Abstract: A feedwell apparatus trough, plant and use. The apparatus is adapted to materials including liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals. The feedwell apparatus includes a supply channel for receiving the material, a trough, a first end of which being connected in fluid communication with the supply channel. The trough has a curved shape that turns in one direction, and a series of through-openings in the wall(s) of the trough. The through-openings are arranged in the trough in unequal pattern such that the area of the through-openings in pro-portion to the corresponding area of the walls has its minimum value in portion of the trough close to the first end thereof, and the relation being arranged to grow with the distance from the first end.

Abstract: A feedwell apparatus trough, plant and use. The apparatus is adapted to materials including liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals. The feedwell apparatus includes a supply channel for receiving the material, a trough, a first end of which being connected in fluid communication with the supply channel. The trough has a curved shape that turns in one direction, and a series of through-openings in the wall(s) of the trough. The through-openings are arranged in the trough in unequal pattern such that the area of the through-openings in pro-portion to the corresponding area of the walls has its minimum value in portion of the trough close to the first end thereof, and the relation being arranged to grow with the distance from the first end.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device to be used in connection with thickening and clarifying apparatuses for shear-thinning of solids containing material such as slurry. According to the invention the flow area of the shear-thinned material (11) is restricted by arranging a restriction element (12) in the conduit (4,15) for discharging back the shear-thinned material (11).

Abstract: The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell comprising a mixing zone for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf at least partially defining an inclined path for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion of a second conduit varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet to a first conduit; and a partition for partially separating an outer mixing zone and an inner settling zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (20) of separating pulp from a feed material within a tank (1), the method comprising the steps of (23) introducing the feed material (22) into the tank (1); (24) allowing the feed material (22) to settle in the tank (1); (25) allowing the pulp (21) to form into aggregates (13); (26) allowing the pulp aggregates (13) to settle towards the bottom of the tank (1) and form a networked layer (2) of pulp; and (27) causing a disturbance substantially uniformly across a disturbance zone (16) in an upper region of the networked layer (2), so as to disrupt the networked pulp in the disturbance zone within a predetermined period of time; thereby releasing entrained liquid from the networked pulp in the disturbance zone (16) and increasing the relative density of the pulp below the disturbance zone. The invention also provides a separation device (40) for separating pulp (21) from a feed material (22).

Abstract: The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell (100) comprising a mixing zone (49) for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone (50) for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element (101) for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf (3) at least partially defining an inclined path (4) for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets (111, 112) arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion (123) of a second conduit (121) varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet (110) to a first conduit (120); and a partition (133) for partially separating an outer mixing zone (131) and an inner settling zone (132).

Abstract: The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell comprising a mixing zone for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf at least partially defining an inclined path for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion of a second conduit varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet to a first conduit; and a partition for partially separating an outer mixing zone and an inner settling zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, by using a thickening apparatus (1) comprising a tank (2) whereby pulp of higher relative density tends to settle towards the bottom of the tank, forming a bed of thickened pulp (3), and dilute liquid (9) of lower relative density is thereby displaced towards the top of the tank, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (5), such as slurry and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one feedpipe (8) for feeding the material (5), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when the feedpipe cross-sectional area for the fed material (5) is constantly varying when the flowrate inside the feedpipe (8) varies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, by using a thickening apparatus (1) comprising a tank (2) whereby pulp of higher relative density tends to settle towards the bottom of the tank, forming a bed of thickened pulp (3), and dilute liquid (9) of lower relative density is thereby displaced towards the top of the tank, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (5), such as slurry and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one feedpipe (8) for feeding the material (5), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when the feedpipe cross-sectional area for the fed material (5) is constantly varying when the flowrate inside the feedpipe (8) varies.

