..BE..DE..ESFRGB..IT....NL........................RDIM360 - Ver 2.5 (21 Aug 1997) 2100000/1 2100000/20360360EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATIONB119940316EP89202391.2198909211991061119921204enenen882234819880922GB199403161994111990032819901319940316199411199307195 5B 04C 5/081 AdeWirbelrohr-AbscheiderenSwirl tube separatorfrTube séparateur à vortexWO-A-83/03986GB-A- 2 132 511US-A- 2 667 944US-A- 2 890 764US-A- 3 273 320US-A- 3 636 682AUFBEREITUNGS-TECHNIK, vol. 29, no. 7, July 1988, pages 395-402, Wiesbaden, DE;M. GEBICA: "A contribution to pressure loss and dedusting efficiency ofcyclones"van den Akker, Hendrikus Egidius AntoniaBadhuisweg 3NL-1031 CM AmsterdamNLde Kort, Cornelius Josephus MariaBadhuisweg 3NL-1031 CM AmsterdamNLSHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.00200440Carel van Bylandtlaan 302596 HR Den HaagNLBEDEESFRGBITNL19910130199105

The present invention relates to a swirl tube separator for the separation of solids from a mixture of fluid and solids.

The separation of solids from a mixture of fluid and solid particles using a swirl tube separator is based on different centrifugal forces acting on the fluid and the solids of the swirling mixture.

USA patent specification No. 3 636 682 discloses a swirl tube separator for separating solids from a mixture of fluid and solids, the separator comprising:

In the known swirl tube separator the inlet part, which is the part between the top of the housing and the lower edge of the tangential inlet, extends to below the frustoconical section and even to below the inlet opening of the open-ended fluid outlet conduit.

Applicant has found that entrainment is reduced by selecting the specific length of the large diameter section of the fluid outlet conduit and the specific length of the inlet part of the housing so that the inlet of the open-ended fluid outlet conduit is below the inlet zone.

Applicant have also found that the separation efficiency of a swirl tube separator can be improved by selecting a larger ratio of the ratio of the distance from the free end of the small diameter section of the fluid outlet conduit to the location to which the swirl zone extends and the inner diameter of the cylindrical mid section of the housing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a swirl tube separator having a high separation efficiency.

To this end the swirl tube separator according to the invention is characterized in that the specific distance from said free end of the small diameter section of the fluid outlet conduit to said location near the solids outlet opening to which the swirl zone extends is between 1.0 and 3.0, in that the specific length of the large diameter section of the fluid outlet conduit is between 1.0 and 1.4, and in that the specific length of the inlet part of the housing is between 0.50 and 0.70.

In the specification and in the claims the expressions "specific distance", "specific length" and "specific inner diameter" are used to refer to the ratio of said distance, length and inner diameter to the inner diameter of the cylindrical mid section of the housing.

The invention will now be described by way of example in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Reference is made to Figure 1. The swirl tube separator comprises a housing 1 having an inlet part 3 at its upper end and a solids outlet opening 5 at its lower end part. The inlet part 3 is in communication with an inlet opening 9.

An open-ended fluid outlet conduit 11 extends concentrically into the housing 1. The lower end of the fluid outlet conduit 11 is arranged between the inlet part 3 and the solids outlet opening 5. The fluid outlet conduit 11 comprises a large diameter section in the form of a primary section 13, a downwardly tapering frustoconical section 15 joined to the lower end of the primary section 13, and a small diameter section in the form of a secondary section 17 joined to the lower end of the frustoconical section 15. The largest inner diameter of the frustoconical section 15 is equal to the inner diameter of the primary section 13 and the smallest inner diameter of the frustoconical section 15 is equal to the inner diameter of the secondary section 17.

Swirl imparting means in the form of swirl vanes 19 are arranged in the inlet part 3 and between the inner wall of the housing 1 and the outer wall of the primary section 13 of the fluid outlet conduit 11.

A swirl zone 20 extends in the housing 1 between the swirl imparting means in the form of swirl vanes 19 and the solids outlet opening 5.

During normal operation a mixture of gas and solid particles is introduced into the inlet part 3 through inlet opening 9. The mixture flows downwardly between the inner wall of the housing 1 and the outer wall of the primary section 13 of the fluid outlet conduit 11, and passes the swirl vanes 19, which swirl vanes 19 impart a swirl to the mixture. The swirling mixture forms a vortex in the swirl zone 20.

The swirling solid particles in the mixture are flung towards the inner wall of the housing 1 by the centrifugal forces acting on them. At the inner wall of the housing 1 the solid particles flow downwardly by gravitational forces. The solid particles are discharged from the swirl zone 20 through the solids outlet opening 5.

The gas in the vortex is withdrawn from the swirl zone 20 through the fluid outlet conduit 11.

