De-aerating froth products
AssigneeThe University of Queensland
InventorsYongjun Peng, Xumeng Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (40) for deaerating a froth comprising a spinning basket (44) mounted on a driven shaft (46). The side walls of the spinning basket have a mesh or openings therein. Froth is supplied to the interior of the spinning basket and contacts the floor of the spinning basket and is flung outwardly through the mesh or openings to break the bubbles and deaerate the froth. A solid wall (42) may surround the spinning basket to further assist in deaeration. A spinning plate may be used in place of the spinning basket. In another embodiment, vacuum is used to deaerate the froth.
Claims18
An apparatus for deaerating a froth in which the froth is subjected to an impact force and/or a reduction in pressure in order to break bubbles in the froth, wherein the apparatus comprises a spinning plate positioned to be contacted by the froth whereby the froth contacts the spinning plate and bubbles in the froth are broken by the spinning plate;
- wherein the apparatus comprises a basket comprising a sidewall, at least part of the sidewall comprising a plurality of openings, the basket being adapted to spin, the basket having a froth entrance to enable froth to be delivered to an interior volume of the basket, such that froth in the interior volume of the basket is forced through the plurality of openings on the sidewall by spinning of the basket;
- wherein the spinning plate comprises a floor of the basket;
- wherein the sidewall comprises at least one sloping sidewall extending upwardly and inwardly from the floor of the basket;
- and
- wherein a gap or a space is present between the side wall and the floor in order to allow large particles to escape from the basket.
A method for deaerating a froth comprising subjecting the froth to a reduction in pressure and/or an impact force to break bubbles in the froth;
- said method comprising contacting the froth with a spinning plate whereby the froth contacts the spinning plate and bubbles in the froth break;
- wherein a basket comprises a sidewall, at least part of the sidewall comprising a plurality of openings, the basket being adapted to spin, the basket having a froth entrance to enable froth to be delivered to an interior volume of the basket, such that froth in the interior volume of the basket is forced through the plurality of openings on the sidewall by spinning of the basket;
- wherein the spinning plate comprises a floor of the basket;
- wherein the sidewall comprises at least one sloping sidewall extending upwardly and inwardly from the floor of the basket;
- and
- wherein a gap or a space is present between the side wall and the floor in order to allow large particles to escape from the basket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.