Abstract: A funnel element having an open end and a closed pointed end configured to receive a multi-component fluid containing a solid fraction. The solid fraction can comprise cellular material that sediments toward the closed pointed end to form a cell pack. A wash fluid can be pumped through the cell pack to entrain microparticles and soluble contaminants. The wash fluid can be introduced into the funnel element below the cell pack such that the wash fluid percolates through the cell pack. The percolating wash fluid can dislodge microparticles or other contaminants trapped within the cell pack. Additional wash fluids can be added to funnel element where excess wash fluids overflow from the funnel element through the open end of the funnel element.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing molten iron includes i) at least one fluidized-bed reduction reactor that converts iron ore into reduced materials by reducing and plasticizing the iron ore, ii) a melter-gasifier into which the reduced materials are charged and oxygen is injected such that the melter-gasifier manufactures molten iron, and iii) a reducing gas supply line that supplies a reducing gas discharged from the melter-gasifier into the fluidized-bed reduction reactor. The fluidized-bed reduction reactor includes a gas injector that injects a gas into the fluidized-bed reduction reactor to remove stagnating layers.

Abstract: A flotation device for mixing and aerating an ore-containing slurry, comprising a tank having a conical-shaped floor. A vertically positioned flotation assembly is located within the tank. The open bottom of the flotation assembly is shaped is positioned above the conical portion of the floor. The assembly has a middle section having a cage with spaced, vertical bars forming its outer circumference. A rotatable impeller is located within the middle section which draws slurry from the tank through the bottom section and into the middle section and thereafter through the cage and out of assembly. The impeller is attached to a rotatable shaft which is connected at its bottom portion to the upper side of the back plate to rotate the impeller in a plane normal to the shaft. A hollow, vertically situated tubular shaped upper section is located directly above the middle section through which the shaft passes. The upper section has an opening at its lower end which is blocked by the back plate of the impeller.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for utilizing hydrocarbon-containing and iron-oxide-containing waste products, in particular rolling scale sludges, and fine coals, in a metallurgical plant, in which the waste product is mixed with the fine coal, and if appropriate with bituminous substances, and is then agglomerated, in particular cold-briquetted, and is then used to build up the fixed bed in a melter gasifier and is converted in the latter in a melting-gasification zone.

Abstract: The invention consists of forming an aqueous slurry of water and particles of ore carrying both metals and/or minerals which are passed at relatively high speed along an electrically isolated path in contact with electrically insulating materials and in the presence of air. This generates a positive electrostatic charge in the water droplets and enclosed particles and a negative charge in the electrically insulating materials through which they are being driven. The water droplets and hence the particles become differentially charged so that when they pass over an oppositely charged negative field, they are driven into the lower oppositely charged field body by the strong force of electrical attraction and the relatively weaker force of gravity. Should the negative collector contain an amalgamating material such as mercury and the ore, as an example contain gold, electrons are exchanged providing instant amalgamation of the surface of the gold.

Abstract: A precious metal recovery system utilizing an amalgamation process which results in substantially complete recovery both of the precious metal sought and of the mercury utilized in the process. Mercury has undesirable health and environmental characteristics and the system of the invention assures its substantial containment. In the operation of the system, ore is classified and sorted out into a plurality of bins or holds containing ore having a substantially uniform particle size. The ore is then delivered, bin by bin, beginning with the smallest particle size, to apparatus which assures substantially complete amalgamation of all of the precious metal present in the ore. Thereafter, a resulting slurry of water and tails is first removed from the amalgamation apparatus and any residual mercury removed before its return to the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for production of refractory metal from a chloride thereof, comprising a conversion assembly and a purification assembly, the former in turn comprising: an elongated vertical cylindrical member with an open top and a closed bottom, another cylindrical member open at each end but having a grid plate detachably supported at a bottom thereof, said cylindrical members consisting of axially arranged outer and inner vessels, respectively, an annular top cover joined on respective upper ends of said outer and inner vessels, a closure joined over a central bore of said top cover, a furnace means surrounding said outer vessel, a tube means which extends through the closure into the inner vessel for feeding raw chloride, another tube means which opens in the outer vessel at a bottom thereof and extends along a wall thereof outwards for discharging fluids, and a means for evacuation and introduction of inert gas; while the purification assembly comprising: an elongated vertical cylindrical retort

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recovering small particles of gold or platinum from a slurry by feeding the slurry onto a layer of Mercury which is flowing downwardly along a generally conical, downwardly converging inner wall of a housing. The housing is rotated about the vertical axis of the conical wall at a speed which induces particles to settle out or a malgamate with the layer of Mercury and causes the remainder of the slurry to move upwardly over the Mercury layer and out of the housing. Upon collection and separation of the particles therefrom, the Mercury is returned to the housing for resupply to the inner wall thereof so as to maintain a continuous layer of Mercury.

Abstract: A gas seal and silencer is provided for attachment to a tuyere body to minimize the gas volume and pressure loss during the insertion of a punch bar through a tuyere valve closing the tuyere and so reduce the noise created by the blast of gas leaking out during opening of the tuyere valve. The gas seal and silencer comprises a housing adapted to be secured to the tuyere body with its longitudinal axis substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tuyere, and closure means mounted within the housing for forming a seal about the punch bar when inserted in the housing. Such closure means may consist of a plurality of closure members mounted for movement toward and away from the punch bar and include means for forcing the closure members against the periphery of the punch bar so as to form a seal between the closure members and the punch bar when the punch bar is inserted in the housing.

Abstract: A cementation apparatus is provided wherein the reaction surface thereof can be increased without changing the outer dimensions. There is provided at least one inner cylinder which is freely mounted in an outer cylinder and placed one within the other. The inner cylinders are perforated along their outer surfaces and are preferably open at both ends as is the outer cylinder. In the cylinder assembly, all the cylinders as well as the cylinder assembly are rotated. A slurry containing material to be treated as well as the amalgam is fed into the cylinders and on rotating the cylinders, the slurry is picked up by the surface of each of the cylinders so as to provide a reaction area for cementation which is equal to the sum of the surface area of all the internal cylinders and inner surface area of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recovering small particles of gold or platinum from a slurry by feeding the slurry onto a layer of mercury which is flowing downwardly along a generally conical, downwardly converging inner wall of a housing. The housing is rotated about the vertical axis of the conical wall at a speed which induces particles to settle out or amalgamate with the layer of mercury and causes the remainder of the slurry to move upwardly over the mercury layer and out of the housing. Upon collection and separation of the particles therefrom, the mercury is returned to the housing for resupply to the inner wall thereof so as to maintain a continuous layer of mercury.

Abstract: An apparatus for the decomposition of the amalgams of alkali metals including a reaction body consisting of horizontally spaced layers of foraminous metals wettable by amalgam, e.g. steel grids, with alternately inserted layers of material unwettable by amalgam, e.g. graphite or titanium carbide.