Open-channel feed dilution system for a thickener or settling tank
AssigneeFLSmidth A/S
InventorsTimothy John Laros, Frank Andrew Baczek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An open-channel infeed conduit of a feed dilution system of a thickener/clarifier settling tank is provided with orifices between its upstream inlet end and its outlet end. The orifices are positioned proximate to and in fluid communication with the clarified liquid phase in the tank to draw clarified liquid from the tank into the conduit responsive to or by virtue of momentum transfer between the flow of the liquid slurry feed stream in the conduit and the clarified liquid in the tank.
Claims28
A thickener/clarifier apparatus comprising:
- a settling tank providing for the settling of particulate material residing within liquid contained within said tank and facilitating the formation of a clarified liquid phase in an upper region of said tank;
- a feedwell body disposed inside said tank;
- at least one open-channel infeed conduit disposed in said tank, said infeed conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end wherein the outlet end communicates with said feedwell body for delivering thereto a liquid slurry feed stream;
- and
- said conduit being provided with at least one orifice between said inlet end and said outlet end,
- said at least one orifice being positioned proximate to and in fluid communication with said clarified liquid phase in said tank to draw clarified liquid from said tank into said conduit responsive to or by virtue of momentum transfer between the flow of said liquid slurry feed stream in said conduit and said clarified liquid in said tank.
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A feedwell assembly for a thickener/clarifier tank, comprising:
- a feedwell body disposable inside the tank;
- at least one open-channel infeed conduit disposable in the tank, said infeed conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end communicating with said feedwell body for delivering thereto a liquid slurry feed stream,
- said conduit being provided with at least one orifice between said inlet end and said outlet end,
- said at least one orifice being positionable proximate to and in fluid communication with the clarified liquid phase in the tank to draw clarified liquid from the tank into said conduit responsive to or by virtue of momentum transfer between the flow of said liquid slurry feed stream in said conduit and the clarified liquid in the tank.
A method of diluting an incoming slurry feed stream eventually flowing into a feedwell assembly of a thickener/clarifier tank, said feedwell assembly including a feedwell body disposable inside the tank, at least one open-channel infeed conduit disposable in the tank, said infeed conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end communicating with said feedwell body, said conduit being provided with at least one orifice between said inlet end and said outlet end, said at least one orifice being positionable proximate to and in fluid communication with the clarified liquid phase in the tank, said method comprising the steps of:
- flowing the incoming slurry feed stream into the inlet end of the open-channel infeed conduit;
- drawing clarified liquid from the tank into the infeed conduit through the at least one orifice in response to or by virtue of momentum transfer between the flow of said flowing slurry feed stream in said conduit and the clarified liquid in the tank;
- allowing the slurry feed stream to be diluted by and mix with the drawn in clarified liquid inside the infeed conduit thereby producing a diluted and mixed slurry feed stream;
- and
- flowing the resulting diluted and mixed slurry feed stream through the outlet end of the infeed conduit into the feedwell.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.