Method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries
AssigneeNewcastle Innovation Limited
InventorKevin Patrick Galvin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.
Claims19
A method of separating low density particles from feed slurries containing such particles, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing the feed slurry into a chamber having a substantially enclosed upper end and a plurality of inclined surfaces in the lower end;
- allowing the slurry to flow downwardly through the inclined channels such that the low density particles escape the flow by sliding up the inclined channels while the denser particles in the slurry slide down the channels;
- removing the denser particles from the lower end of the chamber;
- forming an inverted fluidised bed in the chamber above the set of parallel inclined channels;
- allowing the low density particles to form into a concentrated suspension at the upper end of the chamber;
- and
- removing the concentrated suspension of low density particles at a controlled rate from the upper end of the chamber.
An apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, said apparatus comprising:
- a chamber having a substantially enclosed upper end and a plurality of inclined surfaces in the lower end;
- feed means arranged to feed slurry into the chamber;
- upper control means arranged to allow concentrated suspensions of low density particles to be removed from the upper end of the chamber at a controlled rate;
- and
- lower control means arranged to allow denser particles to be removed from the lower end of the chamber below the inclined channels at a controlled rate.
A method of separating low density particles from feed slurries containing such particles, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing the feed slurry downwardly through a feed box into a chamber having plurality of inclined surfaces in the lower end;
- allowing the slurry to flow downwardly through the inclined channels such that the low density particles escape the flow by sliding up the inclined channels while the denser particles in the slurry slide down the channels;
- removing the denser particles from the lower end of the chamber;
- forming an inverted fluidised bed in the chamber above the set of parallel inclined channels;
- and
- allowing the low density particles to move upwardly at a controlled rate through one or more confined passages between the outer walls of the feed box and the walls of the chamber to an overflow launder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.