Separation of minerals by specific gravity
AssigneeGood Earth IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsJody G. Robbins, Joseph Richard Wantulok
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifuge for separating minerals by specific gravity is disclosed. The centrifuge rotates to circulate slurry across a collection region and to subject slurry in the collection region to centripetal forces that facilitate stratification within the collection region by the specific gravity of the constituent minerals of the slurry. Energy, such as acoustic energy, is coupled with the collection region and enhances the stratification by specific gravity within the collection region.
Claims25
A system for separating a plurality of minerals in a slurry, each mineral of the plurality of minerals having a different specific gravity, the system comprising:
- a first centrifuge configured to receive the slurry containing the plurality of minerals, and
- a first energy injection module configured to apply energy to the first centrifuge;
- wherein a rotation of the first centrifuge and the energy of the first energy injection module separate a first mineral from the slurry;
- and
- a second centrifuge in fluid communication with the first centrifuge and configured to receive at least a portion of the slurry after the first mineral is separated from the slurry by the first centrifuge, and
- a second energy injection module configured to apply energy to the second centrifuge;
- wherein a rotation of the second centrifuge and the energy of the second energy injection module separate a second mineral from the slurry;
- and
- wherein the first centrifuge is configured to receive the slurry in a solid carrier medium.
A method for separating a first mineral of a first specific gravity from at least a second mineral of a second specific gravity that is different than the first specific gravity and a third mineral of a third specific gravity that is different than the second specific gravity, the method comprising:
- obtaining a slurry containing the first mineral, the second mineral, and the third mineral;
- separating the first mineral from the second and third mineral by rotating a first centrifuge containing the slurry such that the slurry is circulated within the first centrifuge and applying energy waves to the first centrifuge using a first energy injection module;
- obtaining a reject slurry from the first centrifuge containing the second mineral and the third mineral;
- separating the second mineral from the third mineral by rotating a second centrifuge containing the reject slurry such that the reject slurry is circulated within the second centrifuge and applying energy waves to the second centrifuge using a second energy injection module;
- wherein applying energy waves to the first centrifuge comprises generating and applying acoustic waves at a first frequency to a first collection region of the first centrifuge, and wherein applying energy waves to the second centrifuge comprises generating and applying acoustic waves at a second frequency to a second collection region of the second centrifuge.
A system for separating at least two minerals in a slurry, the at least two minerals each having a different specific gravity, the system comprising:
- a centrifuge configured to receive the at least two minerals,
- a first collection region removably attached to the centrifuge;
- a second collection region removably attached to the centrifuge;
- an energy injection module coupled to the first and second collection regions and configured to apply energy to the first and second collection regions;
- wherein, during operation of the system, a rotation of the centrifuge and the energy of the energy injection module separate a first mineral of the at least two minerals from at least a second mineral of the at least two minerals;
- wherein the centrifuge is configured to receive the slurry in a solid carrier medium.
A method for separating at least two minerals from a slurry, the at least two minerals each having different specific gravities, the method comprising:
- obtaining a fluidized slurry containing the at least two minerals;
- separating a first mineral from the slurry by rotating a centrifuge containing the slurry such that the slurry is circulated within the centrifuge and applying energy waves to the centrifuge using an energy injection module;
- collecting the first mineral in a first collection region;
- separating a second mineral from the slurry by rotating the centrifuge such that the slurry is circulated within the centrifuge and applying energy waves to the centrifuge using the energy injection module;
- and
- collecting the second mineral in a second collection region;
- wherein the slurry is received by the centrifuge in a solid carrier medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.