Apparatus for reducing attrition of particulate matter in a chemical conversion process

In an apparatus for separating solid particles from a first fluid stream which includes a mixture of vapor and said particles, said apparatus including a body that defines a chamber defined by an interior cylindrical surface, inlet means for introducing said first fluid stream mixture into said chamber, fluid outlet means for withdrawing a second fluid stream substantially free of said particles from said chamber, and particle outlet means for withdrawing at least a portion of said particles that has been separated from said mixture in said chamber, the improvement comprising:

• said inlet means comprising a plurality of inlet passageway means wherein each said inlet passageway means is a means for conducting an inlet stream associated therewith along a substantially straight path tangentially into said chamber to induce said particles contained therein to move toward said interior cylindrical surface, said plurality of inlet passageway means is situated such that said path of one inlet stream will impinge upon the path of a downstream inlet stream associated with a downstream inlet passageway means to induce said particles contained in the impinging stream to be deflected away from said cylindrical surface;
• whereby said mixture is introduced into said chamber at a high velocity while reducing contact of said solid particles with said cylindrical surface so as to maintain separation efficiency while decreasing particle attrition.