Three-stage slurry processing apparatus and method

A separator system for separating solids from liquids in a slurry comprising:

• a pair of opposing slot sieve separators each including:
• an elongate housing defining a liquid channel along its length, and oriented at an acute angle such that a top end of said housing is positioned higher than a lower end of said housing;
• a slot sieve having a top end positioned above the top end of the liquid channel and a bottom end positioned above the bottom end of the liquid channel and including a plurality of horizontally oriented members spaced apart to define slots therebetween disposed over an open surface of the channel;
• a mechanical vibrator assembly mechanically coupled to said slot sieve to impart mechanical vibration to a vibration zone of the slot sieve;
• a slurry delivery apparatus for delivering the slurry to the slot sieve at a location proximate to the top of the liquid channel;
• and
• a liquid removal conduit fluidly coupled to the liquid channel at a location proximate to the bottom end thereof;
• an inclined conveyer positioned to pick up a partially-separated volume of solids that drop from the bottom end of each slot sieve separator, the inclined conveyor including perforations across its surface;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the conveyor and driven at a speed relative to the volume of partially-separated solids carried on the conveyor such that the conveyor runs at about a full capacity so as to cause the partially-separated solids to tumble as they are transported up the conveyor, the conveyor further including a tunnel press restrictor disposed proximate to the top of the conveyor;
• and
• a roller press positioned to accept partially-separated solids passing out of said tunnel press restrictor, said roller press being formed from a pair of two opposed rollers, a first one of the opposed rollers being a screen roller and a second one of the opposed rollers being a rubber faced roller.