Separator device

A rotary impact separator for separating a material, the rotary impact separator comprising:

• a body portion comprising one or more walls, the one or more walls defining:
• a substantially hollow chamber;
• an inlet opening, in communication with the hollow chamber, through which the material is received;
• a first outlet opening, in communication with the hollow chamber, through which a first co-product of the material exits the hollow chamber;
• a second outlet opening, in communication with the hollow chamber, through which a second co-product of the material exits the hollow chamber;
• an impact device extending at least partially into the hollow chamber defined within the body portion, the impact device comprising:
• a shaft that extends within the hollow chamber, the shaft configured to rotate within the hollow chamber;
• and
• one or more blades attached to the shaft and configured to contact the material and separate the material into the first co-product and the second co-product;
• and
• a baffle attached to an interior surface of one or more walls such that the shaft rotates relative to the baffle and relative to a stationary and non-rotating screen, the baffle extending along a plane that intersects the shaft, the baffle projecting from the interior surface toward the shaft and positioned between a first blade of the one or more blades and a second blade of the one or more blades.

A method for recovering two or more co-products from a material, the method comprising:

• receiving the material within a hollow chamber of a rotary impact separator;
• passing the material through the rotary impact separator comprising a body portion with one or more walls that define a chamber, an impact device that extends through the chamber, and a screen covering a first outlet in the body below the impact device relative to the direction of gravity;
• rotating the impact device within the chamber and contacting the material with the impact device;
• and
• directing the material around a diverter and a baffle that are attached to the rotary impact separator, the diverter comprising an impact wall that is configured impact a material and direct the material in a desired direction;
• and
• separating the material into a first co-product and a second co-product such that the first co-product exits the rotary impact separator through a first outlet opening and the second co-product exits the rotary impact separator through a second outlet opening.