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US 2013/0153518 A1Published application
System and method for liquid-liquid separation
AssigneeFreeport-Mcmoran Corporation
InventorsSteven Richardson, William Cashwell, Jason M. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a mixer-settler extraction circuit for separating liquids from each other. The mixer-settler extraction circuit includes a flow distributor. The flow distributor comprises a slat assembly which directs the incoming liquid into the settling portion of the mixer-settler extraction circuit. The slats of the slat assembly may be spaced apart from each other at varying distances.
Claims28
A primary flow distributor comprising:
- a support structure;
- a first slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a second slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a third slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- wherein the first slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface of the first slat of the first slat assembly;
- and
- wherein the first slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface of the first slat of the second slat assembly.
4 more elements
A mixer-settler assembly comprising:
- a vessel configured to conduct the flow of a liquid comprising an inbound portion and an outbound portion;
- a flow distributor comprising:
- a support structure;
- a first slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a second slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a third slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- wherein the first slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface of the first slat of the first slat assembly;
- and
- wherein the first slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface of the first slat of the second slat assembly.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- introducing a liquid into an inbound portion of a vessel comprising the inbound portion and an outbound portion;
- and
- regulating the flow of the liquid by passing the liquid through a flow distributor comprising:
- a support structure;
- a first slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a second slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- a third slat assembly coupled to the support structure and comprising a first and second slat;
- wherein the first slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the first slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface of the first slat of the first slat assembly;
- and
- wherein the first slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface and the second slat of the second slat assembly has a beveled edge surface configured to be substantially parallel to the beveled edge surface or the first slat of the second slat assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.