Ilmenite beneficiation process and a digester method
AssigneeKerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
InventorsHoward R. Keil, Oscar L. Daigle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved digester method and apparatus particularly useful in the digestion stage of a process for the beneficiation of titaniferous iron ores and the like. A discharge nozzle is connected to a portion of the digester and the digested material is pumped from the digester via a pump connected to the discharge nozzle. In one aspect, fluid from a fluid source is passed through a portion of the discharge nozzle and into the interior of the digester for dislodging any solid-like masses prior to discharging the digested material and, in another aspect, fluid from the fluid source is passed into the discharging digested material from the digester.
Claims13
A method for operating a digester movably mounted on mounting structures in a process for the beneficiation of titaniferous iron ores wherein the digester includes a nozzle having an opening covered via a removable cover, the opening being in fluidic communication with the interior of the digester, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving the digester on the mounting structures to a material receiving position in which the nozzel is disposed in a position for receiving the ores to be digested;
- removing the cover from the nozzle;
- charging the ores into the interior of the digester via the opening in the nozzle;
- connecting the cover to the nozzle;
- introducing leach liquor into the interior of the digester;
- digesting the ores in the digester;
- removing the spent leach liquor from the digester after digesting of the ores;
- introducing a wash fluid into the interior of the digester to wash the digested ores;
- moving the digester on the mounting structures to a material discharge position without first discharging the wash fluid for discharging the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digester;
- connecting a pump to the nozzle on the digester;
- establishing fluidic communication between the interior of the digester and the pump;
- and
- pumping the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digester via the pump.
A method for operating more than one movable digester in a process for the beneficiation of titaniferous iron ores wherein each digester is movably supported on mounting structures and wherein each digester includes a first nozzle having an opening in fluidic communication with the interior of the digester and a removable first cover for closing the opening in the first nozzle, and a second nozzle having an opening in fluidic communication with the interior of the digester and a discharge valve interposed in a discharge nozzle connected to the second nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- charging each digester with ores, the charging of each digester including the steps of:
- moving the digester on the mounting structures to a material receiving position in which the first nozzle is disposed in a position for receiving the ores to be digested;
- charging the ores into the interior of the digester via the opening in the first nozzle;
- and
- securing the first cover over the opening in the first nozzle;
- introducing leach liquor into the interior of the digesters;
- digesting the ores in the digesters;
- removing the spent leach liquor from the digester after digesting the ores;
- introducing a wash fluid into the interior of the digesters to wash the digested ores;
- moving the digesters on the mounting structures to a material discharge position without first discharging the wash fluid in which the second nozzle is in position for discharging the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digesters after the completion of the digestion;
- removing the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digesters via a digester discharge assembly, the removing of the ores and the wash fluid including the steps of:
- connecting the digester discharge assembly to the discharge valve of one of the digesters after moving the digester to the material discharge position;
- opening the discharge valve to establish fluidic communication between the interior of the digester and the digester discharge assembly;
- discharging the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digester via the digester discharge assembly;
- closing the discharge valve interrupting the fluidic communication between the digester and the digester discharge assembly;
- disconnecting the digester discharge assembly from the discharge valve of the digester after the discharge of the ores and the wash fluid and after the closing of the discharge valve;
- and
- moving the digester discharge assembly to each of the digesters and repeating the step of removing the digested ores and the wash fluid from each of the digesters as the digestion of ores is completed and the subsequent moving of the digesters on the mounting structures to the material discharge position.
A method for operating a digester movably mounted on mounting structures in a process for the benefication of titaniferous iron ores, wherein the digester includes a first nozzle having an opening in fluidic communication with the interior of the digester and a removable first cover for closing the opening in the first nozzle, and a second nozzle having an opening in fluidic communication with the interior of the digester and a discharge valve connected to the second nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving the digester on the mounting structures to a material receiving position in which the first nozzle is disposed in a position for receiving the ores to be digested;
- removing the first cover;
- charging the ores to be digested into the interior of the digester via the opening in the first nozzle;
- securing the first cover over the opening in the first nozzle;
- introducing leach liquor into the interior of the digester;
- digesting the ores in the digester;
- removing the spent leach liquor from the digester after digesting the ores;
- introducing a wash fluid into the interior of the digester to wash the digested ores;
- moving the digester on the mounting structures to a material discharge position in which the second nozzle is disposed in a position for discharging the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digester;
- connecting a pump to the discharge valve;
- opening the discharge valve thereby establishing fluidic communication between the interior of the digester and the pump via the opened discharge valve;
- pumping the digested ores and the wash fluid from the digester via the pump;
- closing the discharge valve;
- and
- disconnecting the pump from the discharge valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.