Abstract: In a method for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a feed slurry into a particle separator having a fluidisation source. The feed apparatus comprises a chamber having at least one baffle for dividing the chamber into a first zone and a second zone. A feed inlet feeds the slurry into the first zone (20) and the baffle deflects the slurry away from the second zone and direct fluidisation fluid from the fluidisation source through the second zone to combine with the slurry from the first zone. A particle separator incorporating the feed apparatus and a method of particle separation is also provided.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing an underflow stream is provided suitable for removing an underflow stream from a separator, such as a mineral particle separator. In one aspect, the separator can include a discharge outlet for discharging the underflow stream, and the apparatus can include a source of pressurised fluid, a first conduit for fluidly connecting the pressurised fluid source to the discharge outlet such that the pressurized fluid is directed to impede the flow of the underflow stream in the first conduit, thereby creating a fluidisation zone, and a second conduit fluidly connected to the first conduit so that material from the fluidisation zone flows into the second conduit for removal from the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rail conveyor system of the type having a rail track (9) including a delivery run (1) extending between a loading end (5) and a discharge end (6) and a return run (12) extending from the discharge end (6) to the loading end (5), a plurality of carriages (8) spaced apart from one another and arranged to run on wheels (24) supported by the track (9), and a continuous carry belt (10) supported by the carriages (8); wherein, at least at the discharge end (6), the carriages (8) are turned around to return to the loading end (5) by being entrained around only one or more vertical turnover wheels (7) arranged such that the carriages (7) are delivered to the return run (12) beneath the delivery run (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a feed slurry into a particle separator having a fluidisation source. The feed apparatus comprises a chamber having at least one baffle for dividing the chamber into a first zone and a second zone. A feed inlet feeds the slurry into the first zone and the baffle deflects the slurry away from the second zone and direct fluidisation fluid from the fluidisation source through the second zone to combine with the slurry from the first zone. A particle separator incorporating the feed apparatus and a method of particle separation is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rail conveyor system of the type having a rail track (9) including a delivery run (1) extending between a loading end (5) and a discharge end (6) and a return run (12) extending from the discharge end (6) to the loading end (5), a plurality of carriages (8) spaced apart from one another and arranged to run on wheels (24) supported by the track (9), and a continuous carry belt (10) supported by the carriages (8); wherein, at least at the discharge end (6), the carriages (8) are turned around to return to the loading end (5) by being entrained around only one or more vertical turnover wheels (7) arranged such that the carriages (7) are delivered to the return run (12) beneath the delivery run (1).

Abstract: An enhanced gravity separation device rotates a plurality of rectangular section vessels about a central drive shaft. Each vessel has an array of closely spaced plates positioned with the vessel between outer regions and inner regions. A feed of mixed dense and less dense fluid matter is fed to the outer regions via a pipe and conduits, through the plate arrays and into the inner regions. Overflow of less dense matter reports to the inner regions and underflow of denser matter reports to the outer region. The vessels may be fluidized by liquid supplied into the outer regions via annulus and conduits.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for removing an underflow stream and in particular to an apparatus and method for removing an underflow stream from a separator. The invention has been developed primarily for use with a mineral particle separator. One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for removing an underflow stream from a separator, said separator having a discharge outlet for discharging said underflow stream, said apparatus comprising: a source of pressurised fluid; a first conduit for fluidly connecting said pressurised fluid source to said discharge outlet such that said pressurised fluid is directed to impede the flow of said underflow stream in said first conduit, thereby creating a fluidisation zone, and a second conduit fluidly connected to said first conduit so that material from said fluidisation zone flows into said second conduit for removal from said apparatus.

Abstract: A flotation separation apparatus for separating particles in suspensions, feeds slurry containing the particles through an inlet into a contactor where gas is fed through an inlet to mix with the slurry, for example in a downwardly plunging jet, to form a gas-liquid bubbly two-phase mixture under pressure from an outlet restriction in a throttling duct. The mixture is passed through a flow manipulator configured to induce a high energy dissipation rate, for example by way of a Shockwave formed in a diverging section of the throttling duct reducing the size of the bubbles and brining those bubbles into intimate contact with particles in the mixture which is released into a separation cell where a flow manipulating draft tube is provided to reduce turbulence in the mixture. Alternative apparatus and methods for inducing the high energy dissipation rate and for reducing turbulence in the mixture are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the electrochemical behaviour of carbon involving the use of a half cell set-up and solid sacrificial anode. The electrochemical oxidation of a selectively-contaminated graphite electrode has been assessed; the contaminants included anatase, alumina, pyrite, quartz, kaolin and montmorillonite. From the systematic introduction of these contaminants it was discovered that clay materials, such as kaolin and montmorillonite act catalytically to increase the rate of graphite oxidation. This demonstrates a clear effect of the solid phase interaction of contaminants upon the electrochemical oxidation of graphite; the same effect was not observed when the contaminants were added instead to the molten carbonate electrolyte.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing methane from ventilation air in a mining situation is provided by a carbonation reactor CAR which reacts a ventilation air methane stream VAR with a carbon dioxide scavenger to form a mineral carbonate which is passed to a calcination reactor CAL in which a regeneration reaction decomposes the mineral carbonate back to a mineral or mineral oxide. Additional heat may be added to the CAL by steam, solar energy or by burning drainage gas, natural gas, or coal. Steam or supercritical fluid given off by the CAR can be utilized for heating, cooling, or energy generation. The carbon dioxide scavenger can be any metal, metal oxide, mineral or mineral waste having a carbonation tendency, used in the process referred to as “Mineral Carbonate Looping Reactor” (MCLR), or can be stone dust from the mining site used in the process referred to as “Stone Dust Looping Reactor” (SDLR).

