Abstract: In one embodiment, the filter cartridge comprises a mesh structure forming a generally annular cylinder comprising a center opening, a plurality of compartments containing a filter medium, and spaces between the compartments. The spaces between the compartments comprise substantially unimpeded airflow passages that permit airflow even when the filter medium is fully loaded.

Abstract: An extracting blower that removes liquid and solid contaminants from supply air, and provides high velocity air for cooling equipment, personnel and/or structures. The blower uses air velocity and the centrifugal force of a rotating fan to separate the contaminants into a rear partitioned chamber of the fan housing and out a rear scavenging air exhaust, while blowing clean air out the main air blower.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating droplets and/or solid particles from a gas. The apparatus includes a shell defining a space. An impeller in the space and a gas inlet duct through the shell are arranged for introducing gas with liquid and/or solid particles into the space. A driving device rotates the impeller. One or several openings are arranged around the shell. At least a major portion of the liquid and/or solid particles exit through the openings and may be carried into a collecting space which may be outside the shell.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated exclusion filter and pressurizing device which prevents leakage of unfiltered fluid across the interface area between a rotating filtering apparatus and non-rotating bulkhead. The exclusion filter utilized is of the type which utilizes Boundary Layer Momentum Transfer methodology to achieve filtration, and which includes a cylindrical stack of substantially flat annular plates. A pressurizing device is utilized downstream from the exclusion filter to repressurize filtered fluid and direct the filtered fluid toward the interface area. Either all the filtered fluid or only a portion may be repressurized, and some of the filtered fluid may be directed toward the bulkhead itself to aid pressurization by creating a local stagnation region. The pressurizing device may utilize flow diverting vanes in a housing, including blowers, pumps, compressors, and fans.

Abstract: A gasification system for solid wastes having a thermal reactor and a mechanical gas cleaner, an indirect heat exchange cooler, and an electrostatic precipitator for cleaning and cooling the produced gas. Feed material is continuously fed to the central section of the thermal reactor above an air introduction manifold and nozzles and in an upward direction, forming a stratified charge. As feed material moves upward and outward from the reactor center it is reduced to ash. An agitator assures contact between the hot particulate product and hot gases resulting in gasification of the feed material and net movement to the sidewall of the thermal reactor, forming ash. The air introduction nozzles serve as a grate. Ash descends along the sidewall to the reactor base for removal. The mechanical cleaner has a high speed rotating brush-like gas separator element and scraper combination which removes condensed tars and particulates from the produced gas stream.

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: For the purpose of separating dust particles inside a cooling system of a rotor, fitted with moving blades, of a turbo-machine, a device is arranged upstream of the moving blades to be cooled and in the region of the rotor outer surface. The device has at least one feed channel through which a coolant flows, and is directed in the radial direction such that the dust particles located in the coolant accumulate on the side accelerating in the direction of rotation of the rotor. These dust particles subsequently pass into a separation chamber operationally connected to the feed channel and in which they are captured in order then to be discharged.

Abstract: Oil separator rotor located in an enclosure provided with an oil reinjection system for lubricating a bearing. The oil separator rotor, which dries the excess air passing out of the enclosure, acts by aiding the deposition of suspended oil on the walls of a lining or packing of the rotor. The lining is a honeycomb material cartridge offering easy separation without excessive pressure losses. The rotor is assembled by bolts, which interconnect the end plates traversing the lining.

Abstract: An air precleaner and method for centrifugally ejecting heavier-than-air particulate debris from an air stream utilizes a circular separator chamber formed with a toroidal dome for smooth airflow transition of the vortex airflow moving through the separator chamber in a cyclonic pattern upwardly from an inlet in a base of the precleaner past a debris ejection duct where it is folded over by the toroidal dome for whirlpooling down to an outlet in the base radially inwardly of and through the upwardly moving vortex airflow. The area for the airflow in the separator chamber progressively decreases linearly to increase the speed of the airflow in the chamber. A particle accelerator assembly includes a plurality of appendages that arc back from a central hub in a swept-back attitude relative to a direction of the vortex airflow.

