate. During solids discharge, a piston is urged downward along a vertical axis. The downward movement of the piston forces accumulated solids from the bowl via the opening in the conical lower end thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deviation ring for paste comprising an annular rebound wall (2) for a self-distributing centrifuge (1). The invention also relates to a corresponding self-distributing centrifuge (1). In the deviation ring, the angle of incidence ? of the tangents of the rebound wall (2) of the deviation ring (4), opposite the distribution slit (3) of the centrifuge (1), in relation to the horizontal, is between 3 and 60° over the entire opening width of the distribution slit (3).

Abstract: Method for separating blood plasma particles from a blood plasma suspension in a self-discharging centrifuge having two or more discharge slits and axially stacked baffle plates, in which the blood plasma particles are separated from the liquid phase by centrifuging and removal of the liquid phase, suctioning off liquid remaining in the drum after separation of the blood plasma particles and discharging the sediment of solid blood plasma particles from the drum by centrifugal force into a collecting container underneath the drum, the drum and the blood plasma sediment being cooled during one or more of the process steps.

Abstract: In a method of rapidly lowering the rotary speed of a rotating rotor body in a centrifugal separator the lowering of the rotary speed is initiated, when a disturbing unbalance or vibrations have occurred. A space between the rotor body and a stationary casing which surrounds the rotor body is supplied with foam or with an aerosol of a liquid in a gas, when unbalance or vibrations over a certain level have occurred. The rotor body is retarded by the friction, which is obtained between the rotor body, the foam or aerosol and the casing. In an arrangement to lower the rotary speed of a rotating rotor body in a centrifugal separator the lowering is initiated when a disturbing unbalance or disturbing vibrations has occurred. At a certain unbalance or certain vibration level, a foam generating device or a device that creates an aerosol for the purpose of filling a space between the rotor body and a casing which surrounds the same with foam or aerosol is activated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sterilization of laboratory equipment, which are particularly suited for sterilization of internal passages of a centrifuge centrate gate assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deviation ring for paste comprising an annular rebound wall (2) for a self-distributing centrifuge (1). The invention also relates to a corresponding self-distributing centrifuge (1). In the deviation ring, the angle of incidence ? of the tangents of the rebound wall (2) of the deviation ring (4), opposite the distribution slit (3) of the centrifuge (1), in relation to the horizontal, is between 3 and 60° over the entire opening width of the distribution slit (3).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sterilization of laboratory equipment, which are particularly suited for sterilization of internal passages of a centrifuge centrate gate assembly.

Abstract: In a method of rapidly lowering the rotary speed of a rotating rotor body in a centrifugal separator the lowering of the rotary speed is initiated, when a disturbing unbalance or vibrations have occurred. A space between the rotor body and a stationary casing which surrounds the rotor body is supplied with foam or with an aerosol of a liquid in a gas, when unbalance or vibrations over a certain level have occurred. The rotor body is retarded by the friction, which is obtained between the rotor body, the foam or aerosol and the casing. In an arrangement to lower the rotary speed of a rotating rotor body in a centrifugal separator the lowering is initiated when a disturbing unbalance or disturbing vibrations has occurred. Means are arranged at a certain unbalance or certain vibration level to activate a foam generating device or a device that creates an aerosol for the purpose of filling a space between the rotor body and a casing which surrounds the same with foam or aerosol.

Abstract: An automated blood separation method and apparatus is described that allows for the separation of multiple units of blood simultaneously. The method and apparatus reliably and quickly separates blood into its components. An auto-balancing feature within the apparatus automatically preferably compensates for the changing state of imbalance, thereby eliminating the need for additional balancing steps during the separation process. The apparatus has a rotor into which a plurality of cassettes can be inserted. The cassettes have a number of sections for the containment of the whole blood and for the separated blood components, which are contained in disposable bags. The rotor is placed into a centrifuge assembly, and the blood components are then separated and transferred to the bags in the individual sections of the cassettes. Means for including secondary separation devices such as filters is included.