The alternative swirl tube separator shown in Figure 2 is additionally provided with a vortex stabilizer 21 arranged at or near the solids outlet opening 5. The vortex stabilizer 21 comprises a vortex stabilizer plate 23 arranged perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the housing 1, and a vortex finder rod 25 arranged parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing 1 and extending in the direction of the fluid outlet conduit 11.

Normal operation of the alternative swirl tube separator is similar to normal operation of the swirl tube separator with reference to Figure 1. The function of the vortex stabilizer is to stabilize the vortex in the housing 1 and to delimit the lower end of the vortex.

The inlet part 3 of the housing 1 may alternatively be provided with swirl imparting means in the form of a tangential inlet (not shown).

Normal operation of a swirl tube separator provided with a tangential inlet is similar to normal operation of the swirl tube separator provided with swirl vanes 19.

The swirl tube separator according to the invention is similarly operated when a mixture of liquid and solid particles is introduced into the inlet part 3.

It has been found that the discharge of solid particles through the fluid outlet conduit can be further reduced by choosing the dimensions of the swirl tube separator according to each of the following specifications: the specific length of the secondary section 17 of the fluid outlet conduit 11 to be between 0.25 and 1.0, the specific length of the frustoconical section 15 of the fluid outlet conduit 11 to be between 0.20 and 0.30, the specific inner diameter of the secondary section 17 of the fluid outlet conduit 11 to be between 0.20 and 0.40, the specific inner diameter of the primary section 13 of the fluid outlet conduit 11 to be between 0.55 and 0.75, the specific length of the primary section 13 of the fluid outlet conduit 11 to be between 1.0 and 1.4, and the specific length of the inlet part 3 to be between 0.50 and 0.70.

The following experiments 1-3 have been carried out to illustrate the swirl tube separator according to the invention.

The expression "swirl number" is used to refer to the ratio of the tangential component of the mixture velocity to the axial component of the mixture velocity.

Experiment 1

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 1 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 2.18, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.57, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.26, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60, specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.38, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65.

A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and in the fluid outlet conduit was 1930 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.092 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 99.63% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 0.37% through the fluid outlet conduit.

Experiment 2

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 2 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 2.43, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.31, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.26, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60, specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.38, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65. A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and in the fluid outlet conduit was 2000 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.092 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 99.47% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 0.53% through the fluid outlet conduit.

Experiment 3

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 3 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 1.96, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.78, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.26, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60, specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.38, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65.

A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and in the fluid outlet conduit was 1980 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.093 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 99.57% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 0.43% through the fluid outlet conduit.

The following experiments 4-6 have been carried out as comparison.

Experiment 4

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 4 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 1.53, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.26, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60, specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.38, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65.

A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and in the fluid outlet conduit was 1920 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.095 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 99.49% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 0.51% through the fluid outlet conduit.

Experiment 5

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 5 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 1.86, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.56, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.56, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60, specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.38, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65.

A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and in the fluid outlet conduit was 1830 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.093 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 99.53% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 0.47% through the fluid outlet conduit.

Experiment 6

The swirl tube separator used in experiment 6 had the following characteristics: specific distance between lower ends of the fluid outlet conduit and the swirl zone = 1.74, specific length of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.07, specific length of the frustoconical section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.26, specific length of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 1.21, specific length of the inlet part = 0.60 specific inner diameter of the secondary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.46, specific inner diameter of the primary section of the fluid outlet conduit = 0.65.

A mixture of gas and solid particles was supplied to the inlet part of the cylindrical housing. The gas had a density of 1.23 kg/m³ and the pressure difference between the gas at the inlet part and at the fluid outlet conduit was 1260 Pa. The swirl number of the mixture in the swirl zone near the swirl imparting means was 1.73. The mixture contained 0.093 kg/m³ solid particles having a mean diameter of 14 µm. As a result it was found that 98.92% of the solid particles was discharged through the solids outlet opening and 1.08% through the fluid outlet conduit.