Abstract: This invention provides for reliable, long-life operation of fluid pressure responsive engines directly from raw natural gas at the wellhead by introducing a novel rotary dynamic contaminant filter system especially adapted for removing liquid and abrasive particle contaminants from the flow of natural gas under high pressure from the wellhead. Thus, a novel turbine type gas driven rotor in the gas flow stream has rotor blades slanted at an angle to the rotation axis to serve as a ramp for removal of contaminants as the flow of gas spirals upwardly from input to output ports. This dynamic filter employs the combined forces of gravity, centrifugal force and those imposed by interception with a contaminant flow ramp to encounter and remove a wide range of microscopic contaminants from the high pressure wellhead natural gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separating body which can be set into rotation to separate solid or liquid particles of micron or submicron size from a fluid, wherein the body has a large number of separating ducts with singly connected walls over a substantial part of the axial length, where the walls of at least one of the separating ducts are not parallel to the axis of rotation. The tangent of the angle between the tangent planes of the walls of the separating duct and the axis of rotation is designated with tan .alpha., the radial width of the separating duct is designated with d, the length of the separating duct is designated with L and the rotation speed of the separating body is designated with .OMEGA. where these variables are chosen in mutual dependence in a manner such that the dimensionless number (.OMEGA.Ld tan .alpha.)/.nu. is located over a substantial part of the separating duct in the range up to 192, wherein .nu. is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid.

Abstract: An air precleaner and method for centrifugally ejecting heavier-than-air particulate debris from an air stream utilizes a circular separator chamber formed with a toroidal dome for smooth airflow transition of the vortex airflow moving through the separator chamber in a cyclonic pattern upwardly from an inlet in a base of the precleaner past a debris ejection duct where it is folded over by the toroidal dome for whirlpooling down to an outlet in the base radially inwardly of and through the upwardly moving vortex airflow. The area for the airflow in the separator chamber progressively decreases linearly to increase the speed of the airflow in the chamber. A particle accelerator assembly includes a plurality of appendages that arc back from a central hub in a swept-back attitude relative to a direction of the vortex airflow.

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.

Abstract: An engine intake screen assembly is provided. A rotatable screen has a continuous peripheral skirt which telescopes with an upstanding housing ring-like flange so as to create a serpentine entry path for grass and other foreign matter trying to enter at the seam between the screen and the inlet. Entry can be further restricted through the use of a radially outwardly directed ring extension on the screen and/or a guard ring member. These parts can combine to form a trap pocket and/or to increase the serpentine nature of the entry path. In one version, the grass will form its own seal in the trap.

Abstract: The machine disclosed herein is useful for blending a particle containing stream, especially a stream of solid particles, with fluids. In a typical operation, sand is mixed with a gel composition to obtain a fluid mixture suitable for stimulation treatments of oil and gas wells. The machine includes a slinger with a topside surface which may be of toroidal concave configuration. The machine also includes an impeller, of a vortex configuration, that is fastened underneath the slinger. In this machine, entrained gas is carried into the fluid phase by the particle containing stream, but the gas is then "exhausted" from the mixture through interior and exterior air exhaust channels and spaces that are built into the machine. A slinger which is particularly adapted for use in such a machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating, spreading and distributing a solid or liquid particulate material. The particulate material is pneumatically conveyed into a centrifugal chamber within a rotor (20) operatable by the flow of material for centrifugal separation of the particulate material. The terminal edge of the circumference of the centrifugal chamber serves as an overflow for establishing a buffer store and has a flow-retarding inwardly directed flange. A baffle may be provided around the terminal edge to intercept the material flung out and to conduct the material, via hopper-like flow-retarding recesses, to different outlets provided around the terminal edge.

Abstract: A fluid processing device for use in the oil system of gas turbine or other plant, performs the functions of a de-gassifier and filter for liquid from part of the plant, scavenge pump for returning clean liquid to the plant, air/liquid droplet separator and main pressure pump, or any required combination of these functions. The performances of individual rotary devices are enhanced by the inclusion of a quantity of a rigid porous material having interconnected interstitial passages so that all the rotary devices can operate at the same speed and can thus be driven from a single shaft.In a gas turbine engine application (FIG. 3) the device has a plurality of individual compartments 36,38,40 and 41 within a rotating housing 21, each compartment containing the porous material. Compartments 36 and 38 are supplied with air and emulsified oil via pipes 44 from bearing chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating material from a flowing gas, isotopes for example, has a stationary vessel 12 with an apertured partition means therein forming two zones. The upper zone is a whirling chamber and contains rotational means to form a rotational flow pattern. The second zone receives the flowing gas through the aperture in the partition means. The lower zone has discharge means for the heavier and lighter materials.

