Rotary separator and method

A separator for separating substances having relatively high densities from a flow stream, the separator operating at a first pressure and comprising:

• a shaft;
• at least one bearing assembly for supporting the shaft;
• means for permitting the at least one bearing assembly to operate at a second pressure substantially corresponding to the first pressure;
• a drum connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate to separate the substances having relatively high densities from the flow stream;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the flow stream flows through a region at least partially defined by an inner surface of the drum.

A separator comprising:

• a drum adapted to rotate to separate substances having relatively high densities from a first flow stream, wherein the first flow stream flows through a flow region at least partially defined by an inner surface of the drum and a second flow stream flows over at least a portion of an outer surface of the drum;
• a first housing surrounding the drum and defining an annular region between the outer surface of the drum and the inner surface of the housing, wherein the at least a portion of the second flow stream flows in at least a portion of the annular region;
• a second housing connected to the first housing;
• at least one line extending between the first and second housings and via which the at least a portion of the second flow stream flows from the at least a portion of the annular region and into the flow region to shunt at least a portion of the second flow stream to the flow region;
• a first passage at least partially extending within the first housing and fluidically connected to the at least one line;
• and
• a second passage at least partially extending within the second housing and fluidically connected to the at least one line;
• wherein the at least a portion of the second flow stream flows from the annular region and into the flow region via the first passage, the at least one line and the second passage;
• wherein the first and second passages define respective inlets and outlets;
• and
• wherein the pressure at the inlet of the first passage is greater than the pressure at the outlet of the second passage.

A separator for separating substances having relatively high densities from a flow stream, the separator operating at a first pressure and comprising:

• a shaft;
• at least one bearing assembly for supporting the shaft, the at least one bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing;
• at least one tubular member through which the shaft extends;
• a drum connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate to separate the substances having relatively high densities from the flow stream, wherein at least a portion of the flow stream flows through a region at least partially defined by the inner surface of the drum;
• a vessel for collecting the substances having relatively high densities after the substances having relatively high densities have been separated from the flow stream, the vessel defining a reservoir in fluid communication with the bearing housing so that the at least one bearing assembly operates at a second pressure substantially corresponding to the first pressure;
• and
• means for substantially shielding the at least one bearing assembly from contaminants, the shielding means comprising:
• at least one sealing element sealingly engaging the shaft to substantially prevent at least a first portion of the contaminants from flowing from the region to the at least one bearing assembly, wherein the pressure differential across the at least one sealing element is substantially negligible.

A method comprising:

• rotating a drum having inner and outer surfaces to separate substances having relatively high densities from a flow stream,
• surrounding the drum with a first housing having inner and outer surfaces to define an annular region between the outer surface of the drum and the inner surface of the housing;
• wherein the first flow stream flows through a region at least partially define by the inner surface of the drum and a second flow stream flows in at least a portion of the annular of the annular region;
• and
• shunting at least a portion of the second flow stream to the flow region.

A method of operating a separator at a first pressure to separate substances having relatively high densities from a flow stream, the method comprising:

• providing a shaft;
• supporting the shaft with at least one bearing assembly;
• permitting the at least one bearing assembly to operate at a second pressure substantially corresponding to the first pressure;
• connecting a drum to the shaft;
• and
• rotating the drum to separate the substances having relatively high densities from the flow stream, wherein at least a portion of the flow stream flows through a region at least partially defined by an inner surface of the drum.