A separator apparatus includes an intake nozzle, first cyclone device, and a second cyclone device. The first and second cyclone devices each include an inlet section, a scroll, a barrel centered on a first axis, a vortex finder, and an underflow portion. The scroll is attached to the inlet section and to the barrel such that the scroll connects the inlet section to the barrel. The vortex finder has a vortex tube arranged concentrically on the axis in an interior volume of barrel. The underflow portion defines an annular gap in fluid connection with the interior volume. The intake nozzle is fluidly connected to the inlet sections of the first and second cyclone devices.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for growing agricultural products with a reduced abundance of radioactive carbon-14 (.sup.14C) by employing centrifugal separation of atmospheric gases to selectively remove carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) with .sup.14C. Agricultural products with reduced .sup.14C content can be grown in controlled environments with filtered atmospheric gases for the benefit of reducing harmful damage to human DNA that is unavoidable with our current food chain, due to the natural abundance of .sup.14C in atmospheric gases. Bilateral and unilateral compression helikon vortex apparatus provide efficient and economical removal of CO.sub.2 with .sup.14C from atmospheric gases with a single filtration pass, which is ideally suited for large scale agricultural production.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for growing agricultural products with a reduced abundance of radioactive carbon-14 (.sup.14C) by employing centrifugal separation of atmospheric gases to selectively remove carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) with .sup.14C. Agricultural products with reduced .sup.14C content can be grown in controlled environments with filtered atmospheric gases for the benefit of reducing harmful damage to human DNA that is unavoidable with our current food chain, due to the natural abundance of .sup.14C in atmospheric gases. Bilateral and unilateral compression helikon vortex apparatus provide efficient and economical removal of CO.sub.2 with .sup.14C from atmospheric gases with a single filtration pass, which is ideally suited for large scale agricultural production.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber, and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber, and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

A reject chamber for use with a hydrocyclone for separating a fiber suspension into a heavy fraction substantially containing heavy contaminants and a light fiber fraction substantially containing fibers, the reject chamber having an internal cavity, a reject inlet into the internal cavity, and a reject outlet out of the internal cavity, the longitudinal axis of the reject outlet being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the reject inlet. The reject chamber has a stem that extends into the internal cavity at the elbow of the reject chamber, and at least two bumps, each of which extend into the chamber on opposite sides of the stem, the reject chamber taken along a cross section through the stem and between the bumps having symmetrical sides.

A reject chamber for use with a hydrocyclone for separating a fiber suspension into a heavy fraction substantially containing heavy contaminants and a light fiber fraction substantially containing fibers, the reject chamber having an internal cavity, a reject inlet into the internal cavity, and a reject outlet out of the internal cavity, the longitudinal axis of the reject outlet being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the reject inlet. The reject chamber has a stem that extends into the internal cavity at the elbow of the reject chamber, and at least two bumps, each of which extend into the chamber on opposite sides of the stem, the reject chamber taken along a cross section through the stem and between the bumps having symmetrical sides.

A fluid separator includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet and/or a second outlet. The first outlet may include a vortex finder that may have a convergent-divergent configuration. The second outlet may include or may be connected to a pressure relief valve. At least a portion of the pressure relief valve may be disposed in the vortex finder. The pressure relief valve may be disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. The vortex finder may include a divergent section and a convergent section. In embodiments, the divergent section may be at least twice as long as the convergent section, a taper angle of the convergent section may be at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section, and/or an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder extending into the body may be at least 1.5 times a diameter of the inlet.

A fluid separator includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet and/or a second outlet. The first outlet may include a vortex finder that may have a convergent-divergent configuration. The second outlet may include or may be connected to a pressure relief valve. At least a portion of the pressure relief valve may be disposed in the vortex finder. The pressure relief valve may be disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. The vortex finder may include a divergent section and a convergent section. In embodiments, the divergent section may be at least twice as long as the convergent section, a taper angle of the convergent section may be at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section, and/or an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder extending into the body may be at least 1.5 times a diameter of the inlet.

A dual stage filter assembly for use in a fluid cleaning and sludge removal operation, including a first stage separator incorporated into a first vessel and receiving a dirty fluid flow, a first stage clean fluid outlet extending from the first stage separator. A second stage filter is incorporated into a second vessel in fluidic communication with a dirty fluid outlet of the first stage separator for subsequent filtering and outflow through a second stage clean outlet. A flow restrictor is incorporated into said second stage clean outlet for controlling a flow rate through said filter in order to prevent clogging of the same by aggregating debris.