Co-current cyclone separator and its applications

A co-current cyclone separator comprising in combination:

• a) an outer enclosure having a cylindrical wall about an axis, the outer enclosure having a first end with a top wall and a second end spaced from the top wall by a distance (L);
• b) an outer enclosure inlet at the first end, the inlet having a top wall proximate the top wall of the outer enclosure and extending in a direction perpendicular, but radially spaced, with respect to the axis of the outer enclosure for introducing a mixture M1 containing at least one dense phase D1 and a light phase L1 tangentially into the outer enclosure;
• c) means for recovering the dense phase D1 positioned at the second end of the outer enclosure;
• d) an outer enclosure outlet downstream of the recovering means proximate second end of the outer enclosure;
• e) an inner enclosure of a circular cross section disposed coaxially within the outer enclosure to define an annular space therebetween;
• the inner enclosure having first and second ends;
• f) an inner enclosure inlet axially spaced from the outer enclosure inlet by a distance LC;
• g) an inner enclosure outlet positioned exteriorly with respect to the outer enclosure;
• h) a plurality of spaced, axially extending blades disposed in the annular space between the inner and outer enclosures, the blades being planar and also extending radially with respect to the axis of the outer enclosure;
• the spaced blades providing means for limiting accumulation of the light phase proximate the circular wall of the outer enclosure;
• and
• i) means disposed in the outer enclosure between the inner enclosure inlet and the second end of the outer enclosure for introducing additional light phase fluid L2 into the outer enclosure whereby at least a substantial portion of the dense phase D1 is separated from the mixture M1 and exits from the outer enclosure outlet.