Bucket-lift slurry storage apparatus and method

A method of storing a particle slurry with the particle substantially in suspension comprising:

• directing the slurry into a confined space in which some of the the particles have a tendency to gravitate toward the bottom of the space;
• lifting the particles near the bottom of the space as a function of the rate at which particles gravitate toward said bottom;
• depositing the particles back into the slurry in the space after the particles have been lifted;
• and repeating the lifting and depositing steps in a generally continuous manner and at a rate to avoid the growth of a settled bed of particles on said bottom and to obtain and maintain uniform particles concentration and size consist throughout the slurry.

A slurry handling apparatus comprising:

• a tank having an open top, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, whereby a slurry containing particles in suspension can be directed into and out of the tank;
• a plurality of buckets;
• means for mounting the buckets on the tank for movement along a generally continuous path with each bucket being movable along a path extending into the slurry and in proximity to the bottom of the tank to scoop slurry particles settled in the tank off the bottom and in an upward direction;
• a guide bar extending upwardly from the top adjacent to said path of the buckets, the guide bar being engageable by the buckets for tilting the buckets as they move along said path, the buckets being operable to deposit the particles at a predetermined location with respect to the tank;
• and means coupled with said bucket mounting means of moving the buckets along said path.