Device and method for separating a flowing medium mixture with a stationary cyclone

1. A cyclone device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two different fractions with differing average mass density, the cyclone device comprising:

a) a stationary housing defining an elongate separating space which is circle-symmetrical in an axial direction, the housing further including a plurality of feed inlet openings adapted to receive being provided with a feed for a mixture for separating and at least two discharges areas for discharging at least two fractions with differing mass density, of which the discharge area for the heavy fraction is connecting centrally to the elongate separating space; and

b) a mechanism for inducing rotation located in the separating space for causing the mixture to rotate as a vortex in the separating space,

wherein the feed for a mixture for separating initially is connected by means of a plurality of first feed parts to the separating space and is associated with a plurality of guide elements which forms the rotation inducing mechanism and debouches substantially tangentially in the separating space, wherein each first feed part connects substantially radially to the stationary housing proximate to a feed opening in the stationary housing and thereby connect to the separating space from a unique radial direction.

2. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein the number of feed openings forming the plurality of first feed parts connect at equal mutual angles to the periphery of the stationary housing of the elongate separating space.

3. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein the discharge for the heavy fraction is connected centrally to the housing defining the separating space which tapers along the axial direction.

4. The cyclone device of claim 1 , further comprising a curved stabilizing element interposed between two adjacent guide elements.

5. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the separating space is less than 75 mm.

6. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein each guide element comprises a straight portion running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the separating space.

7. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein each guide element comprises a curved portion.

8. A method for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two fractions with differing mass density, the method comprising the steps of:

a) feeding a mixture for separating to a stationary cyclone device according to claim 1 in a substantially radial direction;

b) rotating the flowing mixture as a vortex in a stationary circle-symmetrical, elongate housing of the cyclone; and

c) discharging at least two separated fractions from the housing of the stationary cyclone whereby the heavy fraction is discharged centrally from the housing of the cyclone;

wherein the mixture for separating is fed in different fractions from different radial directions to the stationary cyclone during step a) via a plurality of first feed parts that are arranged as a number of feed openings in the stationary housing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the directions in which the different supplied fractions via a plurality of first feed parts are fed to the stationary cyclone enclose mutually equal angles.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein between the initial, substantially radial flow directions and the final substantially tangential flow direction the mixture for separating has an intermediate flow direction during step a which is substantially axial to the vortex.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flow of the medium mixture to be fed to the cyclone has a substantially laminar flow pattern during step a.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the medium mixture instantaneously expands during the feed to the vortex.

13. The cyclone device of claim 1 , wherein the guide elements connect to the feed openings in the stationary housing.

14. A device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two different fractions with differing average mass density, the device comprising:

a) a stationary casing having an axis and defining an elongate separating space having a circular cross-sectional shape;

b) a rotatable core associated with the casing;

c) a plurality of feed inlet openings defined in the casing;

d) a first discharge opening defined in the casing;

e) a second discharge opening defined in the casing;

f) a curved guide surface associated with the casing and the core;

g) a plurality of rotation guide elements, each rotation guide element comprising

i. a proximal generally flat first section extending from the guide surface in a direction generally parallel to the casing axis, wherein at least one feed inlet opening is sized and spaced to be disposed between adjacent first rotation guide element first sections and

ii. a distal curved second section; and,

h) a plurality of stabilizers, each stabilizer having

i. a proximal generally flat section extending from the guide surface in a direction generally parallel to the casing axis and

ii. a distal section.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein each stabilizer is disposed between adjacent rotation guide elements.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein each stabilizer is shorter in length than each rotation guide element.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first discharge opening is defined in an axial direction in the core and through which a lighter fraction of separated flowing medium can pass.

18. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second discharge opening is defined in the casing and through which a heavier fraction of separated flowing medium can pass.