# US 8,540,887 B2 · Feedwells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,887 B2 - Document ID: US8540887B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/992,869 - Filed: 2009-04-30 - Published: 2011-04-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-15 - Assignees: Outotec Oyj - Applicants: Richard Triglavcanin; Jian Dong Wang; Michael Andrew Brown - Inventors: Richard Triglavcanin; Jian Dong Wang; Michael Andrew Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540887B2 ## CPC - B01D 21/2411: {having a tangential inlet} - B01D 21/2427: {The feed or discharge opening located at a distant position from the side walls} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell (100) comprising a mixing zone (49) for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone (50) for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element (101) for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf (3) at least partially defining an inclined path (4) for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets (111, 112) arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion (123) of a second conduit (121) varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet (110) to a first conduit (120); and a partition (133) for partially separating an outer mixing zone (131) and an inner settling zone (132). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A feedwell for a separation device, the feedwell comprising a mixing zone for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone for promoting flocculation of the pulp and a plurality of inclined deflecting element for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone, wherein each inclined deflecting element has an inner end and an outer end with respect to the feedwell, wherein one of the inner and outer ends is raised relative to the other of the inner and outer ends. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting element restricts fluid flow from the mixing zone into the settling zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein inclined deflecting element temporarily retains the fluid within the mixing zone before permitting the fluid to flow into the settling zone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inner end is raised relative to the outer end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting element extends radially from a central axis of the feedwell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting elements are inclined with respect to a vertical plane of the feedwell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the deflecting elements are inclined radially inward with respect to the feedwell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein at least one inclined deflecting element comprises two or more portions, of which at least one portion is inclined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inclined deflecting elements is connected at one end to a shelf of the feedwell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The feedwell of claim 9, wherein an outer end of the at least one inclined deflecting element is connected to the shelf. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting elements are spaced apart to define one or more openings to permit fluid flow from the mixing zone into the settling zone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting element comprises one or more baffles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the inclined deflecting element comprises one or more planar vanes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, wherein the separation device has a thickening tank, the feedwell further comprising a sidewall at least partially defining a feedwell chamber at least partially containing the mixing zone and the settling zone, a feed inlet for directing feed liquid into the feedwell chamber, an outlet disposed below the feed inlet to direct feed liquid in the chamber into the thickening tank, and a shelf at least partially defining an inclined path for removing material from the shelf into the feedwell chamber and inhibiting the build up of material thereon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, the feedwell further comprising an inlet for receiving a fluid comprising pulp, and at least two outlets for discharging fluid into the separation device, wherein the at least two outlets are arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The feedwell of claim 1, the feedwell further comprising a feed inlet for receiving a fluid comprising pulp from a first conduit, and a second conduit for connecting the first conduit and the feed inlet in fluid communication, wherein the first conduit has a first cross-sectional size and/or shape, the feed inlet has a second cross-sectional size and/or shape different to the first cross-sectional size and/or shape, and a portion of the second conduit varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect the feed inlet to the first conduit. ### Claim 17 A method of separating pulp from a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: forming a mixing zone for dissipating the kinetic energy of the fluid, forming a settling zone for promoting flocculation of the pulp, positioning a plurality of inclined deflecting elements for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone, wherein each inclined deflecting element has an inner end and an outer end with respect to the feedwell, and raising one of the inner and outer ends relative to the other of the inner and outer ends. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the inclined deflecting element restricts fluid flow from the mixing zone into the settling zone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the inclined deflecting element temporarily retains the fluid within the mixing zone before permitting the fluid to flow into the settling zone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the inner end is raised relative to the outer end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of extending the inclined deflecting element radially from a central axis of the feedwell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inclining the inclined deflecting element with respect to a vertical plane of the feedwell. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inclining the deflecting element radially inward with respect to the feedwell. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one inclined deflecting element comprises two or more portions, of which at least one portion is inclined. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of connecting at least one of the inclined deflecting element at one end to a shelf of the feedwell. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of connecting an outer end of the at least one inclined deflecting element to the shelf. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of spacing the inclined deflecting elements apart to define one or more openings to permit fluid flow from the mixing zone into the settling zone. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the inclined deflecting elements comprises one or more baffles. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the inclined deflecting element comprises one or more planar vanes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the feedwell further comprises a sidewall at least partially defining a feedwell chamber that at least partially contains the mixing zone and the settling zone, a feed inlet for directing feed liquid into the feedwell chamber, an outlet disposed below the feed inlet to direct feed liquid in the chamber into a thickening tank, the method further comprising the step of defining an at least partially inclined path with the shelf for removal of material therefrom into the feedwell chamber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of providing an inlet for receiving the fluid, providing at least two outlets for discharging the fluid into the separation device and arranging the at least two outlets in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of providing a feed inlet for receiving the fluid from a first conduit and providing a second conduit for connecting the first conduit and the feed inlet in fluid communication, wherein the first conduit has a first cross-sectional size and/or shape and the feed inlet has a second cross-sectional size and/or shape different to the first cross-sectional size and/or shape, the method further comprising varying a portion of the second conduit in its cross-sectional size and/or shape to fluidly connect the feed inlet to the first conduit.