Apparatus and methods for separating particles

US6739456B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Florida Research Foundation, INC. · US

Inventors

• Spyros A. Svoronos · Gainesville, US
• H. Steven Crouch · Chapel Hill, US
• Hassan El-Sayed El-Shall · Gainesville, US
• Kevin W. Powers · Gainesville, US
• Gary W. Scheiffele · Gainesville, US
• Rachel Anna Worthen · Katy, US
• Steve Robin Wright · Hillsborough, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 3, 2002
• Grant date: May 25, 2004
• Expiry date: Sep 17, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B04C2009/002
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for classifying a mixture of fine and coarse particles in a fluid stream by size or density comprises a housing, a boundary layer momentum transfer device, and an inlet flow control mechanism. The housing comprises an inlet, an interior chamber, and a fine particle outlet. The boundary layer momentum transfer device comprises a plurality of disks stacked in spaced, parallel relation in the interior chamber. The disks are rotatable about a disk axis. The disks have respective central openings cooperatively defining a plenum having a closed axial end and an opposing open axial end. The plenum communicates with spaces defined between each adjacent disk to cooperatively define a fine particle flow path from the interior chamber, through the spaces, through the plenum and the open axial end thereof, and to the fine particle outlet. The inlet flow control mechanism communicates with the interior chamber and provides an adjustable inlet flow path into the interior chamber. The housing can include a cylindrical, conical, and/or scroll-shaped profile.