Liquid refinement

A method comprising:

• directing a liquid carrier in a first direction gravitationally downward at a first velocity through a first flow chamber from a narrow upper portion of a cone structure to a broad lower portion of the first flow chamber, the liquid carrier comprising one or more of a solid particulate and a lower density fluid;
• directing the liquid carrier from the first flow chamber into a second flow chamber in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second flow chamber comprising plates;
• collecting a portion of the solid particulate having a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of the liquid carrier at a lower collection chamber;
• and
• collecting the lower density fluid and a portion of the solid particulate suspended in the liquid stream, wherein one or more of the plates comprises a hat disposed on an upper edge of the one or more plates to direct the separated lower density fluid and the portion of the solid particulate having a specific gravity that is lower than the specific gravity of the liquid carrier to the upper collection reservoir.

A liquid stream refining system comprising:

• a first flow chamber for directing the liquid stream downwards in a first direction within the first flow chamber at a first velocity, wherein the first flow chamber is conical in geometry and the first direction is substantially downward and parallel to gravity and the first velocity is greater than a settling velocity of a heavier waste in a liquid carrier of the liquid stream, and wherein the first flow chamber has a cross-sectional area that increases in the first direction;
• a second flow chamber for directing the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second velocity less than the settling velocity;
• and
• a plate pack comprising a plurality of plates disposed in an inclined helical arrangement at least partially within the second flow chamber and at a transition between the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber, the plurality of plates having a geometry to form an at least partially laminar flow condition in the liquid stream to separate a portion of the heavier waste having a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of the liquid carrier to a lower collection chamber for extraction and a lighter waste having a specific gravity that is less than the specific gravity of the liquid carrier to an upper collection reservoir for extraction.