Wagner Development, Inc.

Other

Carr Separations, Inc.

Sail Star Inc.

Kendro Laboratory Products Gmbh

Alfa Laval Inc.

Robert B Carr

Stephen B Kessler

Gary W Brown, Sr

Richard A Erikson

A centrifugal separator recovers high specific gravity solids such as whole cells while at the same time enabling sedimentation of low specific gravity solids such as cell debris. The separator is provided with a dual zone separator liner with concentric separator shells or zones. Feed fluid is introduced into an inner shell. High specific gravity solids accumulate against the inner wall of the inner shell. Feed fluid flows into the coaxial outer shell where lower specific gravity solids accumulate on the inner wall of the outer shell under higher g-force relative to that within the inner shell for the same rotational speed. Feed fluid flows out an exit channel. Longitudinal, planar vanes are radially disposed between an outer shell inner wall and an inner shell outer wall. After centrifugation, feed fluid in the inner shell is drained, then accumulated solids are drained from the inner shell into an appropriate receptacle.

Two zone disposable process contact centrifuge for bio-separations

A centrifugal separator includes a cylindrical bowl, a core tube assembly, and an annular piston disposed around the core tube assembly and inside the inner surface of the bowl. Feed liquid is injected down the core tube assembly into the lower portion of the bowl, raising the annular piston. During a separation mode, the bowl rotates at high speed, separating solids from the feed liquid to accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl, while collecting clarified centrate as it exits the top of the bowl and through the core tube assembly. Following solids accumulation, bowl rotation is stopped and residual liquid is pumped from the bowl. In a solids discharge mode, the annular piston is urged downward along a vertical axis in response to compressed gas. The downward movement of the piston forces accumulated solids from the bowl via an opening in the lower end thereof.

Centrifugal separator with annular piston for solids extrusion

A hermetically sealed solids discharge centrifugal separator having a separator bowl with a cylindrical upper portion and a conical lower portion, an inlet port at the bottom of the bowl and an outlet port at the top of the bowl. A disposable liner assembly includes a bowl liner having a cylindrical upper portion and conical lower portion, such that the bowl liner can conform to the interior surface of the separator bowl. The liner assembly further includes a piston within the bowl liner, the piston having an upper portion that conforms to the bowl liner cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion that conforms to the bowl liner conical lower portion. A fluid pathway extends through the piston, with a shuttle valve disposed within the fluid pathway.

Solids discharge centrifugal separator with disposable contact elements

A centrifugal separator includes a cylindrical bowl having a conical lower end with an opening through which feed liquid is injected during a feed mode of operation. During the feed mode, solids separate from the feed liquid and accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl as the bowl rotates at high speed. After accumulation of the solids, the rotation of the bowl is stopped and residual liquid is drained by gravity from the bowl. In a solids discharge mode of operation, a piston of a piston assembly is urged downward along a vertical axis in response to fluid such as compressed gas or hydraulic liquid. The downward movement of the piston forces accumulated solids from the bowl via the opening in the conical lower end thereof. The solids pass from the bowl and into a passage leading to an outlet port, where the solids exit the separator.

Gas driven solids discharge and pumping piston for a centrifugal separator

In a system for combined centrifugation and microfiltration, retentate from a cross-flow microfilter is fed to an automatic piston discharge centrifuge for solids removal, thereby enhancing the efficiency of both processes. The centrifuge includes a cylindrical bowl having a conical lower end with an opening through which feed liquid is injected. Solids separate from the feed liquid and accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl as the bowl rotates at high speed. A microfiltration membrane can be added to improve solids retention in the bowl and provide a filtered centrate. During solids discharge, a piston is urged downward along a vertical axis. The downward movement of the piston forces accumulated solids from the bowl via the opening in the conical lower end thereof.

Solids recovery using cross-flow microfilter and automatic piston discharge centrifuge

A centrifugal separator includes a cylindrical bowl having a conical lower end with an opening through which feed liquid is injected during a feed mode of operation. The feed liquid is separated into centrate and solids, which accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl. A piston assembly includes a conical piston disposed within the cylindrical bowl, coupled to a piston actuator by a two-part piston shaft. During the feed mode of operation, the piston shaft is disconnected, and the piston is held in an uppermost position by hydraulic pressure from the feed liquid as the bowl is rotated, and a centrate valve on the piston is opened to permit the centrate to flow out to a centrate discharge port. After solids are separated and accumulated on an interior surface of the bowl, the rotation of the bowl is stopped and residual centrate is drained therefrom. In a solids discharge and pumping mode of operation, the piston shaft is connected and the piston actuator urges the piston axially downward, closing the centrate valve and forcing the accumulated solids from the bowl via the opening in the conical lower end of the bowl and into a passage leading to a solids outlet port.

Conical piston solids discharge and pumping centrifugal separator

A centrifugal separator includes a cylindrical bowl having a conical lower end with an opening through which feed liquid is injected during a feed mode of operation. The feed liquid is separated into centrate and solids, which accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl. A piston assembly includes a conical piston coupled to a piston actuator by a two-part piston shaft. During the feed mode of operation, the piston shaft is disconnected, the piston is held in an uppermost position by hydraulic pressure from the feed liquid, and a centrate valve on the piston is urged open to permit the centrate to flow out to a centrate discharge port. In a solids discharge mode of operation, the piston shaft is connected and the piston actuator urges the piston axially downward, closing the centrate valve and forcing the accumulated solids from the bowl via the opening in the conical lower end of the bowl.

