LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR AFTER ACR X DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

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IN MODERATE TURBULENCE A REQUESTED DES TO FL310. CLRNC DENIED DUE TO ACR Y 1.5 MI TO LEFT AT FL310. OTHER ACFT WAS VISUALLY IN SIGHT. F/O WAS OFF RADIO USING P/A TO ALERT F/A'S TO BE SEATED. I REQUESTED IMMEDIATE VECTOR AND DES TO FL310 OR FL280. RECEIVED TURN OF 35 DEGS TO RIGHT AWAY FROM ACR Y AND DES. I MENTALLY ACCEPTED CLRNC TO FL310 AND BELIEVE I READ BACK SAME. AT APPROX FL320 DEN ARTCC SAID WE BUSTED ALT. ACR Y WAS IN SIGHT; 5-6 NM DIVERGING. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT I ERRED IN CLRNC. THE SAFETY SITUATION IS TWOFOLD. 1) I WAS ALONE IN COM LOOP WITH F/O NECESSARILY ON P/A. ACFT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN RADIAL AND IN MODERATE TURBULENCE. AUTOPLT WAS IN TURBULENCE MODE. 2) FLT PLAN WAS OMA TO SLC VIA LNK-HCT-GIL-CHE-FFU-SLO. DEN ARTCC CHANGED IT ENRTE TO DIR DEN-J116-FFU-SLC; RESULTING IN FLOW CONCENTRATION OVER DEN THAT PREVENTED ALT FLEXIBILITY ON A DAY OF EXCEPTIONAL TURBULENCE. ORIGINAL ROUTING WAS MORE LOGICAL BUT ATC LIKES EVERYONE TO LINE UP FOR FLOW CTL CONCENTRATING ACFT ALOFT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 80645: WE HAD TURNED 35 DEGS TO THE RIGHT AND WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL320. DEN CALLED TO ASK TO WHAT ALT WE WERE DSNDING AND I RESPONDED; AFTER CHKING WITH CAPT; FL310. DEN SAID OUR LIMIT WAS FL330 AND TO IMMEDIATELY CLB TO FL330 WITH A FURTHER TURN TO RIGHT.