Three-stage slurry processing apparatus and method
OwnerRejean Houleinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A three-stage separator system for separating the solids and liquids from a slurry includes a first stage having an inclined housing defining a liquid channel. A slot sieve is disposed over an open surface of the channel. A mechanical vibrator assembly imparts mechanical vibration to a vibration zone of the slot sieve. A slurry delivery apparatus delivers the slurry to the slot sieve. A second stage includes an inclined conveyer positioned to convey partially-separated solids and includes a drive mechanism driven at a speed to cause the partially-separated solids to tumble as they are transported up the conveyor. A third stage includes a press positioned to accept partially-separated solids passing out of the tunnel press restrictor.
Claims16
A separator system for separating the solids and liquids from a slurry comprising:
- a housing defining a liquid channel and oriented at an acute angle such that a top end thereof is positioned higher than a lower end thereof;
- a slot sieve having a top end positioned above the top end of the liquid channel and a bottom end positioned above the bottom end of the liquid channel and including a plurality of horizontally oriented members spaced apart to define slots therebetween disposed over an open surface of the channel;
- a mechanical vibrator assembly mechanically coupled to impart mechanical vibration to a vibration zone of the slot sieve;
- a slurry delivery apparatus for delivering the slurry to the slot sieve at a location proximate to the top of the liquid channel;
- a liquid removal conduit fluidly coupled to the liquid channel at a location proximate to the bottom end thereof;
- an inclined conveyer positioned to pick up partially-separated solids that drop from the bottom end of the slot sieve, the inclined conveyor including perforations across its surface;
- a drive mechanism coupled to the conveyor and driven at a speed relative to the volume of partially-separated solids carried on the conveyor such that the conveyor runs at about a full capacity so as to cause the partially-separated solids to tumble as they are transported up the conveyor, the conveyor further including a tunnel press restrictor disposed proximate to the top of the conveyor;
- a press positioned to accept partially-separated solids passing out of the tunnel press restrictor.
A method for separating liquid and solid components in a slurry, comprising:
- providing at least one housing defining a liquid channel and oriented at an acute angle such that a top end thereof is positioned higher than a lower end thereof;
- providing a slot sieve in each at least one housing having a top end positioned above the top end of the liquid channel and a bottom end positioned above the bottom end of the liquid channel and including a plurality of horizontally oriented members spaced apart to define slots therebetween disposed over an open surface of the channel;
- transporting the slurry to the slot sieve at a location proximate to the top of the liquid channel in each at least one housing and causing the slurry to run down the slot sieve;
- vibrating the slot sieve in each at least one housing while the slurry runs down the slot sieve to yield a first solid component having less liquid content than the slurry;
- removing the liquid component from the liquid channel at a location proximate to the bottom end of each at least one housing;
- conveying the first solid component from the bottom end of the slot sieve in each at least one housing;
- conveying the first solid component up an inclined conveyor the volume of the first solid component fed onto the conveyor and the speed of the conveyor chosen to impart a tumbling motion to the first solid component to yield a second solid component having less liquid content than the first solid component;
- and
- conveying the second solid component from a top of the inclined conveyor into a press and pressing liquid out of the second solid component to yield a third solid component having less liquid content than the second solid component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.