Abstract: The apparatus for removing dust particles from an air stream, particularly for ventilating mines, comprises a centrifugal separator (3), which rotates in a housing (1), a blower (4), and a device (6, 7) for spraying or atomizing water and for delivering it to the air stream entering the centrifugal separator (3). The centrifugal separator (3) comprises a plurality of blade wheel sections (8, 9) having blades (14) which are joined to walls (10) which flare like funnels. The blades of said blade wheel sections (8, 9) extend approximately in axial planes. Said blade wheel sections (8, 9) are preceded at the air inlet end by at least one blade/wheel section (15) in which the generatrices of the blade surfaces (blades 17) which are equidistant from the axis are inclined by an angle of incidence (.alpha.

Abstract: A turbine for the generation of energy from geothermal sources including a reaction water turbine of the radial outflow type and a similar turbine for supersonic expansion of steam or gases. The rotor structure may incorporate an integral separator for removing the liquid and/or solids from the steam and gas before the mixture reaches the turbines.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a gas mixture into a heavy component and a light component, especially for the enrichment of a gas mixture in uranium 235 in which the uranium isotopes are provided in the form of uranium hexafluoride, comprises a cascade of centrifuge stages each formed by a pair of spaced-apart disks surrounded by a housing and driven by a common shaft from a motor. The relatively narrow passage between each pair of disks opens into a greater space which cooperates with the gas along the periphery of the disk as held in place by the housing to form a boundary layer with the heavy component tending to diffuse out of the layer. Means is provided to collect the light component in the boundary layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the ce ntrifugal separation of a fluid having heavier and lighter fractions into a first portion having an increased concentration of the heavier fraction and a second portion having an increased concentration of the lighter fraction and discharging the first portion peripherally and the second portion more centrally and retaining fluid between the first and second portions in the apparatus for the centrifugal separation.

Abstract: An apparatus for the separating of isotope fractions, especially for the concentration of uranium 238 and uranium 235, which comprises a plurality of disks rotatable about a common axis and having central supply regions at which gas mixtures can be introduced. Outwardly from these supply regions, each disk is formed with a radial passage communicating with a chamber and opening into the latter through a constriction. Light fractions are removed from the edges of the gas flow radially through the chamber while a heavy fraction is passed centrally through at least one further constriction and into another chamber. The light fractions from one disk are fed to the supply region of another disk while the heavy fractions can be collected and fed to the supply region of still a third disk. Alternatively, or in addition, the light fraction delivery channels and the heavy fraction delivery channels for at least two disks are interconnected.

Abstract: A gas mixture containing a heavy component and a light component, e.g. for the enrichment of the gas mixture in uranium 235 in which the uranium isotopes are provided in the form of uranium hexafluoride, comprises accelerating the gaseous mixture through a centrifuge in a radial direction and inducing the formation of turbulence along the outer periphery of the centrifuge. Because of the turbulent flow in this region, a boundary layer is formed along the outer periphery of the centrifuge and the heavy component tends to diffuse out of this boundary layer. The light fraction is collected from the boundary layer and conducted away.

Abstract: An eliminator of vaporized contaminants from gas in a closed system in which high pressure gas is subjected to a substantially adiabatic expansion with accompanying temperature drop at a point where the contaminants cannot cause problems. In the specific case of a gas bearing, contaminants which normally condense in the gap between bearing surfaces are caused to condense at points well removed from the bearing gap where they cannot cause failure of the gas bearing. A remotely located expansion chamber or zone is created and it may include a restricting orifice at the inlet to which gas pressure is relatively high and at the outlet of which pressure is significantly lower. The pressure drop is accompanied by a comparably large decrease in temperature to a point at which the vaporized contaminants condense. A filter may be included at or adjacent to the outlet to trap the condensed contaminants.

Abstract: An improvement in a mixture concentrator on the one hand, or a fluid medium separator on the other, that is usable, for example, for significantly increasing the amount of proppant in a formation fracturing foam is disclosed. The concentrator is comprised of an elongate vessel, a rotor rotatably mounted inside the vessel on a shaft and a motor for rotating the shaft. The vessel has a mixture intake at a forward end and a concentrated mixture outlet and a fluid medium outlet at the rearward end. Mounted on the shaft near the mixture intake is a cylindrical stabilizer which imparts a spin to the incoming mixture. Also mounted on the shaft, downstream of the stabilizer and of the mixture intake is a intake impeller means for removing substantially only the fluid medium from the mixture which is located in the annular channel between the vessel and the rotor to an internal passageway located inside the rotor.

