SEPARATOR APPARATUS

APPAREIL DE SEPARATION

English Abstract

Abstract A separator apparatus (10) characterised by a fluid inlet (12), a
fluid outlet (14), a separated solids outlet (30) and a swirl vane (22), the
swirl vane (22) being located down stream of the fluid inlet (12) but upstream
of the fluid outlet (14) and separated solids outlet (30), the swirl vane (22)
further being arranged so as to impart to the fluid flow passing therethrough
a flow such that entrained particles move radially outward due to inertia, the
fluid outlet (14) being arranged in-line with the fluid inlet (12) and swirl
vane (22) whereas the solids outlet (30) is fed by a radially arranged
collector.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil de séparation (10) caractérisé par une entrée de fluide (12), une sortie de fluide (14), une sortie de solides (30) séparée et une vanne tourbillonnante (22), la vanne tourbillonnante (22) étant située en aval de l~entrée de fluide (12) mais en amont de la sortie de fluide (14) et de la sortie de solides (30) séparée, la vanne tourbillonnante (22) étant en outre disposée de façon à transmettre à l~écoulement de fluide la traversant un écoulement tel que les particules entraînées se déplacent radialement vers l~extérieur en raison de l~inertie, la sortie de fluide (14) étant alignée avec l~entrée de fluide (12) et la vanne tourbillonnante (22) tandis que la sortie de solides (30) est alimentée par un collecteur disposé dans le plan radial.

Claims

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Claims
1. A separator apparatus characterised by a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a
separated solids outlet and a swirl vane, the swirl vane being located down
stream of the fluid inlet but upstream of the fluid outlet and separated
solids
outlet, the swirl vane further being arranged so as to impart to the fluid
flow
passing therethrough a flow such that entrained particles move radially
outward due to inertia, the fluid outlet being arranged in-line with the fluid
inlet and swirl vane whereas the solids outlet is fed by a radially arranged
collector.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet is of the same
gauge as the fluid inlet.
3. An apparatus according to claim I or 2, wherein the swirl vain is provided
in a
helical arrangement arranged axially along the flow path of the fluid inlet
and
fluid outlet.
4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
collector is offset with respect to the axial orientation of the fluid inlet
and fluid
outlet so as to enhance flow of entrained particles to the solids outlet.
5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
swirl
vane is provided in the form of four individual vanes arranged in a helical
manner about a central axis of the fluid-flow path.
6. In accordance with the present invention there is further provided a method
for the introduction of a separator apparatus into an existing fluid flow
line,
the method characterised by the removal of a portion of the existing fluid
flow
line and the introduction of an in-line separator apparatus as defined
hereinabove.
7. A separator apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference
to the accompanying drawings.

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8. A method for the introduction of a separator apparatus into an existing
fluid
flow line, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description

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"Separator Apparatus"
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a separator apparatus. More particularly, the
separator apparatus of the present invention is able to be provided "in-line"
in a
process stream. The separator apparatus of the present invention has further
particular application in circumstances requiring removal of solids entrained
in
process streams that are not suited to use of other forms of filtering.
Background Art
The most commonly utilised separation apparatus for dust collection, or the
separation of solids entrained in a gas stream, is the cyclone separator. In a
typical separator, gas with entrained solids, such as dust, is directed
tangentially
into the top of a conical chamber. Entrained dust particles move toward the
outside of the separator and are funnelled downwardly into a receiver. The
clean
gas is removed from the chamber through an upper central opening.
Importantly, cyclones are used to remove both solids and liquids from gases.
In many circumstances it is necessary to retro-fit a separator into an
existing
fluid-flow line. Due to the physical constraints of the existing flow-line,
with
regard to space and orientation, it may not be possible to utilise a typical
cyclone
separator. In such circumstances filters of various forms may be utilised.
However, in circumstances requiring minimum heat loss, filters are often
inappropriate.
The separator apparatus of the present invention has as one object thereof to
overcome substantially the above mentioned problems associated with the prior
art.
The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an
understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the
discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material

