Separation Device to Remove Fine Particles

A cyclone separator, comprising:

• a closed-bottom cyclone body having a length and a longitudinal axis;
• a feed gas inlet for a stream of gas and entrained solids;
• wherein the feed gas inlet is positioned at an inlet end of said cyclone body;
• a gas outlet tube in the inlet end for withdrawing gas with a reduced entrained solids content;
• wherein the gas outlet tube has a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of said cyclone body;
• a solids outlet in a sidewall of the cyclone body for tangential discharge of solids and a minor amount of gas from the closed-bottom cyclone into a catch chamber,
• a gas reflux opening fluidly isolated from the feed gas inlet for recycling gas from the catch chamber back into the cyclone body;
• a shield extending downwardly from the cyclone body around the gas reflux opening.

A cyclone separator, comprising:

• an at least partially cylindrical cyclone body having a length, a diameter and a longitudinal axis;
• a gas reflux tube passing through and sealingly affixed to a closed end of the cyclone body, the reflux tube having:
• (a) a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cyclone body,
• (b) a reflux inlet outside the cyclone body, and
• (c) a reflux exit inside said cyclone body;
• the cylindrical cyclone body having:
• (a) the closed end as one end thereof,
• (b) a gas outlet tube sealingly affixed and passing through an opposing end of the cyclone body;
• the gas outlet tube having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cyclone body;
• the gas outlet tube having a longitudinal axis axially aligned with the cyclone body;
• wherein the reflux exit is in a portion of the gas reflux tube which is axially aligned with the gas outlet tube,
• a tangential gas and solids inlet in fluid communication with said opposing end of said cyclone body end for receiving gas and entrained solids,
• a solids outlet for discharging a concentrated solids stream with a minor portion of gas from the cyclone body;
• wherein the concentrated solids stream discharge is via at least one opening in a sidewall of the cyclone body near the sealed end;
• wherein the solids outlet and the gas reflux inlet are in fluid communication outside of the cyclone body;
• a shield disposed between the solids outlet and the gas reflux inlet;
• wherein the shield inhibits entrainment of solids from the solids outlet into the gas reflux inlet.

A multi-cyclone gas/solids separator comprising:

• a plurality of cyclones spaced horizontally apart from adjacent cyclones, each comprising a cyclone body having:
• a feed inlet end for admitting gas and entrained solids into an annular space;
• wherein the annular space is defined by a sidewall of the cyclone body and a cylindrical gas outlet tube;
• wherein the gas outlet tube is axially aligned with the cyclone body;
• a solids outlet at an opposing end of the cyclone body;
• the solids outlet comprising a tangential outlet for solids and a minor amount of gas through a sidewall of the cyclone body;
• a gas reflux opening axially aligned with the outlet tube;
• wherein the plurality of cyclones share a common catch chamber for solids discharged from the solids outlet;
• wherein the plurality of cyclones share a common manifold for gas and entrained solids;
• a plurality of shields to inhibit discharge of solids from the tangential outlet of the adjacent cyclones into a vicinity of an inlet of the gas reflux opening;
• wherein the plurality of shields are positioned in the catch chamber.

In a multi-cyclone gas/solids separator comprising a plurality of cyclones spaced horizontally apart from adjacent cyclones, each comprising a cyclone body having (i) a feed inlet end for admitting gas and entrained solids into an annular space, the annular space defined by a sidewall of the cyclone body and a cylindrical gas outlet tube axially aligned with the cyclone body;

• (ii) a solids outlet at an opposing end of the cyclone body, the solids outlet comprising a tangential outlet for solids and a minor amount of gas through a sidewall of the cyclone body;
• (iii) a gas reflux opening axially aligned with the outlet tube, wherein the plurality of cyclones share a common catch chamber for solids discharged from the solids outlet, and wherein the plurality of cyclones share a common manifold for gas and entrained solids;
• the improvement comprising:
• a plurality of shields positioned in the catch chamber;
• wherein the plurality of shields are adapted to inhibit discharge of solids from the tangential outlet of the adjacent cyclones into a vicinity of an inlet of the gas reflux opening.

A method for separating a gas-solid mixture, comprising:

• introducing the mixture to respective inlets of a plurality of adjacent closed-bottom cyclones;
• discharging solids-lean gas from upper ends of the respective cyclones;
• discharging solids containing entrained gas from tangential outlets at lower ends of the respective cyclones;
• refluxing a portion of the entrained gas into the cyclones through reflux openings formed in lower ends of the respective cyclones;
• shielding the reflux openings from the tangential outlets to inhibit cross-talk.

Apparatus for separating a gas-solid mixture, comprising:

• means for introducing the mixture to respective inlets of a plurality of adjacent closed-bottom cyclones;
• means for discharging solids-lean gas from upper ends of the respective cyclones;
• means for discharging solids containing entrained gas from tangential outlets at lower ends of the respective cyclones;
• means for refluxing a portion of the entrained gas into the cyclones through reflux openings formed in lower ends of the respective cyclones;
• means for shielding the reflux openings from the tangential outlets to inhibit cross-talk.