Centrifugal separator for separating entrained liquid from a stream of

Abstract

A gas stream with entrained liquid is given a helical motion which causes the entrained liquid to impinge and coalesce on the wall of a separation chamber, with gases being discharged through a tailpipe which extends inwardly into the downstream end of the separation chamber. A closed second chamber surrounds the tailpipe downstream of the separation chamber. Aperture means in the tailpipe permits communication between the interiors of the second chamber and the tailpipe. A conduit means, provided downstream of the aperture means but within the tailpipe, is arranged to permit communication between the center of the tailpipe and the interior of the second chamber tending to equalize pressures so as to cause any residual liquid collected on the interior surface of the tailpipe to flow out of the tailpipe through the aperture means. Kinetic energy transfer from within the tailpipe is minimized by forming the aperture means of elongated slots which lie at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and transverse to the helical flow path of gases at the wall of the tailpipe. Liquid agglomeration on the edge of the tailpipe slots is promoted by having the tailpipe slots inclined from the horizontal. The liquid from the primary separation stage is released from the separation chamber through a liquid drain opening at the lower end of the separation chamber wall. This liquid flows into a calming chamber and thence over a weir into a downcomer which leads to a lower liquid reservoir.