GB1244577A - Apparatus for separating the gas and liquid fractions of a foam - Google Patents

Abstract

1,244,577. Centrifugal separators. VOGELBUSCH G.m.b.H. 6 March, 1970 [14 March, 1969], No. 10816/70. Heading B2P. [Also in Division C6] A two-stage centrifugal separator for separating the gas and liquid fractions of a foam comprises two groups of rotatable annular plates 4, 5, Fig. 1, each defining at least one gap 6, 7 and inclined relative to a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the plates, an inlet socket 10 for introducing foam to be separated into the or each gap 6 of one separator stage in the region of the axis of rotation of its plates 4, a fluid receiver 11 at the periphery of the rotatable plates 4, 5, and a gas receiver 13 for receiving gas from the or each gap 7 of the other separator stage adjacent the axis of rotation of its rotatable plates 5, the width a of each gap 6, 7 being no greater than one-tenth of its length b. As shown the foam is introduced through the inlet socket 10 and apertures 8 in the plates 4 and passes through the gaps 6 between the plates 4 where due to centrifugal force it becomes separated into liquid and gas fractions which are centrifugally delivered to the fluid receiver 11 which may be constructed as a volute casing. The liquid fraction is discharged through socket 12 which is tangential to the receiver 11. The gas fraction, at least partially freed from liquid is delivered from the receiver 11 centripetally through the gaps 7 between the plates 5 of the second separator stage and passes via apertures 9 in the plates 5 into the gas receiver 13 from which it is discharged through a socket 14. Any liquid still present in the gas fraction is thrown by centrifugal force from the gaps 7 back into the receiver 11. The plates 4, 5 are secured at their periphery by means of bolts 17 and spacers 18 to a dished support 3 mounted on a shaft driven by a motor 2. In Fig. 2, the centrifugal separator 4, 5 is mounted in a closed vessel 24 which is under vacuum. Foam is supplied through a duct 25. The separated liquid is discharged from the annular chamber 11 via a pipeline 26 and a volumetric rotary piston pump 29 to a valved line 29. The gas is withdrawn from the receiver 13 via a line 31 by means of a vacuum pump 32 and is delivered into a discharge line 33. Liquid separated in the vessel 24 before it passes through the centrifugal separator is discharged via a pipe 36 which is connected to the pipeline 26. Alternatively, the separated liquid may pass from the chamber 11 via a pipe 38 into the bottom of the vessel 34 in which case the pipeline 26 is dispensed with. One or more separators may be mounted externally of a yeast growing fermentation vat (see Division C6) and connected via one or more troughs to an upper zone of the vat interior where foam accumulates above the liquid.