Abstract: This centrifuge includes a chamber (5), a rotor (6) arranged therein, a device (8) for driving the rotation of the rotor, and a device (11) for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber. The device for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber includes a Ranque vortex tube (30), a cold outlet (33) which is connected to one inlet (66) of the chamber. The centrifuge includes a pressurized-gas supply circuit which is connected to an inlet (32) of the Ranque vortex tube and which is intended to be connected to a source (49) of pressurized gas. Application is to the centrifuging of biological products.

Abstract: This centrifuge includes a chamber (5), a rotor (6) arranged therein, and a device (8) for driving the rotation of the rotor. The device (8) for driving the rotation of the rotor is a pneumatic drive device. The centrifuge includes a circuit for supplying the pneumatic drive device with pressurized gas intended to be connected to a source (49) of pressurized gas. The centrifuge further includes a gas-purification unit (10), one inlet of this unit being connected to an outlet (64) for drawing gas from the chamber and one outlet of this unit being connected to a suction device (21) controlled by the pressurized gas supplied to the pneumatic device (8) for driving the rotor. Application is to the centrifuging of products liable to release dangerous substances, for example toxic or explosive substances.

Abstract: A gas separation centrifuge is provided with a housing having a top, a bottom and a plurality of joined side walls parallel to an axis and forming a predetermined regular polygon cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis. A rotor is mounted for coaxial rotation within the housing, including a plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates forming the predetermined regular polygon shape at an outer periphery, and forming the predetermined regular polygon shape at an interior edge. The plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates are stacked coaxially and are axially spaced apart to form planar channels therebetween and define an interior annular volume with openings therefrom into the planar channels. There are also openings through the outer periphery. A first plurality of stationary concentric input tubes extends into the interior annular volume.

Abstract: A solid-bowl centrifuge has a rotatable drum having an interior and a space adjacent to the interior of the drum for receiving separated off liquid conveyed from the drum. A weir disk is disposed between the interior of the drum and the chamber and is rotatable with the drum. Liquid is conveyed past an inner diameter of the weir disk to the space and that determines a level of the liquid in the interior of the drum. Two barrier disks on opposite sides of flat surfaces of the weir disk are gas-tightly joined together by a cylinder extending through the inner diameter of the weir disk. One barrier disk is immersible in the liquid in the interior of the drum and the other barrier disk is immersible in the liquid in the space. The barrier disks and cylinder define a chamber and a gas-supply channel supplies gas to the chamber to vary the pressure therein and thereby vary the level of the liquid in the interior of the drum.

Abstract: An evertable drum centrifuge has a housing extending along an axis, a hollow filter drum rotatable in the housing about the axis and having a front end wall formed with a fill opening centered on the axis, and a nonrotatable fill tube extending along the axis and having a back end. A fill head complementarily engageable in the fill opening is fitted in a closed position in the fill opening and a suspension to be filtered is introduced through the fill tube and fill opening into the drum. A bearing rotatably supports the fill head on the fill-tube back end and a static seal is engaged between the fill head and the fill opening.

Abstract: A reverse filter centrifugal machine has a self-contained, rotatably mounted basket (7) in a housing (1), provided with radial filtrate passages (11) and capable of receiving an overpressure or a negative pressure, as well as a lid (19) that closes the free front side of the basket. The basket and the lid are axially movable with respect to one another. A feed opening for the suspension to be filtered is arranged in the lid and a feed pipe (21) is sealingly inserted through the feed opening. The feed pipe (21) is rotatably mounted around its longitudinal axis and can be rotated together with the basket (7) around this axis.

Abstract: A method for operating and improving the throughput and efficiency of a worm centrifuge by introducing, at a controlled frequency, successive pressure surges into the concentrated sludge fraction within the bowl separator preceding the solids discharge opening whereby the pulse frequency and the level of pressure are controllable and can be controlled as a function of the sludge fraction throughput through the separator.

Abstract: A centrifugal solid bowl worm separator having an outer cylindrical drum and an inner rotatable worm with helical flights on the outer surface with the drum arranged to receive a material to be separated in light and heavy fractions or phases and the mechanism provides for a method of injecting and mixing a fluidizing substance into the heavy fraction material within the drum before it leaves the drum to mix with the heavy fraction within the drum. The fluidizing substance lowers the density of the heavy fraction to enable its discharge by the worm flights. The hydraulic pressure of the liquid helps push the heavy fraction out of the separator which prevents a reverse flow and intermixing of the heavy fraction with the liquid fraction.

