Methods of separating materials by use of a centrifugal contactor
AssigneeBattelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC
InventorsMichael L. Restivo, Michael R. Poirier, Fernando F. Fondeur, Samuel D. Fink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Centrifugal contactors that can be used for mixing or separating materials are described. The contactors include a sensing system including a communications fiber within the shaft of the contactors and access ports providing access from the communications fiber to the mixing/separating zone of the contactor. The sensing system can be utilized during operation of the contactor and can provide for detailed and accurate on-line characterization of a protocol, as well as process control and system modification as necessary during operation.
Claims10
A method for separating a first material from a second materials comprising:
- feeding a first material to a separating zone of a centrifugal contactor;
- feeding a second material to the separating zone of the centrifugal contactor;
- spinning the first and second materials about a shaft within the centrifugal contactor by use of a plurality of rotor blades that revolve about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon the spinning, the first and second materials separate within the separating zone according to a density gradient across a span in a radial direction, the radial direction being defined by a radius of the shaft;
- during the spinning, transmitting a signal from the separating zone to a first end of a communications fiber retained within a hollow core of the shaft;
- and
- analyzing the signal to obtain information about the separation.
A method for combining a first material with a second materials comprising:
- feeding a first material to a mixing tank of an impeller mixed tank;
- feeding a second material to the mixing tank of the impeller mixed tank;
- spinning the first and second materials about a shaft within the impeller mixed tank by use of a plurality of rotor blades that revolve about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon the spinning, the first and second materials mix within the mixing tank;
- during the spinning, transmitting a signal from the mixing tank to a first end of a communications fiber retained within a hollow core of the shaft;
- and
- analyzing the signal to obtain information about the mixing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.