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referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other
country or region as at the priority date of the application.
Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word
"comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be
understood
to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the
exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
Disclosure of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a separator
apparatus
characterised by a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a separated solids outlet and
a swirl
vane, the swirl vane being located down stream of the fluid inlet but upstream
of
the fluid outlet and separated solids outlet, the swirl vane further being
arranged
so as to impart to the fluid flow passing therethrough a flow such that
entrained
particles move radially outward due to inertia, the fluid outlet being
arranged in-
line with the fluid inlet and swirl vane whereas the solids outlet is fed by a
radially
arranged collector.
Preferably, the fluid outlet is of the same gauge as the fluid inlet.
Still preferably, the swirl vain is provided in a helical arrangement arranged
axially along the flow path of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet.
Still further preferably, the collector is offset with respect to the axial
orientation
of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet so as to enhance flow of entrained
particles to the
solids outlet.
In one form of the present invention the swirl vane is provided in the form of
four
individual vanes arranged in a helical manner about a central axis of the
fluid-
flow path.
In accordance with the present invention there is further provided a method
for
the introduction of a separator apparatus into an existing fluid flow line,
the

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method characterised by the removal of a portion of the existing fluid flow
line
and the introduction of an in-line separator apparatus as defined hereinabove.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The separator apparatus of the present invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a separator apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a swirl vane provided in the
separator apparatus of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional axial view of the swirl vane taken at B-B of
Figure 2.
Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention
In Figure 1 there is shown a separator apparatus 10 in accordance with the
present invention. The separator apparatus 10 is provided in a form suitable
for
introduction into a fluid low line in circumstances requiring the removal of
entrained solids therefrom.
The separator apparatus 10 comprises a fluid inlet 12 and a fluid outlet 14.
Substantially adjacent the fluid inlet 12 is provided a temperature indicator
16
and a pressure indicator 18. A further pressure indicator 20 is provided
adjacent
the fluid outlet 14.
The separator apparatus 10 further comprises a fluid flow modulating portion
or
swirl vane 22. The swirl vane 22 is provided within the bore of a piping 24
that
forms it and the remainder of the separator apparatus 10 in large part.

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Down stream of the swirl vane portion 22 is provided a collector, the
collector
comprising a radially flared portion 26 of the separator apparatus and an off-
set
collecting surface 28, which in turn feeds solids to a solids outlet 30. The
fluid
outlet 14 projects upstream through the collector surface 28 and terminates at
a
point generally mid-way between the up-stream radial flared portion 26 and the
surface 28.
In Figures 2 and 3 there is shown the swirl vane portion 22 comprising a pipe
32
defining a bore 34, an inlet end 36 and an outlet end 38. Within the bore 34
is
located a swirl vane 40 comprising 4 intersecting vanes 42, the intersection
thereof is provided co-axially within the bore 34 of the pipe 32. The vanes 42
are
arranged so as to describe a helical structure within the pipe 32.
In use, fluid flowing into the separator apparatus 10 has induced therein a
swirling or rotational movement whereby entrained solids move radially outward
due to inertia as they pass downstream of the swirl vane portion 22. The solid
particles generally move into the flared portion 26 and are collected against
the
collector wall 28 and fed to the solids outlet 30, whilst fluid containing
substantially less entrained solids pass into the piping comprising the fluid
outlet
14 and which is arranged co-axially with the swirl vane portion 22 and fluid
inlet
12.
The separator apparatus 10 of the present invention is arranged such that it
is
substantially in-line or co-axial with regard to existing fluid flow, thereby
allowing
it to be inserted into an existing fluid flow line with minimal re-engineering
required.
Further, the separator apparatus 10 of the present invention will result in
minimal
heat loss from a fluid flow, particularly when compared with typical filter
means
that might otherwise be utilised. Largely for this reason the applicant
considers
the separator apparatus 10 to have particular application in the Bayer process
when installed in vapour lines between flash tanks used for flashing hot
pregnant
liquor and shell and tube heat exchangers which utilise the hot vapour from
flashing to heat spent liquor. These heat exchangers are subject to clogging
and

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scale build up, which may result in inefficient heat exchange and require
costly
and difficult maintenance. The provision of separator apparatus' 10 in these
vapour lines is expected to significantly improve the performance of the heat
exchangers over time.
Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled
addressee
are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Representative Drawing