Underwater mineral dressing methods and systems
AssigneeS.G.B.D. Technologies Ltd.
InventorAlexander Brodt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Underwater mineral dressing units, systems and methods are provided. Material is milled in a water-immiscible liquid which is heavier than water and lighter than the product material. Gangue material is removed by the milling and floats on the water-immiscible liquid to be removed without further processing. Product containing material sinks and is further milled to remove additional gangue material, until the required level of extraction is achieved. Cascades of milling rolls in the water-immiscible liquid allow ever improving extraction of the product material. The rolls are arranged to regulate material flow through the system to remove floating gangue while directing sinking product material to further processing.
Claims20
An underwater mineral dressing unit comprising:
- a vertical vessel comprising at least one pair of a flow compartment and a milling compartment, wherein the flow compartment is positioned above and in fluid communication with a milling compartment;
- and
- a water-immiscible liquid filling the vertical vessel and selected to have a density that is intermediate between lighter gangue material and heavier product material, to float the gangue material and to sink the product material,
- wherein the milling compartment comprises grinding rolls configured to receive material from the flow compartment into a volume between the rolls and direct the floating gangue material back to the flow compartment via lateral volumes with respect to the rolls.
A method of underwater mineral dressing comprising:
- milling delivered material in a water-immiscible liquid selected to have a density that is intermediate between lighter gangue material and heavier product material in the delivered material, to float the gangue material and to sink the product material;
- and
- configuring the milling to receive the delivered material at a central volume and direct the floating gangue material via lateral volumes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.