Separation assembly with a two-piece impulse turbine

A turbine assembly for use in a separation assembly, the turbine assembly sized for positioning within a housing of the separation assembly and positionable so as to be contacted by fluid expelled from a jet of the separation assembly, thereby causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing, the turbine assembly comprising:

• a first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes, a plurality of first ribs defining a plurality of first recesses, and a plurality of first inner walls;
• and
• a second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes, a plurality of second ribs defining a plurality of second recesses, and a plurality of second inner walls,
• the first turbine portion and the second turbine portion being separately formed from each other and attachable together,
• the plurality of first vanes and the plurality of second vanes defining axially-extending channels that each extend radially between one of the plurality of first vanes and one of the plurality of second vanes when the turbine assembly is assembled,
• the plurality of first inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs;
• and
• the plurality of second inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs.

A method of assembling a separation assembly, the separation assembly comprising a housing, a jet that expels a fluid within the housing, and a turbine assembly that comprises a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion, the method comprising:

• separately forming the first turbine portion and the second turbine portion of the turbine assembly, the first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes, a plurality of first ribs defining a plurality of first recesses, and a plurality of first inner walls, and the second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes, a plurality of second ribs defining a plurality of second recesses, and a plurality of second inner walls;
• attaching the first turbine portion and the second turbine portion together to form the turbine assembly,
• the plurality of first vanes and the plurality of second vanes defining axially-extending channels that each extend radially between one of the plurality of first vanes and one of the plurality of second vanes when the turbine assembly is assembled;
• and
• positioning the turbine assembly within the housing so as to be contacted by the fluid expelled from the jet, the fluid causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing;
• the plurality of first inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs;
• and
• the plurality of second inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs.

A separation assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a jet that expels a fluid within the housing;
• and
• a turbine assembly positioned within the housing and positioned so as to be contacted by the fluid expelled from the jet, the fluid causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing,
• the turbine assembly comprising a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion that are separately formed from each other and attachable together, the first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes, a plurality of first ribs defining a plurality of first recesses, and a plurality of first inner walls, and the second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes, a plurality of second ribs defining a plurality of second recesses, and a plurality of second inner walls,
• wherein the plurality of first vanes and the plurality of second vanes each comprise an undercut feature that partially blocks fluid from the jet in an axial direction;
• the plurality of first inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs;
• and
• the plurality of second inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs.

A separation assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a jet that expels a fluid within the housing;
• and
• a turbine assembly positioned within the housing and positioned so as to be contacted by the fluid expelled from the jet, the fluid causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing,
• the turbine assembly comprising a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion that are separately formed from each other and attachable together, the first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes and the second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes,
• wherein the first turbine portion comprises a first center hub that the first plurality of vanes extends from and the second turbine portion comprises a second center hub that the second plurality of vanes extends from,
• wherein the first center hub comprises a plurality of first ribs and defines a plurality of first recesses and the second hub comprises a plurality of second ribs and a plurality of second recesses,
• wherein the plurality of first ribs and the plurality of first recesses of the first hub are complementary to the plurality of second ribs and the plurality of second recesses of the second hub such that each of the plurality of first ribs fits securely within a respective one of the plurality of second recesses and between two of the plurality of second ribs,
• wherein the first turbine portion comprises a plurality of first inner walls that are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs and the second turbine portion comprises a plurality of second inner walls that are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs, and
• wherein the plurality of first inner walls and the plurality of second inner walls are recessed relative to an outermost radial surface of the plurality of first ribs and the plurality of second ribs, respectively.

A separation assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a jet that expels a fluid within the housing;
• and
• a turbine assembly positioned within the housing and positioned so as to be contacted by the fluid expelled from the jet, the fluid causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing,
• the turbine assembly comprising a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion that are separately formed from each other and attachable together, the first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes, a plurality of first ribs defining a plurality of first recesses, and a plurality of first inner walls, and the second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes, a plurality of second ribs defining a plurality of second recesses, and a plurality of second inner walls,
• wherein the first turbine portion comprises a first center hub that the first plurality of vanes extends from and the second turbine portion comprises a second center hub that the second plurality of vanes extends from,
• wherein the second hub comprises an extension that extends through and beyond the first hub when the first turbine portion and the second turbine portion are attached together such that the first turbine portion is positioned axially between opposite axial ends of the second turbine portion,
• the plurality of first inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs, and
• the plurality of second inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs.

A separation assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a jet that expels a fluid within the housing;
• and
• a turbine assembly positioned within the housing and positioned so as to be contacted by the fluid expelled from the jet, the fluid causing the turbine assembly to rotate about a center rotational axis within the housing,
• the turbine assembly comprising a first turbine portion and a second turbine portion that are separately formed from each other and attachable together, the first turbine portion comprising a plurality of first vanes, a plurality of first ribs defining a plurality of first recesses, and a plurality of first inner walls, and the second turbine portion comprising a plurality of second vanes, a plurality of second ribs defining a plurality of second recesses, and a plurality of second inner walls,
• wherein each of the plurality of first vanes and each of the plurality of second vanes extends axially between a top end and a bottom end and comprise an impingement surface on a first side thereof, a backside on a second side thereof, and a chamfer between the backside and the top end, and
• wherein the jet is positioned such that at least a portion of the fluid enters into the turbine assembly along the respective top ends of the plurality of first vanes and the plurality of second vanes and the fluid from the jet is directed directly to the impingement surface;
• the plurality of first inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of first ribs;
• and
• the plurality of second inner walls are each positioned between two of the plurality of second ribs.