Conical piston solids discharge centrifugal separator

A centrifugal separator provides for the discharge of solids by either an axial-motion scraper or a piston/extrusion assembly. The axial-motion scraper is used with hard-packed or friable solids, and includes an integral feed liquid accelerator and feed holes. The piston/extrusion assembly is used with pasty solids, and includes a piston extending into a separator bowl and having openings permitting fluid communication across the piston. After high-speed separation is complete, a centrate valve closes one end of the bowl, and the piston is moved axially in the bowl by an actuator. Accumulated solids are scraped from the sides of the bowl and extruded out of the piston openings for discharge from the bowl. A bowl suspension employs a spherical mounting structure and a short, stiff spindle. A spherical portion of a bearing housing is mounted in a spherical mounting region at one end of the separator, with a cylindrical portion of the bearing housing extending along the rotational axis. A bearing and the spindle of the separator bowl are mounted within the cylindrical portion of the bearing housing. The suspension is retained by a stiff resilient ring and retaining member secured to the separator in compressive contact with the spherical portion of the bearing housing.

Centrifugal separator with scraper or piston for discharging solids

A centrifugal separator provides for discharge of solids by either an axial-motion scraper or a piston/extrusion assembly. The axial-motion scraper ( ) is used with hard-packed or friable solids, and includes and integral feed liquid accelerator and feed holes. The piston/extrusion assembly is used with pasty solids, and includes a piston ( ) extending into a bowl ( ) and having openings ( ) permitting fluid communication across the piston. After separation is complete, a centrate valve ( ) closes one end of the bowl, and the piston is moved axially in the bowl by an actuator. A bowl suspension employs a spherical mounting structure ( ) and a short spindle ( ). A bearing ( ) and the spindle ( ) of the bowl are mounted within the bearing housing. The suspension is retained by a ring and retaining member secured to the separator in compressive contact with the spherical portion of the bearing housing.

Automatic tube bowl centrifuge for centrifugal separation of liquids and solids with solids discharge using a scraper or piston

A centrifugal separator includes a rotatable separator bowl, a hollow shaft spindle in the bowl along the rotational axis of the bowl, and a variable-drive motor for selectively rotating the bowl at a high separating speed and at a lower scraping speed. A scraper and feed assembly including scraper blades is supported by the shaft spindle within the separator bowl. A feed liquid is supplied to the separator bowl via the scraper and feed assembly at substantially the interior surface of the separator bowl. The scraper assembly rotates with the bowl at the separating speed while centrate is drawn off. While the bowl is operated at the scraping speed, the scraper assembly is prevented from rotating with the bowl and is moved axially with respect to the bowl to scrape accumulated solids from the interior surface of the bowl. Loosened solids exit the centrifuge via a discharge port at the bottom of the bowl.

Centrifuge having axially movable scraping assembly for automatic removal of solids

Low-shear feeding system for use with centrifuges

A dry cleaning process and system for cleaning articles disposed in a cleaning chamber having a rotatable member therein, using carbon dioxide (CO,) from a storage tank. The process includes causing a pressure differential between the storage tank and the cleaning chamber, filling the cleaning chamber with a predetermined amount of liquid CO,enabling flow of liquid CO,from the storage tank to the cleaning chamber in response to the pressure differential, and rotating the rotatable member.

Dry cleaning process using rotating basket agitation

A dry-cleaning process for cleaning articles disposed in a cleaning chamber having jet inflow ports, using carbon dioxide (CO,) from first and second storage tanks, the process including the steps of compressing gaseous CO,into the first storage tank to cause a positive pressure differential between the first storage tank and the cleaning chamber, filling the cleaning chamber with liquid carbon dioxide by enabling CO,flow from the first storage tank to the cleaning chamber in response to the positive pressure differential, alternately compressing gaseous CO,into the first or second storage tanks to cause a pressure differential between the first and second storage tanks, and flowing liquid CO,between the first and second storage tanks, via the jet ports and through the cleaning chamber, in response to the pressure differential between the first and second storage tanks, to provide jet agitation in the cleaning chamber and a periodically continuous flow of liquid CO,through the cleaning chamber.

Dry cleaning process and system using jet agitation

A centrifugal separator for separating the solids component of a feed liquid comprises a bowl that is rotatable about a vertically disposed axis. The bowl has an interior wall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a generally cylindrical portion. A feed cone assembly is located at the bottom of the closed conical lower end. The feed cone assembly includes a conical outer wall and an integrally-formed, truncated cusp-shaped hub which extends upwardly towards the interior of the bowl. An annular chamber is located between the conical outer wall and the hub. A feed pipe extends from the upper end of the bowl to the lower end and includes a feed outlet which is sized and shaped to fit within the annular channel. Liquid feed is introduced into the annular channel through the feed pipe while the bowl rotates. Centrifugal force moves liquid in the annular channel outwardly along the smooth contours of the channel and onto the conical wall of the feed cone. The liquid gradually and gently moves up along the outwardly tapering conical wall, increasing its rotational velocity until it blends with the liquid located within the spinning bowl. In another embodiment, the bowl includes an open lower end and a closed upper end. An inverted feed cone is positioned at the upper end and includes a rounded cusp-shaped diverter whose surface gradually merges with the outer conical wall of the feed cone and defines an annular channel. A feed pipe extends from the lower open end and includes a feed applicator which is positioned coaxially with and adjacent to the cusp-shaped diverter. The feed applicator is sized and shaped to closely follow the contours of the cusp-shaped diverter so that as the bowl is rotated, liquid feed forced through the feed pipe is applied to the outer surface of the spinning cusp-shaped diverter and is gradually and gently introduced to the conical wall of the feed cone and into the generally cylindrical portion of the spinning bowl. In another embodiment, a vacuum within a predetermined range is applied within the bowl to reduce power consumption and foaming.

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Brookline, MA, United States of America

Robert B Carr