Centrifugal contactor including central dynamic examination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717769-B2
Application number	US-202016985894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2020
Priority date	Aug 5, 2020
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Centrifugal contactors that can be used for mixing or separating materials are described. The contactors include a sensing system including a communications fiber within the shaft of the contactors and access ports providing access from the communications fiber to the mixing/separating zone of the contactor. The sensing system can be utilized during operation of the contactor and can provide for detailed and accurate on-line characterization of a protocol, as well as process control and system modification as necessary during operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugal contactor comprising:
a housing;
a shaft within the housing, the shaft comprising a cylindrical wall surrounding a hollow core with a longitudinal central axis and an access port within the cylindrical wall;
a plurality of rotor blades configured to revolve about the longitudinal central axis, the plurality of rotor blades defining a zone within the housing;
a communications fiber comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being locatable within the hollow core in communications with the access port; and
a signal generator or signal receiver in communication with the second end of the communications fiber.

2. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal contactor is a centrifugal separator.

3. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal contactor is an impeller mixed tank.

4. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the communications fiber comprises an optical fiber.

5. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the communications fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

6. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the access port is optically transmissive.

7. The centrifugal contactor of claim 6 , wherein the access port is optically transmissive to one or more wavelengths in the infrared spectrum.

8. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the access port comprises an acoustically responsive diaphragm.

9. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , the shaft comprising a plurality of access ports along the longitudinal length of the shaft.

10. The centrifugal contactor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rotor blades extend from the shaft.

Assignees

• Battelle Savannah River Alliance Llc

Inventors

• Restivo Michael L
• Poirier Michael R
• Fondeur Fernando F
• Fink Samuel D

Classifications

• B01D11/048 Primary

  Mixing by counter-current streams provoked by centrifugal force, in rotating coils or in other rotating spaces · CPC title

• B01D11/0434

  comprising rotating mechanisms, e.g. mixers, rotational oscillating motion, mixing pumps · CPC title

• B01D11/0461 Primary

  mixing by counter-current streams provoked by centrifugal force · CPC title

• B01D11/0484

  Controlling means · CPC title

• B04B1/02

  without inserted separating walls · CPC title