Apparatus for dewatering coal tailings and slurries and removing contaminants therefrom

An apparatus for use in processing a liquid and at least one solid particulate material mixed with said liquid comprising:

• a first tank having a front end and a rear end, a base surface and a peripheral wall;
• an input point positioned adjacent the rear end of the first tank extending generally upwardly from and surrounding the base wall;
• a particle collection area positioned on the base surface beneath the input point;
• means for separating particles and water;
• means for conveying particles and water extending from adjacent the particle collection area to the means for separating particles from water;
• a second tank connected by a liquid conveyance means directly to the first tank;
• means for conveying water from the means for separating particles and water to the second tank;
• means to adding an agent selected from a coagulant and a flocculent to the water in the second tank;
• means for recovering water from the second tank;
• and
• means for recovering a coagulated or a flocculated mass from the second tank.

An apparatus for reducing the concentration of particulate material in a liquid, wherein said particulate material is suspended in said liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• a flow cavity having an input opening and a perforated wall having an outer surface;
• means for delivering the liquid with suspended particles to the input opening of the flow cavity under sufficient pressure to cause said liquid with suspended solids to flow from the input opening to the output opening;
• and
• whereby the liquid with a decreased concentration of particulate material is recovered on the outer surface of the perforated wall.

An apparatus for reducing the concentration of particulate material in a liquid, wherein said particulate material is suspended in said liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• a flow cavity having an input opening and a restricted output opening and a perforated wall having an outer surface;
• means for delivering the liquid with suspended particles to the input opening of the flow cavity under sufficient pressure to cause said liquid with suspended solids to flow from the input opening to the output opening of said flow cavity;
• means for adjustably elevating the output opening of the flow cavity above the input opening of the flow cavity;
• a trough for recovering liquid with a reduced concentration of particulate material from the outer surface of the perforated wall of the flow cavity;
• and
• a surface for recovering particulate material from the output opening of the flow cavity.

An apparatus for use in processing a liquid and solid particles mixed with said liquid comprising:

• a first tank having a front end and a rear end, a base surface and a peripheral wall;
• an input point positioned adjacent the rear end of the first tank extending generally upwardly from and surrounding the base wall;
• a particle collection area positioned on the base surface beneath the input point;
• means for separating some of the particles from the water to produce water with suspended particles and separated particles;
• means for conveying particles and water extending from adjacent the particle collection area to the means for separating particles from water;
• a second tank connected by a liquid conveyance means directly to the first tank;
• means for conveying water with suspended particles from the means for separating some of the particles and water to the second tank;
• means for adding an agent selected from a coagulant and a flocculent to the water in the second tank;
• means for reducing the concentration of the particles in the liquid with suspended particles comprising:
• a flow cavity having an input opening, an output opening and a perforated wall having an outer surface;
• means for delivering the liquid with suspended particles to the input opening of the flow cavity under sufficient pressure to cause said liquid with suspended solids to flow from the input opening to the output opening;
• whereby the liquid with a decreased concentration of particles is recovered on the outer surface of the perforated wall of the flow cavity and particles are recovered at the output opening of the flow cavity;
• and
• means for conveying liquid with suspended particles from the second tank to the means for reducing the concentration of the particles in the liquid with suspended particles.