A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is developed to enhance the efficiency of adsorption, ion exchange and regenerative heat exchange. The counter-current apparatus uses a rotor to direct fluids to multiple stationary columns. By the action of the rotor, counter-current flows of a fluid phase and a solid phase can be achieved for a combined adsorption and desorption cycle, or a combined heating and cooling cycle. The apparatus allows not only countercurrent solid-fluid flows based on columns in series, but also countercurrent solid-fluid flows in the length of each individual column. A method is also disclosed.

A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is developed to enhance the efficiency of adsorption, ion exchange and regenerative heat exchange. The counter-current apparatus uses a rotor to direct fluids to multiple stationary columns. By the action of the rotor, counter-current flows of a fluid phase and a solid phase can be achieved for a combined adsorption and desorption cycle, or a combined heating and cooling cycle. The apparatus allows not only countercurrent solid-fluid flows based on columns in series, but also countercurrent solid-fluid flows in the length of each individual column. A method is also disclosed.

An example method for refining lactose may include washing lactose crystals in a lactose stream in an upstream wash stream including an upstream recirculating wash medium. Washed lactose crystals may be sieved from the upstream recirculating wash medium. The upstream recirculating wash medium may be recirculated back to the upstream wash stream. The washed lactose crystals may be discharged to a downstream wash stream comprising a downstream recirculating wash medium. An example system may include a plurality of refining stages. At least one refining stage may include a washing tank including a lactose crystal inlet and a crystal slurry outlet. The refining stage may include a pump to recirculate a wash stream from the crystal slurry outlet back to the washing tank at a predetermined flow rate. The refining stage includes a screen to separate washed lactose crystals from the wash stream.

An apparatus for mass transfer between a liquid and a gas inside a rotor having a packing. The liquid is introduced at a center of the rotor and driven outward through the packing by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the rotor, and the gas surrounding the rotor is forced inward through the rotor by a pressure of the gas, counter to the liquid flow in the rotor. The packing inside the rotor is divided into individual packing segments that together form a circular disk. Each circular ring segment is formed by at least one structured packing formed of a plurality of superimposed woven, knitted, mesh or lattice structured surfaces composed of metal, in particular sheet-metal strips, or plastic or glass fibers, to which the axis of rotation of the rotor runs perpendicular.

An apparatus for mass transfer between a liquid and a gas inside a rotor having a packing. The liquid is introduced at a center of the rotor and driven outward through the packing by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the rotor, and the gas surrounding the rotor is forced inward through the rotor by a pressure of the gas, counter to the liquid flow in the rotor. The packing inside the rotor is divided into individual packing segments that together form a circular disk. Each circular ring segment is formed by at least one structured packing formed of a plurality of superimposed woven, knitted, mesh or lattice structured surfaces composed of metal, in particular sheet-metal strips, or plastic or glass fibers, to which the axis of rotation of the rotor runs perpendicular.

A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is provided to enhance the efficiency of adsorption, ion exchange and regenerative heat exchange. The counter-current apparatus uses a rotor to direct fluids to multiple stationary columns, or multiple sections of a stationary column. By the action of the rotor, counter-current flows of a fluid phase and a solid phase can be achieved for a combined adsorption and desorption cycle, or a combined heating and cooling cycle. The apparatus allows not only countercurrent solid-fluid flows based on columns in series, but also countercurrent solid-fluid flows in the length of each individual column. The apparatus does not require a turntable to rotate multiple columns.

A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is provided to enhance the efficiency of adsorption, ion exchange and regenerative heat exchange. The counter-current apparatus uses a rotor to direct fluids to multiple stationary columns, or multiple sections of a stationary column. By the action of the rotor, counter-current flows of a fluid phase and a solid phase can be achieved for a combined adsorption and desorption cycle, or a combined heating and cooling cycle. The apparatus allows not only countercurrent solid-fluid flows based on columns in series, but also countercurrent solid-fluid flows in the length of each individual column. The apparatus does not require a turntable to rotate multiple columns.

A centrifugal separator for separation of liquid particles from a gas stream, includes a stationary frame, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The frame comprises a tubular element defining a rotor space inside itself and a liquid transportation space outside the tubular element. A centrifugal rotor is arranged in the rotor space and rotatably supported in the frame around a rotational axis. At least one opening is provided in the tubular element, between the rotor space and the liquid transportation space, for conducting liquid separated from the gas stream from the rotor space to the liquid transportation space.

Provided is a chamber configuration for a reverse flow centrifuge, and a reverse flow centrifuge system configured for low fluid volume and small radius rotation. The compact reverse flow centrifuge system has a reusable subsystem and a single use replaceable subsystem. The replaceable subsystem comprises a separation chamber, fluid delivery manifold and rotational mounting connecting the separation chamber to the fluid manifold. The single use replaceable subsystem provides a closed environment for execution of reverse flow centrifugation processes. The separation chamber has a substantially conical fluid enclosure portion connected to a neck portion, and a dip tube extends centrally through the conical fluid enclosure to provide a fluid path to the tip of the conical fluid enclosure.

Provided is a chamber configuration for a reverse flow centrifuge, and a reverse flow centrifuge system configured for low fluid volume and small radius rotation. The compact reverse flow centrifuge system has a reusable subsystem and a single use replaceable subsystem. The replaceable subsystem comprises a separation chamber, fluid delivery manifold and rotational mounting connecting the separation chamber to the fluid manifold. The single use replaceable subsystem provides a closed environment for execution of reverse flow centrifugation processes. The separation chamber has a substantially conical fluid enclosure portion connected to a neck portion, and a dip tube extends centrally through the conical fluid enclosure to provide a fluid path to the tip of the conical fluid enclosure.