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Publication Number
US-8012229-B1
Publication Date
2011-09-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
Extraction devices are disclosed for extracting liquid particulates from a gaseous stream. The extraction devices may have a powered or free spinning rotating extractor that may be mounted in the extraction device's source or extraction duct. During operation, liquid particulates impinging on the rotating extractor form a thin film of extracted liquid that travels due to centrifugal force to the periphery of the extractor's exterior surface where the extracted liquid may be flung to the inner surface of the extraction duct and collected.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an extraction device for extracting entrained liquid particulates from a gaseous stream using a rotating extractor immersed within an extraction duct. The extractor includes an upstream end and an exterior surface, where the exterior surface comprises an upstream surface and a periphery. As the gaseous stream passes through the extraction duct and the extractor rotates, at least some of the liquid particulates are extracted by the upstream surface to form a thin film of extracted liquid on the upstream surface.
As the extractor rotates, centrifugal force urges the extracted liquid on the upstream surface to travel to the periphery of the upstream surface and to be flung from the periphery to an inner surface of the extraction duct. At least some of the extracted liquid on the inner surface travels to an extracted liquid outlet, thereby removing entrained liquid particulates from the gaseous stream. In the described configuration, the upstream end does not comprise an inlet and the extractor does not include an interior central space for receiving the gaseous stream from an inlet.
In further embodiments, the extraction duct and extractor arrangement includes structural and flow-related features to influence extraction and reduce re-entrainment, including a thin annular plate carried by a portion of a downstream edge of a vane carried by a downstream surface of the extractor. The extraction duct also has an extraction duct outlet with a cross sectional size smaller than the cross sectional size of the extraction duct near the extraction duct outlet, and the extractor is located near the extraction duct outlet with overlapping vane and duct surface features.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, each directed to an extraction device for extracting entrained liquid particulates from a gaseous stream by using a rotating extractor that forms a thin liquid film and centrifugally flings extracted liquid to an inner extraction-duct surface and extracted liquid outlet. Inventive features are refined across additional structural and geometric arrangements, including re-entrainment preventer structures and specific duct outlet and vane/annular-plate geometry.
Rotating extractor forming a thin film on an upstream surface
An extraction device comprising an extractor, an extraction duct, and an extractor mount operable to mount the extractor for rotation at least partially within the extraction duct, where during use the extractor is immersed within the gaseous stream, rotates, and at least some liquid particulates are extracted by an upstream surface of the extractor to form a thin film of extracted liquid on the upstream surface.
Centrifugal flinging of extracted liquid to an inner extraction-duct surface
Centrifugal force created by rotation urges extracted liquid on the upstream surface to travel to a periphery of the upstream surface and be flung from the periphery to an inner surface of the extraction duct, and at least some extracted liquid on the inner surface travels to an extracted liquid outlet.
Rotating extractor mounted within the extraction duct and gaseous stream
An extraction device with an extractor mount that mounts the extractor for rotation, where the extractor mount mounts the extractor at least partially within the extraction duct and within the gaseous stream, and wherein the extractor rotates to form the thin film on the upstream surface and flings extracted liquid to the inner surface and extracted liquid outlet.
Narrowed extraction duct outlet relative to duct near the outlet
The extraction duct further comprises an extraction duct outlet with a cross sectional size, the extraction duct has a cross sectional size, and the cross sectional size of the extraction duct outlet is smaller than the cross sectional size of the extraction duct near the extraction duct outlet, with the extractor located near the extraction duct outlet.
Vane and overlapping extraction-duct surface with a thin annular plate
The exterior surface of the extractor comprises a downstream surface with a vane carried by the downstream surface, where the extraction duct includes an extraction duct surface at least partially surrounding the extraction duct outlet, the vane has a downstream edge that overlaps at least part of the extraction duct surface, and the extractor further comprises a thin annular plate carried by at least part of the downstream edge of the vane.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive concept is a rotating extractor immersed in a gaseous stream within an extraction duct that extracts entrained liquid particulates as a thin film on an upstream surface, then uses centrifugal force to fling extracted liquid to an inner duct surface for conveyance to an extracted liquid outlet. Further inventive coverage includes a narrowed extraction duct outlet, and a vane arrangement with overlapping duct surface and a thin annular plate.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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