Abstract: A concentrator or mixture separator usable, for example, for significantly increasing the amount of proppant in a formation-fracturing foam is disclosed. In a particular embodiment the concentrator or separator is comprised of a substantially horizontally extending vessel, a rotor rotatably mounted inside the vessel on a shaft and a motor for rotating the shaft. The vessel has a slurry intake at a forward end and a concentrated slurry discharge and proppant carrier discharge at the rearward end. Mounted on the shaft near the slurry intake is a cylindrical stabilizer which is for imparting a spin to the incoming slurry. Also mounted on the shaft, downstream of the stabilizer is an intake impeller assembly which can be comprised of a plurality of annular intake impellers, a discharge assembly which can be comprised of a plurality of annular discharge impellers, and a connecting housing therebetween.

Abstract: To capture fine particulate matter in a gas such as air, a dielectric fluid is directed to the center of whichever face of a rotating disc is exposed to the air flow. The disc is comprised of two or more segments which bear opposite electrostatic potentials. As the dielectric fluid is centrifuged towards the periphery of the rotating disc, the fluid becomes charged to the same potential as the segment over which it is passing. Particulate matter is attracted to the charged segment and is captured by the fluid. The fluid then carries the captured particulate matter to a collection device such as a toroidal container disposed around the periphery of the disc. A grounded electrically-conductive ring may be disposed at the outer periphery of the disc to neutralize the captured particles and the fluid before they enter the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating gaseous mixtures of molecules of different mass in which a rotating means is caused to eject a contiguous plurality of successsive groups of molecules into an evacuated space to form a continuous stream of said mixture; the molecules of each said group of molecules are allowed to move in accordance with their thermal velocities for a predetermined period of time following ejection, thereby to allow each said group of molecules to form a generally spherical configuration the outer radius of which will be enriched, in molecules of lighter mass, relative to lesser radii, a deflector means co-rotating with said rotating means is used to deflect molecules, which have been allowed to move for said predetermined period of time in accordance with their thermal velocities, from at least one desired portion of said stream and a stationary collector means disposed to receive said deflected molecules.

Abstract: A device for the separation of gaseous mixtures into components of differing molecular mass. The device is designed according to the principle underlying a turbine or a turbomolecular pump. The device has a rotor that is equipped with discs made of magnetic material having blades at their periphery and is installed in a stationary casing having a gaseous mixture inlet and at least two gas outlets connected to a gas delivery tube, and to whose inside wall stator discs are attached between the rotor discs. The device further has voltage means. The gas delivery tube has controls connected thereto which keep the total pressure in the gaseous mixture below 10 Pa.

Abstract: A low velocity, low temperature, inertial particle separator is disclosed which imposes minimum resistance to the flow of gas through the apparatus. The separator includes a slowly revolving drum with radiating cups around which the gas must flow. Change of direction of the flowing gas as it flows around the cups causes the entrained particles to be collected by the cup-shape of the cups. A vacuum system is provided for inducing the collected particles to migrate to a central axially disposed collection system which draws the particles away by suction.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating gaseous mixtures of molecules of different mass in which a rotating means is caused to eject a contiguous plurality of successive groups of molecules into an evacuated space to form a continuous stream of said mixture; the molecules of each said group of molecules are allowed to move in accordance with their thermal velocities for a predetermined period of time following ejection, thereby to allow each said group of molecules to form a generally spherical configuration the outer radius of which will be enriched, in molecules of lighter mass, relative to lesser radii; and a collector means co-rotating with said rotating means is used to collect molecules, which have been allowed to move for said predetermined period of time in accordance with their thermal velocities, from at least one desired portion of said stream.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a centrifugal pump, particularly adapted for pumping liquids with a heavy gas content. To separate the gases from the liquids the impeller is provided with ducts leading from the central inlet to the peripheral outlet of the pump, the ducts being of progressively smaller cross section from the inlet to the outlet and openings are provided through the impeller disc for the escape of gases. There are a plurality of openings and the cross sectional area presented by the openings for the escape of gas is progressively lesser from the inlet region to the outlet region.