Methods of separating materials by use of a centrifugal contactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865476-B2
Application number	US-202318179602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2023
Priority date	Aug 5, 2020
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

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 method for separating a first material from a second materials comprising:
feeding a first material to a separating zone of a centrifugal contactor;
feeding a second material to the separating zone of the centrifugal contactor;
spinning the first and second materials about a shaft within the centrifugal contactor by use of a plurality of rotor blades that revolve about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon the spinning, the first and second materials separate within the separating zone according to a density gradient across a span in a radial direction, the radial direction being defined by a radius of the shaft;
during the spinning, transmitting a signal from the separating zone to a first end of a communications fiber retained within a hollow core of the shaft; and
analyzing the signal to obtain information about the separation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an emission signal from the first end of the communications fiber to the separating zone.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a liquid-liquid extraction.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a phase separation.

7. A method for combining a first material with a second materials comprising:
feeding a first material to a mixing tank of an impeller mixed tank;
feeding a second material to the mixing tank of the impeller mixed tank;
spinning the first and second materials about a shaft within the impeller mixed tank by use of a plurality of rotor blades that revolve about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon the spinning, the first and second materials mix within the mixing tank;
during the spinning, transmitting a signal from the mixing tank to a first end of a communications fiber retained within a hollow core of the shaft; and
analyzing the signal to obtain information about the mixing.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting an emission signal from the first end of the communications fiber to the mixing tank.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

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