Centrifuge with open conveyor having an accelerating impeller and flow enhancer

A centrifuge comprising

• a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end,
• apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl,
• a conveyor rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated by the centrifuge is flowable from within the conveyor, and at least one accelerating impeller within and connected to the conveyor for accelerating the fluid,
• a flow enhancer connected to the at least one impeller for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor, the flow enhancer comprising a flow enhancer connected to the at least one accelerating impeller, the flow enhancer for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor, the flow enhancer including ring apparatus, a plurality of spaced-apart pins secured to the ring apparatus, the plurality of pins spaced-apart to define fluid flow passages therebetween, the ring apparatus having a central opening through which fluid is flowable, fluid flowable through said central opening to the at least one accelerating impeller.

A centrifuge comprising

• a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end,
• apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl,
• at least one accelerating impeller within the bowl for accelerating the fluid,
• a flow enhancer connected to and within the bowl for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor,
• the flow enhancer comprising a flow enhancer connected to the at least one accelerating impeller, the flow enhancer for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor, the flow enhancer including ring apparatus, a plurality of spaced-apart pins secured to the ring apparatus, the plurality of pins spaced-apart to define fluid flow passages therebetween, the ring apparatus having a central opening through which fluid is flowable, fluid flowable through said central opening to the at least one accelerating impeller.

A method for separating components of a feed material, the method comprising

• introducing feed material into a centrifuge, the centrifuge comprising a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end, apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, a conveyor rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated by the centrifuge is flowable from within the conveyor, and at least one accelerating impeller within and connected to the conveyor for accelerating the fluid, a flow enhancer connected to the at least one impeller for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor, the flow enhancer comprising a flow enhancer connected to the at least one accelerating impeller, the flow enhancer for facilitating fluid flow out from the conveyor, the flow enhancer including ring apparatus, a plurality of spaced-apart pins secured to the ring apparatus, the plurality of pins spaced-apart to define fluid flow passages therebetween, the ring apparatus having a central opening through which fluid is flowable, fluid flowable through said central opening to the at least one accelerating impeller,
• separating components of the feed material within the centrifuge, and
• discharging from the bowl separated components of the feed material.