# US 2013/0152525 A1 · Gas-solids separation units and methods for the manufacture thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152525 A1 - Document ID: US20130152525A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,528 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Inventors: Kevin J. Brandner; Brian W. Hedrick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152525A1 ## CPC - B01D 45/16: generated by the winding course of the gas stream {, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes} - B04C 3/04: Multiple arrangement thereof {(combined with types according to other groups, B04C7/00)} - B04C 3/06: Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber - B04C 2003/006: {Construction of elements by which the vortex flow is generated or degenerated} - Y10T 137/0402: Cleaning, repairing, or assembling - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B04C: APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES ({centrifugal separation of water from steam B01D45/12;} jet mills B02C19/06; {wind sifters B07B7/00;} cyclonic type combustion apparatus F23; {vortex burners for cyclone-type combustion apparatus F23D1/02; cyclonic type combustion apparatus for gas turbines F23R3/00}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Embodiments of a gas-solids separation unit and embodiments of a method for manufacturing a separation unit are provided. In one embodiment, the separation unit includes a cyclonic separator and a vessel having a flue gas chamber, a clean gas chamber, and an entrained solids chamber between the flue gas chamber and the clean gas chamber. The cyclonic separator includes, in turn, a cyclone barrel extending from the flue gas chamber toward the clean gas chamber, a swirl vane positioned across the cyclone barrel, a gas outlet tube fluidly coupling the cyclone barrel to the clean gas chamber, and a first check valve opening formed through the barrel sidewall upstream of the gas outlet tube. The check valve opening fluidly couples the cyclone barrel to the entrained solids chamber to permit the centrifugal separation of the particulate matter from the gas stream during operation of the gas-solids separation unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas-solids separation unit for separating particulate matter from a gas stream, the gas-solids separation unit comprising: a vessel having a flue gas chamber, a clean gas chamber, and an entrained solids chamber; and a cyclonic separator, comprising: a cyclone barrel extending from the flue gas chamber toward the clean gas chamber; a swirl vane positioned across an upstream portion of the cyclone barrel; a gas outlet tube fluidly coupling the cyclone barrel to the clean gas chamber; and a first check valve opening formed through the sidewall of the cyclone barrel upstream of the gas outlet tube, the first check valve opening fluidly coupling the cyclone barrel to the entrained solids chamber to permit the centrifugal separation of the particulate matter from the gas stream during operation of the gas-solids separation unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening is formed through the upstream portion of the cyclone barrel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening is formed through the cyclone barrel immediately below the swirl vane, as taken along the longitudinal axis of the cyclone barrel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening is located radially adjacent the downstream end of the swirl vane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein the swirl vane comprises: a central body; and a plurality of blades extending radially from the central body and wrapping around the longitudinal axis thereof, at least a portion of the first check valve opening located radially adjacent the plurality of blades. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening generally follows the contour of the downstream edge of one of the plurality of blades. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 1 wherein the cyclone barrel further comprises a downstream portion into which the gas outlet tube extends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 7 further comprising a terminal check valve opening formed through the downstream portion of the cyclone barrel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 8 wherein the terminal check valve opening comprises a longitudinal slot formed through the cyclone barrel at a location radially adjacent the upstream end of the gas outlet tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein the first check valve opening comprises one of the group consisting of a longitudinal and a lateral slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein the cyclonic separator comprises a plurality of check valve openings formed through the cyclone barrel and in which the first check valve opening is included. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of check valve openings comprises a plurality of holes formed through the cyclone barrel at different elevations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of check valve openings is circumferentially-spaced about the longitudinal axis of the cyclone barrel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 wherein the cyclone barrel has a primary erosion zone, and wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening is formed in the primary erosion zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 2 further comprising: an upper tube sheet mounted within the vessel and partitioning the flue gas chamber and the entrained solids chamber; and a lower tube sheet mounted within the vessel and partitioning the entrained solids chamber and the clean gas chamber, the cyclonic separator extending from the upper tube sheet to the lower tube sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 15 further comprising: a generally cylindrical sleeve fixedly projecting upwardly from the upper tube sheet and extending around an upper portion of the cyclone barrel; and a circumferential clearance provided between the upper portion of the cyclone barrel and the generally cylindrical sleeve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A gas-solids separation unit according to claim 16 wherein the cyclone barrel has a main flow passage, and wherein at least a portion of the first check valve opening extends from the main flow passage, through the sidewall of the cyclone barrel, and to the circumferential clearance provided between the upper portion of the cyclone barrel and the generally cylindrical sleeve. ### Claim 18 A gas-solids separation unit, comprising: a vessel having a flue gas inlet, an entrained solids outlet, and a clean gas outlet; upper and lower tube sheets within the vessel and defining therewith a gas inlet chamber fluidly coupled to the flue gas inlet, an entrained solids chamber fluidly coupled to the entrained solids outlet, and a clean gas chamber fluidly coupled to the clean gas outlet; and a cyclonic separator, comprising: a cyclone barrel extending across the entrained solids chamber to fluidly couple the gas inlet chamber to the clean gas chamber; a swirl vane positioned across an upstream portion of the cyclone barrel; and at least one check valve opening formed through the sidewall of the cyclone barrel radially adjacent the downstream end of the swirl vane and fluidly coupling the cyclone barrel to the entrained solids chamber. ### Claim 19 A method for manufacturing a gas-solids separation unit of the type that includes vessel containing upper and lower tubesheets defining a flue gas chamber, a clean gas chamber, and an entrained solids chamber between the flue gas chamber and the clean gas chamber, the method comprising: providing a cyclonic separator comprising a cyclone barrel, a main flow passage defined at least partially by the cyclone barrel, a swirl vane positioned within the main flow passage, and a first check valve opening formed through an upstream portion of the cyclone barrel proximate the swirl vane; and mounting the cyclonic separator between upper and lower tubesheets such that the main flow passage fluidly couples the flue gas chamber to the clean gas chamber and the check valve opening fluidly couples the main flow passage to the entrained solids chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19 further comprising producing the cyclonic separator, the step of producing comprising: identifying a primary erosion zone immediately below the swirl vane; and forming the first check valve opening in the cyclone barrel and at least partially within the primary erosion zone.