Method and apparatus for separating particles fluidly suspended in a

Abstract

In one embodiment, the cyclone separator includes an adjustable sidearm conduit which selectively receives different strata of particles passing through the radially outer sectors of the cylindrical region defined within the cyclone body. The cyclone separator may further include a traveling cone valve to restrict the size of the lower outlet. The vortex finder of the cyclone may include a vortex side port to extract the heavier particles entrained in the forced vortex received by the intake of the vortex finder. An inner vortex finder tube is further disposed in the passage through the vortex finder. In another embodiment, the traveling cone is replaced by a lower outlet head spaced from the lower outlet and the lower portion of the housing defining the apex of the frustoconical region. A control system may be combined with the cyclone separator to analyze the particles extracted from the various outlets from the cyclone and effect a change of the controllable features of the cyclone such as the position of the sidearm conduit and affecting the size of the lower outlet. A method for separating particles includes establishing a free vortex and a forced vortex within the cyclone and selectively extracting strata of particles traveling in the radially outer sectors in the cylindrical region of the cyclone body.