Cyclofil (proprietary) Limited

Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa Limited

Universal Filtration (proprietary) Limited

Pierre De Villiers

Willem J Prinsloo

Marten C Van Dijken

Ivor M Minnaar

Gideon J Du Toit

A filter system 10 includes a pre-filter in a pre-filter zone 18 and a final filter in a final filter zone 22. The pre-filter is in the form of at least one inertial filter, e.g. an array 28 of axial flow cyclones 30. The final filter is in the form of a media filter 36 formed of a lofted bat of fibrous material which is of non-homogeneous structure through its depth. An upstream side is lofty, and a downstream side is of set structure. A contaminated fluid flow stream enters via an inlet 12. Contaminants are filtered out by the axial flow cyclones to be removed via a dust cover 32. Pre-filtered fluid flows via a chamber 20 through the media filter 36. After final filtration in the media filter it exits via a chamber 24 and an outlet 14.

Filtration

A hydro-cyclone includes a hollow round casing having, co-axially in series, a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion tapering toward one end of the cyclone. An end plate closes off the cylindrical portion opposed to the taper end. A tangential inlet conducts a fluid flow stream to be classified tangentially into the cylindrical portion. A co-axial, heavy fraction outlet is provided at the taper end. A co-axial, light fraction outlet is provided through the end plate, preferably via a porthole in the cylindrical portion axially spaced from the end plate. The invention provides for drawing-off of fluid flowing from the inlet inwardly in a boundary layer adjacent the end plate via a circulation outlet in the end plate, preferably annularly around the light fraction outlet.

Hydro-cyclone with circulation outlet for boundary layer flow

A vortex tube gas cleaning device 10 is used to clean a particle containing gas flow stream of particles. The device 10 has an outer tube 12 having an inlet 14 at an upstream end, and, in series downstream of the inlet 14 a vortex generator 16 in a vortex region 18, and a separation region 20. An inner extraction tube 30 is located at the downstream end of the tube 12 and extends concentrically within the outer tube 12, upstream, canti-lever fashion. A peripheral outlet region 24 is defined annularly around the inner tube 30 downstream of the separation region 20 and leads to outlet ports 48. A central outlet region 28 is defined within the inner tube 30 downstream of the separation region 20 and leads to an outlet. The manner of location of the inner tube 30 ensures that the peripheral outlet region 24 is continuous or uninterrupted, especially also through an annular orifice 29. Upstream extremities 50 of the ports 48 are spaced from the annular orifice 29 a distance at least 25% of the nominal diameter of the tube 12.

Vortex tube separating device

A vortex tube gas cleaning device 10 is used to clean a particle containing gas flow stream of particles. The device 10 has an outer tube 12 having an inlet 14 at an upstream end, and, in series downstream of the inlet 14, a vortex generator 16 in a vortex region 18, and a separation region 19. An inner extraction tube 40 is located at the downstream end of the tube 12 and extends concentrically within the outer tube 12, upstream, canti-lever fashion. A peripheral outlet region 22 is defined annularly around the inner tube 40 downstream of the separation region 19 and leads to an outlet port 36. A central outlet region 24 is defined within the inner tube 40 downstream of the separation region 19 and leads to an outlet 48. A ring 50 which is integral with the inner tube 40 extends into the outer peripheral region 22. It has an oblique leading wall 52 leading to a crown defining an annular orifice 54. The wall 52 forms an acceleration region via which flow in the region 22 is accelerated toward the annular orifice 54. The wall 52 commences spatially downstream of a leading edge of an inlet 42 into the tube 40. The leading edge blends into an aerodynamic lip 43.

A vortex tube gas cleaning device 110 is used to clean a particle containing gas flow stream of particles. The device 110 has an outer tube 112 having an inlet 114 at an upstream end, and, in series downstream of the inlet 114 a vortex generator 116 in a vortex region 118, and a separation region 119. An inner extraction tube 140 is located at the downstream end of the tube 112 and extends concentrically within the outer tube 112, upstream, canti-lever fashion. A peripheral outlet region 122 is defined annularly around the inner tube 140 downstream of the separation region 119 and leads to an outlet port 136. A central outlet region 124 is defined within the inner tube 140 downstream of the separation region 119 and leads to an outlet 148. The periphery 130 of the outer tube 112 diverges at an angle 132 through the vortex generating region 118 and the separation region 119. The periphery of the vortex generator 116 diverges correspondingly.

Growing community of inventors

Hartbeespoort, South Africa

Pierre De Villiers