Abstract: An inverted filter centrifuge consisting of a drum arranged to rotate freely in a housing and having radial filtrate outlets; a cover closing one of its free frontal areas, the drum and the cover being mutually axially movable; a filler aperture in the cover for the suspension to be filtered and a filler pipe passing through the filler aperture. The filler aperture in the cover can be hermetically sealed by a locking component rotating together with the drum which is disconnected from the filler pipe in a manner to avoid friction.

Abstract: A solvent-containing biological material specimen is dried in a vacuum chamber with solvent evolving during the drying cycle being condensed in a refrigerated cold trap. During the drying cycle, communication of the drying chamber with the vacuum pump with which the chamber is evacuated, selectively is established or interdicted in response to raising or lowering of the vacuum condition in the chamber with respect to an initially set predetermined vacuum condition. Evolving of solvent from the specimen proceeds during interdiction by way of "cryopumping" due to the differential in pressure between the chamber and the refrigerated trap. Thus maximized solvent recovery in the trap is achieved, and carry over of solvent to the vacuum pump wherein its presence would be contaminating of the pump oil is for practical purpose eliminated.

Abstract: An invertible filter centrifuge is provided comprising a rotary drum which is mounted in a cantilever manner in a housing and has radial passages for filtrate, a lid which is axially displaceable relative to the drum and closes the free front side of the latter, a filler opening on the lid for suspension to be filtered, and filler pipe which, on the one hand, is secured to the housing and, on the other hand, penetrates the filler opening, the outlet end of the filler pipe being located inside the drum during the centrifuging operation, characterized in that for varying the pressure in the drum (16), the filler pipe (26) is connectable to a pressurization or depressurization source (44) and is sealed by a combined rotary and sliding seal (45, 46, 47, 53) on said lid (25).

Abstract: A fuel cell power system for use in a weightless environment, such as in space, includes a device for removing water from a water-hydrogen mixture condensed from the exhaust from the fuel cell power section of the system. Water is removed from the mixture in a centrifugal separator, and is fed into a holding, pressure operated water discharge valve via a Pitot tube. Entrained nondissolved hydrogen is removed from the Pitot tube by a bleed orifice in the Pitot tube before the water reaches the water discharge valve. Water discharged from the valve thus has a substantially reduced hydrogen content.

Abstract: In a gas centrifuge assembly comprising a cascade of individual gas centrifuge machines, malfunctioning of any one of the machines as a result of the presence of gaseous impurity within that machine is inhibited from spreading to other machines in the cascade by flow operated valve arrangements in gas flow lines associated with each machine in the cascade. Each valve arrangement is constructed and arranged to close in response to an abnormal gas flow in the line and out of the machine arising from gaseous impurity within the machine. The valve arrangements may be located in some or all of the feed, product and tails lines of each centrifuge machine in the cascade.

Abstract: A device for the separation of particles from a stream of gas by centrifugal action, comprising a driven rotatable hollow conically diverging body 1,2 and a feeding apparatus for directing the contaminated gas stream toward the inside wall of said body in the region of its narrowest portion so that the particles will be deposited against said wall and will gradually move toward the widest portion of said conical body; the stream of gas being controlled such that within the body a toroidal eddy forms for the recirculation of the contaminated gas stream.

Abstract: A heatable centrifuge is formed of a rotor rotatable about a central axis. The rotor includes a dish shaped portion concentric to the central axis and a jacket portion extending upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the dish shaped portion and disposed in parallel with the central axis. Preferably, the dish shaped portion is formed of an electrically insulating and heat insulating ceramic material and the jacket portion is formed of a high strength electrically conductive material. Sample containers are symmetrically arranged with the rotor supported with an insert within the jacket portion. Conductive heating members, such as electro-magnets, are arranged about the outer surface of the jacket portion for transmitting heat through the jacket portion to the material being centrifuged.