Flow enhanced one-pass centrifuge separator

An apparatus for separating the components of a mixture of two liquids of different specific gravities, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a hollow rotor adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and having an inner wall subdivided into fluid separation zones by a plurality of longitudinally mounted surface and interface vanes, wherein four interface vanes are mounted between each pair of surface vanes and further by at least one zoning baffle mounted perpendicular to said vanes;
• b) a generally conical fluid accelerator connected to said rotor, said accelerator having a plurality of helical channels adapted to disperse said mixture into said rotor and further having a feed baffle attached to said rotor proximate to a point at which said mixture is dispersed into said rotor, said feed baffle having openings through which said mixture flows;
• c) a stationary feedpipe having a nozzle to introduce said mixture into said accelerator near said longitudinal axis, said feedpipe further having at least one wash nozzle for spraying cleaning fluids into said rotor;
• d) means for rotating said rotor about said axis, thereby separating said liquids into a substantially heavier layer and a substantially lighter layer, said heavier layer flowing between an outer edge of each said zoning baffle and said inner wall of said rotor and said lighter layer flowing over an inner edge of each said zoning baffle;
• and
• e) means for removing said separated layers from said rotor.

An apparatus for separating the components of a mixture of two liquids of different specific gravities, and gas in solution, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a hollow rotor adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and having an inner wall subdivided into fluid separation zones by a plurality of longitudinally mounted surface and interface vanes, wherein four interface vanes are mounted between each pair of surface vanes and further by at least one zoning baffle mounted perpendicular to said vanes;
• b) a generally conical fluid accelerator shell connected to said rotor, said shell having a cylindrical upper extension with a plurality of inwardly extending extension vanes, said shell adapted to disperse said mixture into said rotor, said shell further having a feed baffle mounted on said rotor proximate to a point at which said mixture is dispersed into said rotor, said feed baffle having openings through which said mixture flows, said shell further having at least one gas vent to vent gas into said rotor;
• c) a stationary feedpipe having a nozzle to introduce said mixture into said accelerator shell near said longitudinal axis, said feedpipe further having at least one wash nozzle for spraying cleaning fluids into said rotor, and having at least one gas port to remove said gas from said rotor;
• d) means for rotating said rotor about said axis, thereby separating said liquids into a substantially heavier layer and a substantially lighter layer, said heavier layer flowing between an outer edge of each said zoning baffle and said inner wall of said rotor and said lighter layer flowing over an inner edge of each said zoning baffle;
• and
• e) means for removing said separated layers from said rotor.