A method and apparatus for separating a fluid containing particulate matter into a plurality of fractions.

In order to carry out the separation of both heavy and light contaminants from the fluid in an efficient manner, there is provided apparatus comprising a reverse vortex cyclone separator and a Uniflow cyclone (uni-direction cyclone) separator. Heavy contamination is removed from fluid admitted to the reverse vortex cyclone separator at an end remote from the fluid inlet and fluid substantially cleaned of heavy contaminants passes from the reverse vortex cyclone separator to the Uniflow cyclone separator by way of an axial passage and/or circumferential passages disposed at the inlet end of the reverse vortex separator. Respective outlets for the accepts and rejects are provided in the Uniflow separator at a location remote from the inlet.

The respective chambers of the reverse and Uniflow separators are preferably conical and coaxial with one another with the Uniflow separator disposed vertically above the reverse vortex separator.

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