Abstract: The invention provides improvements in vortex separators for separating the rejects from the accepts in a particle-laden fluid, the separator including, in preferred embodiments, a replaceable inner wall lining minimizing maintenance costs while raising separating efficiency, and in addition, includes means for submitting the rejects to a size reduction process, an elutriation process, a dilution process, and a throttling process, all in one compact unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for thickening centrifugally separable fractions by the steps of providing a pressurized stream of a liquid suspension medium containing a fraction separated centrifugally from any other fraction, causing the stream of the suspension to flow in the form of an annular helical vortical flow, passing the stream of the suspension through a restricted opening, allowing the stream of the suspension to expand into a larger volume contained within a converging confining zone converging in the direction of stream flow and towards the discharge zone having a restricted opening of a size smaller than the size of the first-mentioned restricted opening, regulating the flow of the stream of the suspension to form and maintain the stream as a first vortex of the suspension flowing towards the discharge zone whereby a portion of the suspension reverses direction in the converging zone adjacent the restricted opening of the converging zone and forms a second vortex flowing towards