Centrifuge with open conveyor and methods of use

A centrifuge comprising

• a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end and a beach area,
• apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl,
• a conveyor rotatably, mounted in the bowl, the conveyor having a length and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor into the bowl, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor adjacent the beach area of the bowl, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the beach area, and
• apparatus for rotating the conveyor.

A method for separating components of a feed material, the method comprising

• introducing feed material into a centrifuge, the centrifuge comprising a bowl with a hollow interior and a first bowl end spaced-apart from a second bowl end and a beach area, apparatus for selectively rotating the bowl, a conveyor rotatably mounted in the bowl, the conveyor having a length and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along the length of the conveyor, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the spaced-apart flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the plurality of spaced-apart flight members, the plurality of spaced-apart flight members and the plurality of spaced-apart support members defining an interior of the conveyor, a hollow feed tube with a fluid exit end within the conveyor through which fluid to be treated enters a space within the conveyor, the spaced-apart flight members and plurality of support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated is flowable out from within the conveyor into the bowl, the conveyor having a distal end smaller in diameter than an entry end at which fluid enters the conveyor, and a plurality of the plurality of open areas at the distal end, the distal end of the conveyor positionable adjacent the beach area of the centrifuge, a plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers within the distal end of the conveyor for accelerating the fluid to be treated, each impeller of the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers adjacent and spanning multiple opening areas of the plurality of open areas so that fluid accelerated by the plurality of spaced-apart accelerating impellers is flowable from the impellers out through the multiple open areas to the bench area, apparatus for rotating the conveyor,
• rotating the bowl and the centrifuge to separate components of the feed material within the centrifuge, and
• discharging from the bowl separated components of the feed material.