Centrifuge for separating helium from natural gas
AssigneeUltra-Centrifuge Nederland N.V.
InventorsFrederik H. Theyse, Fridtjof E. T. Kelling
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Abstract
Centrifuge for the separation of gaseous mixtures with a rotor inside a housing, comprising a hollow, cylindrical or nearly cylindrical rotorpart also called a separating drum, in which drum a gaseous component may condense as a liquid. This liquid is admitted thereafter through openings in the drum to the space between drum and housing. In this space are formed a sequence of narrow openings, so called restrictors in which the liquid is brought to expansion, returning to gas form. These restrictors act also as bearings for the drum. The gaseous component that does not liquefy in the drum is drawn off.
Claims23
Centrifuge for separating gaseous mixtures comprising at least one hollow, cylindrical separator drum which is rotatable about its axis in a housing the separating drum having at one end an end wall in which openings are provided close to the inside wall of the separating drum through which openings a second separation component passes into a space between the drum and the housing, a stationary admission tube for admitting to the drum the gaseous mixture to be separated, said admission tube being rigidly fastened to the housing, at least one outlet tube for discharging a first separation component from the drum, said tubes being open into a separating chamber situated inside the separating drum, a driving motor coupled to the drum, at least one outlet located in the housing for the discharge of the second separation component from the housing, and means forming the space between the drum and the housing into an expansion slot for conveying the second separation component from said openings to said outlet while undergoing a gradual reduction of pressure, said means including a plurality of throttling restrictors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.