System for separating solids from a liquid in a divided channel

A system for separating liquid and solids from a slurry which contains solids within a liquid carrier comprising:

• means providing a sources of said slurry,
• means defining an elongated separation channel having closed top and opposite side walls, said channel being adapted to receive said slurry at one end thereof and convey the same along the length thereof,
• means dividing said separation channel into an initial length portion and a second length portion which is located downstream of said initial length portion whereby flow of slurry along said initial and second length portions is adjustable to different values,
• substantially planar foraminous means defining a lower wall of said separation channel whereby slurry contained within said channel is caused to be disposed in contact with said foraminous means,
• means for moving said foraminous means forwardly relative to said separation channel,
• means for controllably causing said slurry to flow along said initial portion of the length of said separation channel at a first flow rate, said flow rate being sufficient to establish and maintain conditions of slurry flow along said initial portion of the length of said channel such that solids contained within said slurry are maintained suspended and swept along with said flowing slurry and prevented from accumulating in, or in inhibiting flow relationship with, the foramina of said foraminous means which is disposed along said initial length portion of said separation channel,
• means for developing a differential pressure of a first value across said foraminous means along said initial portion of the length of said elongated channel whereby liquid is caused to flow from said slurry through said foraminous medium during the time of residence of said slurry within said initial length portion of said separation channel,
• means for adjusting flow of slurry along said second length portion of said separation channel to a second value which is different from said first value, and for adjusting a differential pressure across said foraminous means along said second length portion of said separation channel to a second value, said second value of said differential pressure being different than said first value of said differential pressure and, in combination with said flow of slurry along said second length portion, being sufficient to cause said solids in said slurry to be captured on that surface of said foraminous means facing said slurry in said channel to define a layer of solids on said foraminous means, and
• means for removing said layer of solids from said foraminous means.