 A swirl tube separator for separating solids from a mixture of fluid and solids, the separator comprising: - a housing (1) having a cylindrical mid section; - an inlet opening (9) for the mixture arranged near a first end of the housing; - an inlet part (3) communicating with the inlet opening; - a solids outlet opening (5) arranged near a second end of the housing; - a fluid outlet conduit (11) being arranged concentrically within the housing, said outlet conduit comprising a small diameter section (17), a large diameter section (13) and a frustoconical section (15) for interconnecting the small diameter (17) section and the large diameter section, the small diameter section having a free end which is in direct fluid communication with the interior of the housing and the large diameter section extending through said first end of the housing; and - a swirl zone (20) which extends in use of the separator through the interior of the housing from near the inlet opening (9) to a location near the solids outlet opening (5), characterized in that the specific distance from said free end of the small diameter section (17) of the fluid outlet conduit (11) to said location near the solids outlet opening (5) to which the swirl zone (20) extends is between 1.0 and 3.0, in that the specific length of the large diameter section of the fluid outlet (13) conduit is between 1.0 and 1.4, and in that the specific length of the inlet part (3) of the housing is between 0.50 and 0.70, wherein the expressions "specific distance", "specific length" and "specific inner diameter" refer to the ratio of said distance, length and inner diameter to the inner diameter of the cylindrical mid section of the housing. The separator of claim 1 wherein said location near the solids outlet opening (5) to which the swirl zone (20) extends is defined by the location at which a vortex stabilizer (21) is mounted within the housing. The separator of claim 1 wherein the solids outlet opening (5) is formed by a tapered frustoconical end section of the housing and said location to which said swirl zone (20) extends is formed by the downstream end of said frustoconical end section of the housing. The separator of claim 1, wherein swirl imparting means (19) are arranged in an inlet part of the housing, which inlet part is arranged near the first end of said housing. Swirl tube separator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the specific length of the small diameter section (17) of the fluid outlet conduit (11) is between 0.25 and 1.0. Swirl tube separator according to any one of the claims 1-5, wherein the specific length of the frustoconical section (15) of the fluid outlet conduit (11) is between 0.20 and 0.30. Swirl tube separator according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the specific inner diameter of the small diameter section (17) of the fluid outlet conduit (11) is between 0.20 and 0.40. Swirl tube separator according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein the specific inner diameter of the large diameter section (13) of the fluid outlet conduit (11) is between 0.55 and 0.75. Swirl tube separator according to any one of the claims 1-10, wherein the largest inner diameter of the frustoconical section (15) is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter section (13) of the fluid outlet conduit (11). Wirbelrohr-Abscheider zum Abscheiden oder Abtrennen von Feststoffen aus einem Gemisch aus Fluid und Feststoffen, wobei der Abscheider umfaßt: - ein Gehäuse (1), welches einen zylindrischen Mittelabschnitt hat; - eine Einlaßöffnung (9) für das Gemisch, die nahe einem ersten Ende des Gehäuses angeordnet ist; - einen Einlaßteil (3), der mit der Einlaßöffnung in Verbindung steht; - eine Feststoffauslaßöffnung (5), die nahe einem zweiten Ende des Gehäuses angeordnet ist; - eine Fluidauslaßleitung (11), die in dem Gehäuse konzentrisch angeordnet ist, wobei die Auslaßleitung einen Abschnitt (17) kleinen Durchmessers, einen Abschnitt (13) großen Durchmessers und einen kegelstumpfförmigen Abschnitt (15) hat zum Verbinden des Abschnitts (17) kleinen Durchmessers und des Abschnitts großen Durchmessers, und wobei der Abschnitt kleinen Durchmessers ein freies Ende hat, welches sich in direkter Fluidverbindung mit dem Inneren des Gehäuses befindet, und der Abschnitt großen Durchmessers sich durch das erste Ende des Gehäuses erstreckt; und - eine Wirbelzone (20), die sich beim Betrieb des Abscheiders durch das Innere des Gehäuses erstreckt von einer Stelle nahe der Einlaßöffnung (9) zu einer Stelle nahe der Feststoffauslaßöffnung (5),    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
   daß der spezifische Abstand von dem freien Ende des Abschnitts (17) kleinen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) zu der genannten Stelle nahe der Feststoffauslaßöffnung (5), zu welcher die Wirbelzone (20) sich erstreckt, zwischen 1,0 und 3,0 liegt, die spezifische Länge des Abschnitts (13) großen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung zwischen 1,0 und 1,4 liegt, und daß die spezifische Länge des Einlaßteils (3) des Gehäuses zwischen 0,50 und 0,70 liegt, wobei die Ausdrücke ''spezifischer Abstand'', ''spezifische Länge'' und ''spezifischer Innendurchmesser'' sich auf das Verhältnis des genannten Abstandes, der genannten Länge und des genannten Innendurchmessers zu dem Innendurchmesser des zylindrischen Mittelabschnitts des Gehäuses beziehen. Abscheider nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Stelle nahe der Feststoffauslaßöffnung (5), zu welcher die Wirbelzone (20) sich erstreckt, durch die Stelle definiert ist, an welcher ein Wirbelstabilisator (21) in dem Gehäuse angebracht ist. Abscheider nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Feststoffauslaßöffnung (5) durch einen sich verjüngenden kegelstumpfförmigen Endabschnitt des Gehäuses gebildet ist und die Stelle, zu welcher die Wirbelzone (20) sich erstreckt, durch das stromabwärtige Ende des kegelstumpfförmigen Endabschnitts des Gehäuses gebildet ist. Abscheider nach Anspruch 1, wobei Wirbelerteilungsmittel (19) in einem Einlaßteil des Gehäuses angeordnet sind, wobei dieser Einlaßteil nahe dem ersten Ende des Gehäuses angeordnet ist. Wirbelrohr-Abscheider nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die spezifische Länge des Abschnitts (17) kleinen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) zwischen 0,25 und 1,0 liegt. Wirbelrohr-Abscheider nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die spezifische Länge des kegelstumpfförmigen Abschnitts (15) der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) zwischen 0,`20 und 0,30 liegt. Wirbelrohr-Abscheider nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei der spezifische Innendurchmesser des Abschnitts (17) kleinen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) zwischen 0,20 und 0,40 liegt. Wirbelrohr-Abscheider nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei der spezifische Innendurchmesser des Abschnitts (13) großen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) zwischen 0,55 und 0,75 liegt. Wirbelrohr-Abscheider nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei der größte Innendurchmesser des kegelstumpfförmigen Abschnitts (15) gleich oder kleiner als der Innendurchmesser des Abschnitts (13) kleinen Durchmessers der Fluidauslaßleitung (11) ist. Tube séparateur à vortex destiné à séparer les solides d'un mélange de fluide et de solides, le séparateur comportant : - un boîtier (1) ayant un tronçon médian cylindrique, - une ouverture d'entrée (9) pour le mélange agencée à proximité d'une première extrémité du boîtier, - une partie d'entrée (3) communiquant avec l'ouverture d'entrée, - une ouverture (5) de sortie des solides agencée à proximité d'une seconde extrémité du boîtier, - un conduit (11) de sortie de fluide agencé concentriquement à l'intérieur du boîtier, ledit conduit de sortie comportant un tronçon (17) à petit diamètre, un tronçon (13) à grand diamètre et un tronçon tronconique (15) destiné à relier le tronçon (17) à petit diamètre et le tronçon à grand diamètre, le tronçon à petit diamètre ayant une extrémité libre qui est en communication de fluide directe avec l'intérieur du boîtier et le tronçon à grand diamètre s'étendant à travers ladite première extrémité du boîtier, et - une zone de tourbillonnement (20) qui s'étend lors de l'utilisation du séparateur à travers la partie intérieure du boîtier depuis une position proche de l'ouverture d'entrée (9) jusqu'à une position proche de l'ouverture (5) de sortie des solides,    caractérisé en ce que la distance spécifique partant de ladite extrémité libre du tronçon (17) à petit diamètre du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide jusqu'audit emplacement situé à proximité de l'ouverture (5) de sortie de solides auquel la zone de tourbillonnement (20) s'étend est entre 1,0 et 3,0, en ce que la longueur spécifique du tronçon à grand diamètre du conduit (13) de sortie de fluide est entre 1,0 et 1,4 et en ce que la longueur spécifique de la partie d'entrée (3) du boîtier est entre 0,50 et 0,70, dans lequel les expressions "distance spécifique", "longueur spécifique" et "diamètre intérieur spécifique" sont utilisées pour représenter le rapport de ladite distance, ladite longueur et ledit diamètre intérieur sur le diamètre intérieur du tronçon médian cylindrique du boîtier. Séparateur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit emplacement situé à proximité de l'ouverture (5) de sortie de solides au niveau duquel s'étend la zone de tourbillonnement (20) est définie par la position à laquelle un stabilisateur (21) de vortex est monté à l'intérieur du boîtier. Séparateur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'ouverture (5) de sortie de solides est formée par un tronçon du boîtier formant extrémité tronconique se rétrécissant et ledit emplacement auquel s'étend ladite zone de tourbillonnement (20) est formé par l'extrémité aval dudit tronçon d'extrémité tronconique du boîtier. Séparateur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits moyens (19) impliquant un tourbillonnement sont agencés dans la partie d'entrée du boîtier, laquelle partie d'entrée est agencée à proximité de la première extrémité dudit boîtier. Tube séparateur à vortex selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel la longueur spécifique du tronçon (17) à petit diamètre du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide est comprise entre 0,25 et 1,0. Tube séparateur à vortex selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel la longueur spécifique du tronçon tronconique (15) du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide est comprise entre 0,20 et 0,30. Tube séparateur à vortex selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le diamètre intérieur spécifique du tronçon (17) à petit diamètre du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide est compris entre 0,20 et 0,40. Tube séparateur à vortex selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel le diamètre intérieur spécifique du tronçon (13) à grand diamètre du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide est compris entre 0,55 et 0,75. Tube séparateur à vortex selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel le diamètre intérieur le plus grand du tronçon tronconique (15) est égal au diamètre intérieur du tronçon (13) à grand diamètre du conduit (11) de sortie de fluide ou plus petit que ce dernier.