US 11,857,982 B2
Apparatus with axially movable wall member for separating components of a fluid stream
Gerard Melling, Wigan (GB); Alan Suttie, Glasgow (GB); and Brian Loudon, Glasgow (GB)
Assigned to GM INNOVATIONS LIMITED, Glasgow (GB)
Appl. No. 16/488,114
Filed by GM INNOVATIONS LIMITED, Glasgow (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 26, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/054681
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 22, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/154115, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1703110 (GB), filed on Feb. 27, 2017; and application No. 1801414 (GB), filed on Jan. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0230615 A1, Jul. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. B04B 11/02 (2006.01); B04B 1/04 (2006.01); B04B 1/12 (2006.01); B04B 11/06 (2006.01); B04C 3/06 (2006.01); B04C 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B04B 11/02 (2013.01) [B04B 1/04 (2013.01); B04B 1/12 (2013.01); B04B 11/06 (2013.01); B04C 3/06 (2013.01); B04C 2003/006 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A centrifugal separator apparatus for separating components of a fluid stream;
the apparatus comprising a support structure and a centrifugal separator unit rotatably mounted on the support structure so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis extending through the centrifugal separator unit;
a drive element for driving rotation of the centrifugal separator unit;
wherein the centrifugal separator unit comprises a centrifugal separation chamber having an inlet which is connected or connectable to a source of fluid requiring separation, a first outlet for collecting a higher density component of the fluid stream, and a second outlet for collecting a lower density component of the fluid stream;
the first outlet being connected or connectable to a first collector for collecting the higher density component and the second outlet being connected or connectable to a second collector for collecting the lower density component;
the centrifugal separation chamber comprising a curved or inclined guide surface for guiding flow of the fluid from the inlet in a radially outward direction;
wherein the centrifugal separator unit is provided with a wall member which is axially movable to provide a selected degree of occlusion of the first outlet and thereby control flow of the higher density component through the first outlet; and
wherein the apparatus further comprises a tubular or part-tubular central shaft which passes through the centrifugal separator unit and is rotatably mounted on the support structure and the centrifugal separation chamber inlet may take the form of a first set of lateral openings in a first end of the central shaft.