Abstract: An integrated chemical looping air separation unit (5) in a large-scale oxy-fuel power generating plant takes a portion of recycled flue gas (6) via a recycling conduit (7) through a heat exchanger (8) to a reduction reactor (9). The reduction reactor (9) exchanges oxidized metal oxide with an oxidation reactor (11) via transfer means (10) which return reduced metal oxide from the reduction reactor (9) to the oxidation reactor (11). This enables the reduction reactor (9) to feed a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas into the boiler (13) of the power generating plant in a more energy efficient manner than conventional oxy-fuel power plants using air separation units.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the targeted delivery to myometrial tissue of one or more agents capable of regulating contractility of myometrial tissue, wherein the one or more agents are contained or encapsulated within a polymeric delivery vehicle conjugated with one or more molecules that recognizes and/or is capable of binding, directly or indirectly, to the oxytocin receptor.

Abstract: Methane is removed from ventilation air by cycling metal or metal oxide particles in a chemical looping process in one or more reactors where the metal particles are alternately reduced and oxidized, and passing ventilation air through one or more of reactors to convert the air plus methane into reduced air, water and carbon dioxide. In one variation, a hydrogen generator and a regenerator are used to alternatively reduce and oxidize the particles such that ventilation air methane introduced into a combustor provided with hydrogen from the hydrogen generator can be processed in the regenerator to produce air, water and carbon dioxide. Other variations involve using three reactors in the chemical looping process, or an array of parallel inclined plates forming lamellas between upper and lower reactors to keep lighter particles in the upper oxidizer reactor and heavier particles in the lower reducer reactor.

Abstract: In a coal fired power plant (17) incorporating a feed-water heater (10), energy is provided to the feed-water heater by pumping geothermal hot water through supply and return pipes (15, 16) from a geothermal reservoir (14) located beneath an adjacent coal seam (19). The coal seam acts as an insulating layer, increasing the temperature of the geothermal reservoir (14). Solar heat collectors (21) and (25) can also be provided to boost the temperature of the geothermal hot water and/or the feed water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling the state of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, including applying to the suspension a stimulus adapted to control inter-particle forces between the solid particles. The stimulus is reversibly operable to control attraction and/or repulsion. Means of consolidating a sediment bed and of separating the resultant liquids-rich and solids-rich phases are also within the ambit of the invention.

Abstract: Separation of hydrophobic particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid is performed by providing a fluidized bed as a relatively non-turbulent contacting mechanism in a flotation cell incorporating a settling chamber located immediately above the fluidized bed. Hydrophobic particles attach to bubbles in the fluidized bed and rise to the interface with the settling chamber where non-hydrophobic particles flow over the lip of an internal launder and are removed as tailings at. The hydrophobic particles attached to bubbles float upwardly in the relatively placid settling chamber where unwanted gangue can fall back to interface. The bubbles form a froth layer at the upper surface of the settling chamber, and flow over the launder lip carrying the hydrophobic particles. An operation of the apparatus is kept stable by recirculating fluid from the settling chamber via pip and pump to mix with new feed entering at duct.

Abstract: Apparatus for sampling material being conveyed on a primary conveyor comprises a diverter arranged to divert material onto a sampling conveyor running alongside the primary conveyor where it can be weighed by a weightometer and elevated to a discharge point before falling into a falling-stream sample cutter. Material is then returned to the primary conveyor at by a return conveyor. Options include the use of an impact conveyor between the diverter and the sampling conveyor, and the configuration of the sampling conveyor with a wider belt running at a slower speed to improve accuracy.

Abstract: A rail conveyor system combining the low friction attributes of railway transportation with the continuous bulk handling advantages of belt conveyors, uses a multiplicity of spaced carriages running on steel wheels on rail tracks to support a continuous carry belt. The system is driven by various means including a rope extending between the carriages. Various other drive means including drive belt technology are also described along with loading and unloading stations and distributed drive stations.