Aerated hydrocyclone apparatus and method for cyclonic froth separation

A method for separating particles from a slurry, the method comprising:

• providing slurry, via a slurry input port, into a first volute;
• providing fluid flow of slurry, via a first cyclonic opening, between the first volute and an interior of a central body to be separated by a hydrocyclone formed therein, a central a core of the hydrocyclone the central body being formed of a body wall that runs longitudinally from a first body opening at one end to a second body opening at another end opposite the first body opening, the first cyclonic opening being formed by a body interface of the first volute being connected to the first body opening of the central body;
• providing a porous barrier coupled to the body wall forming an outer layer of the body wall, wherein the porous barrier allows air or gas flows from a secondary barrier opening to flow through the porous barrier through the porous barrier and then between one or more rows of cascades of blades forming an inner layer of the body wall on an interior side of the porous barrier;
• providing fluid flow, via a second cyclonic opening, between the interior of the central body and a second volute, the second cyclonic opening being formed by a body interface of the second volute connected to the second body opening of the central body;
• receiving, via an exhaust opening of the second volute, exhausted slurry from the interior of the central body, the exhaust opening formed by the base surface and an interior wall of the second volute, the exhaust opening is generally annular in shape;
• providing, via an exhaust port of the second volute, fluid flow of exhausted slurry from the exhaust opening to the exterior of the apparatus;
• preventing froth formed in the central air column from being outputted by the exhaust port using an air base column coupled to the central air column to support the central air column and isolate the core having low pressure from the high pressure region near the body wall of the hydrocyclone;
• and
• retaining, via an air base column, air to support the hydrocyclone formed within the interior of the central body, the air base column forming a base surface at the second cyclonic opening, wherein the air base column has a diameter similar to a diameter of the central air column of the hydrocyclone so that during operation of the hydrocyclone slurry flows from the interior of the central body to the exhaust opening to be expelled from the apparatus via the exhaust port.

A hydrocyclone direct cyclonic flotation apparatus configured to separate particles from a slurry, the apparatus comprising:

• a central body formed by a body wall, wherein the body wall runs longitudinally from a first body opening at one end to a second body opening at another end opposite the first body opening;
• a first volute connected to the first body opening having a first slurry input port forming a first cyclonic opening,
• a body interface coupled to the first volute and attached to the first cyclonic opening configured to allow a fluid flow of slurry with particles to the interior of the central body, wherein the particles are separated from the slurry by a froth created by a hydrocyclone formed therein, wherein a central air column is formed within a core of the hydrocyclone;
• an air base column coupled to the central air column configured to support the air column and isolate the core having low pressure from a high pressure region near the body wall of the hydrocyclone to prevent the froth from being outputted by an exhaust port;
• one or more of secondary openings coupled to the body wall configured to inject a pressurized gaseous fluid into the interior of the body wall;
• a porous barrier coupled to the body wall forming an outer layer of the body wall, wherein the porous barrier allows air or gas flows from a secondary barrier opening to flow through the porous barrier and then between one or more rows of cascades of blades forming an inner layer on an interior side of the porous barrier;
• a second volute connected to a second body opening having a second slurry input port forming a second cyclonic opening;
• a second body interface coupled to the second volute attach to the second cyclonic opening configured to allow a fluid flow of residual slurry to the interior of the central body;
• an interior wall of the second volute configured to form an exhaust opening configured to receive residual particles to flow residual particles matter to the exhaust port coupled to the second volute configured to allow fluid flows of captured particles matter to the exterior of the apparatus;
• and
• a central pipe coupled to the second volute configured for indirect froth cyclonic flotation hydrocyclone, to allow a fluid flow of a froth concentrate of captured particles and remaining particles in the slurry through the central pipe to exit the apparatus through the exhaust opening in the second volute.