GB935147A - Improvements in and relating to vapour-liquid separators - Google Patents

Abstract

935,147. Centrifugal separators. FOSTER WHEELER Ltd. May 1, 1962 [May 4, 1961], No. 16686/62. Class 23. [Also in Group XIII] A liquid-vapour mixture, e.g. wet steam, is caused to rise through a cylindrical passage 30 of a centrifugal separator, Fig. 1, and is directed by lateral conduits 46, Fig. 3, into a surrounding annular chamber 44 so as to strike the outer wall 40 of the chamber and be whirled in contact therewith whereby the mixture is separated into a liquid fraction which descends along the wall 40 and a vapour fraction which rises through the chamber 44. The separator may be enclosed within the pressure vessel 10 of a vertical steam generator (see Group XIII), or may be constructed as a separate emit and connected to the generator. The passage 30 is constituted by a riser through which ascends the wet steam produced in the generating chamber 12. The riser is closed at the top, as shown, by a plate 4 and is surrounded by cylindrical baffles 38, 40 externally bounding the chamber 44 and an inner diameter 42 which are open at the bottom below the feedwaterlever 32 in the vessel 10. Ports 36 serve to communicate the passage 30 with the conduits 46 which may be provided with inclined flowdirecting vanes 48 at their curved end portions. Vortex eliminating vanes 50 may be provided at the exit end of the chamber 44. Preliminary separation of water takes place in the conduits 46 due to change of direction. The water separated in the chamber 44 enters the feedwater level 32 while the rising steam passes through openings 52 into the upper end of the chamber 42, through openings 54 into a wiremesh cage 56 and out through driers 60 and outlet 62, separation of the last traces of water taking place at each change of direction. The chamber 44 may be open at the top to allow some of the separated water to spill over the wall 40.