Method and apparatus for separating fibers from a gas in a centrifuge

A separator for separating particulates from a gas stream, the separator comprising:

• a housing including a first chamber defining a curved flow path for the gas stream passing through the separator and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is adjacent the second chamber and the chambers are separated by a dividing wall;
• a rotor assembly in the first chamber;
• the first chamber having an outer radial zone, wherein the zone extends radially between the rotor assembly and an inside surface of the first chamber;
• a flow inlet port to the first chamber and a fiber outlet port from the first chamber, wherein the inlet port and outlet port are each aligned with the outer zone of the first chamber, and
• wherein the opening to the gas passage in the first cylindrical chamber is radially inward of the outer radial zone.

A method to separate particles from a gas stream, using a separator including a first chamber defining a curved flow path for the gas stream passing through the separator and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is adjacent the second chamber, the method comprising:

• introducing the gas stream to an outer zone of the first chamber;
• generating a rotational gas flow in the first chamber with a rotor assembly in the first chamber, wherein the rotor assembly has an outer radial edge radially inward of the outer zone of the first chamber;
• applying the rotational flow to move the gas stream through the outer zone and to applying centrifugal force to the particles in the gas stream to an outer radial periphery of the outer zone;
• discharging the fibers from the gas stream through a fiber outlet port in a perimeter wall of the first chamber;
• sucking gas from the gas stream from the outer zone into an opening in the first chamber, wherein the opening is radially inward of the outer zone.