Centrifugal separator with extended post

1. A centrifugal separator comprising:

a separation barrel with an upper end, a lower end, a central axis, and a circularly cylindrical axially extending wall defining a separation chamber;

a spin plate extending substantially across said separation chamber adjacent to said lower end;

a post comprising a central passage and extending from said spin plate Into the separation barrel and along the central axis thereof, the post defining at least one opening along the longitudinal wall thereof for allowing fluid to flow from the central passage of the post Into the separation chamber, wherein the upper end of said post is closed;

an inlet in fluid communication with said separation chamber for allowing flow of a solids-laden fluid thereinto;

a first conduit in fluid communication with said separation barrel for allowing flow of a substantially clean fluid out of said separation chamber;

a cylindrical wall extending around the separation barrel and defining an acceptance chamber above the separation barrel and a collection chamber below the separation barrel; and

a second conduit extending from a bottom of the post, and in fluid communication therewith, a top of said conduit being open such that fluid In said collection chamber can flow into the second conduit and be delivered to the separation chamber via the at least one opening along the longitudinal wall of the post.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising:

a separation barrel with an upper end, a lower end, a central axis, and an Internal circularly cylindrical axially extending wall defining a separation chamber;

a spin plate extending substantially across said separation chamber adjacent to said lower end;

a post comprising a central passage and extending from said spin plate into the separation barrel and along the central axis thereof, the post defining at least one opening in a longitudinal wall thereof for allowing fluid to flow from the central passage of the post into the separation chamber, wherein the upper end of said post is closed;

an inlet in fluid communication with said separation chamber for allowing flow of a solids-laden fluid thereinto;

a first conduit in fluid communication with said separation barrel for allowing flow of a substantially clean fluid out of said separation chamber;

a second conduit extending from a bottom of said post and in fluid communication therewith, to an upper portion of a collection chamber at a point higher than the at least one opening defined by said post, a top of said second conduit being open such that fluid in said collection chamber can flow into said conduit and be delivered to the separation chamber via the at least one opening in said post; and

a plurality of spaced-apart fins attached to said post at a point beneath said spin plate.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a notch In an upper edge thereof.

4. A method of separating particulates from a solids-laden fluid stream, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing a solids-laden fluid stream into a centrifugal separator comprising:

a separation barrel defining a separation chamber in which the solids-laden fluid stream rotates, separating particulates therefrom by centrifugal force;

a cylindrical wall extending around the separation barrel and defining a collection chamber below the separation barrel and along a length thereof, between the separation barrel and the cylindrical wall;

a spin plate extending substantially across said separation chamber adjacent to a lower end thereof;

a post comprising a central passage and extending from said spin plate into the separation barrel and along a central axis thereof, the post having a longitudinal wall and an upper end and defining at least one opening along the longitudinal wall thereof for allowing fluid to flow from the central passage of the post into the separation chamber, wherein the upper end of said post is closed;

a first conduit In fluid communication with said separation barrel for allowing flow of a substantially clean fluid out of said separation chamber;

a second conduit extending from the bottom of the post, and in fluid communication therewith, to an upper portion of the collection chamber at a point higher than the at least one opening defined in said post, the top of the second conduit being open such that fluid in said collection chamber can flow into said second conduit and be delivered to the separation chamber via the at least one opening in said post;

allowing partially-clarified fluid In said collection chamber to re-enter the separation chamber by traveling along said conduit and exiting said post through said at least one opening therein;

separating further by centrifugal force the partially-clarified fluid entering the separation chamber from said post; and

drawing clarified fluid from said separation chamber.