Valve for draining off gas from a centrifugal separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016310971-A1
Application number	US-201415102154-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A valve for draining off gas from a centrifugal separator includes a valve body having a central axis around which the valve may be rotated; a cavity arranged at a radial distance from the central axis and including a valve ball and a valve seat; at least one drain channel extending from the valve seat of the cavity to the outside of the valve body; and at least one gas intake extending from the outside of the valve body to the cavity. The valve ball is in a relaxed state within the cavity and thereby arranged to float on a liquid surface present within the cavity, and thereby being movable in the cavity in the radial direction from rotational axis from a closed position, in which the ball rests against the valve seat and thereby blocking gas in the cavity from entering the at least one drain channel, to an open position, in which the valve ball is at a longer radial distance from the axis compared to the closed position, and in which open position the valve ball does not block the valve seat and thereby allowing gas in the cavity to drain from the valve via the drain channel A centrifugal separator and a method for draining gas from the inlet of a centrifugal use the valve.

First claim

1 . A valve for draining off gas from a centrifugal separator, said valve comprising:
a valve body having a central axis around which said valve may be rotated; a cavity arranged at a radial distance from said central axis and comprising a valve ball and a valve seat; at least one drain channel extending from said valve seat of the cavity to an outside of said valve body; and at least one gas intake extending from the outside of said valve body to said cavity, wherein said valve ball is in a relaxed state within said cavity and is arranged to float on a liquid surface present within the cavity, and the valve ball is movable in said cavity in the radial direction from the central axis from a closed position, in which the ball rests against the valve seat and blocks gas in the cavity from entering said at least one drain channel, to an open position, in which the valve ball is at a longer radial distance from the central axis compared to the closed position, and in which open position said valve ball does not block said valve seat and allows gas in said cavity to drain from said valve via said drain channel.

2 . The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve ball is made of a material that is capable of floating on the surface of an aqueous liquid.

3 . The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve ball is made of an elastic material.

4 . The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said drain channel comprises a first channel portion extending substantially in the radial direction from central axis from said valve seat, and a second channel portion extending from said first channel portion to the outside of the valve body.

5 . The valve according to claim 2 , wherein said second portion is substantially aligned with said central axis of said valve body.

6 . The valve according to claim 1 , further comprising a holder configured to retain said ball within said cavity.

7 . The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a dome-shaped outer surface, and said at least one fluid intake extends from said dome-shaped outer surface to said cavity.

8 . The valve according to claim 7 , wherein said valve comprises a further outer surface having a fastener configured to fasten the valve in a centrifugal separator.

9 . A centrifugal separator comprising:
a rotor body which is rotatable around an axis of rotation and comprising a separation chamber for separating liquid material; an inlet pipe for liquid material to be processed; at least one outlet for discharging a heavy phase and at least one liquid light phase outlet for discharging a liquid light phase; and the valve according to claim 1 arranged at the inlet, wherein the valve is further arranged such that the central axis of rotation is aligned with the rotational axis of the centrifugal separator and such that gas assembled at the inlet may enter said gas intake of the valve.

10 . The centrifugal separator according to claim 9 , wherein the valve has a dome shaped outer surface that is facing said inlet pipe for liquid material to be processed.

11 . The centrifugal separator according to claim 9 , wherein the rotational axis is a vertical axis and said centrifugal separator is arranged to be fed with liquid material to be processed from the bottom.

12 . The centrifugal separator according to claim 9 , wherein said separator further is mechanically hermetically sealed at the inlet and at the liquid outlets.

13 . The centrifugal separator according to claim 9 , wherein the drain channel of said valve is further coupled to said at least one liquid light phase outlet.

14 . The centrifugal separator according to claim 9 , wherein the drain channel of said valve is further coupled to the outside of the separator.

15 . A method of draining gas from the inlet of a centrifugal separator comprising the steps of:
providing the separator according to claim 9 ; introducing liquid material to be processed via the inlet to the separator; and allowing gas accumulated at the inlet to drain from said valve of the separator.

16 . The valve according to claim 2 , wherein the valve ball is made of an elastic material.

17 . The valve according to claim 2 , further comprising a holder configured to retain said ball within said cavity.

18 . The valve according to claim 3 , further comprising a holder configured to retain said ball within said cavity.

19 . The valve according to claim 4 , further comprising a holder configured to retain said ball within said cavity.

20 . The valve according to claim 5 , further comprising a holder configured to retain said ball within said cavity.

Assignees

• Alfa Laval Corp Ab

Inventors

• Isaksson Roland

Classifications

• F16K31/22

  with the float rigidly connected to the valve · CPC title

• B04B11/06

  Arrangement of distributors or collectors in centrifuges · CPC title

• B04B15/08 Primary

  for ventilating or producing a vacuum in the centrifuge · CPC title

• F16K1/14

  with ball-shaped valve member (check valves F16K15/04) · CPC title

• F16K1/36

  Valve members (for double-seat valves F16K1/44 {; for butterfly valves F16K1/222, F16K1/223}) · CPC title