Abstract: A thickening apparatus (1) and method adapted to liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, when there is a tank (2), where settling of solids takes place, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (11), such as slurry and at least one outlet (5) in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, means for delivering the fed material (11), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when inside the feedwell there is arranged a separate mixing space (12) for the fed material (11), when there is arranged at least one horizontal element (7, 15, 22, 23) reaching at least partly the cross-section of the feedwell, from which mixing space the fed material (11) is allowed to flow into other section (14) of the feedwell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (20) of separating pulp from a feed material within a tank (1), the method comprising the steps of (23) introducing the feed material (22) into the tank (1); (24) allowing the feed material (22) to settle in the tank (1); (25) allowing the pulp (21) to form into aggregates (13); (26) allowing the pulp aggregates (13) to settle towards the bottom of the tank (1) and form a networked layer (2) of pulp; and (27) causing a disturbance substantially uniformly across a disturbance zone (16) in an upper region of the networked layer (2), so as to disrupt the networked pulp in the disturbance zone within a predetermined period of time; thereby releasing entrained liquid from the networked pulp in the disturbance zone (16) and increasing the relative density of the pulp below the disturbance zone. The invention also provides a separation device (40) for separating pulp (21) from a feed material (22).

Abstract: The invention provides a separation device (20) for separating pulp from a feed material, the separation device comprising a tank (1) for receiving the feed material, a rake assembly (21) mounted for rotation within the tank (1) to move pulp towards an outlet (22) thereof and a shearing device (23) for shearing pulp within the tank (1), the shearing device (23) being mounted for movement independently of the rake assembly (21). The invention also provides a method for reducing donutting in a separation device (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as a slurry containing minerals. The thickening apparatus comprises a tank (2), a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having an inlet for receiving feed slurry (9) and an outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one conduit (5) for feed slurry to deliver a feed slurry (9) into the feedwell, means for diluting the feed slurry, when at least one separate dilute liquid conduit (16, 19) is directed tangentially with respect to the feedwell (4) and at least one inflow aperture (15) is arranged tangentially with respect to the feedwell for recirculating the dilute liquid from the tank inside the feedwell in order to dilute the feed slurry.

Abstract: The invention provides a method (20) for controlling a disturbance (15) to networked pulp in a separation device comprising a tank (1), the method (20) comprising the steps of introducing a feed material into the tank at a flux (21); allowing pulp to settle out of the feed material and form into a networked layer of pulp (22); disturbing the networked pulp in a disturbance zone (16) of the networked layer (23); and controlling one or more disturbance parameters with respect to the flux and/or one or more operational parameters to controllably apply an optimal disturbance to the networked pulp in the disturbance zone (31). The invention also provides a separation device for separating pulp from a feed material.

Abstract: The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell (100) comprising a mixing zone (49) for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone (50) for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element (101) for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf (3) at least partially defining an inclined path (4) for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets (111, 112) arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion (123) of a second conduit (121) varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet (110) to a first conduit (120); and a partition (133) for partially separating an outer mixing zone (131) and an inner settling zone (132).

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (1) for deaerating a feed liquid (3) comprising a liquid suspension or pulp, the apparatus comprising a feed conduit (2) to convey the feed liquid (3) into a separator (4), the separator (4) comprising a mechanical agitator (5) for inducing a rotational flow of the feed liquid in a separation chamber (6), such that the rotational flow generates a centrifugal vortex (15) to separate the feed liquid into a first component (7) consisting essentially of froth or gas and a second component (8) consisting essentially of deaerated liquid or sludge, the separator (4) further comprising a device (17) for controlling the location of the vortex (15) in the separation chamber (6). The invention also provides a method for deaerating a feed liquid (3) comprising a liquid suspension or pulp.

Abstract: A thickening apparatus (1) and method adapted to liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, when there is a tank (2), where settling of solids takes place, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (11), such as slurry and at least one outlet (5) in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, means for delivering the fed material (11), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when inside the feedwell there is arranged a separate mixing space (12) for the fed material (11), when there is arranged at least one horisontal element (7, 15, 22, 23) reaching at least partly the cross-section of the feedwell, from which mixing space the fed material (11) is allowed to flow into other section (14) of the feedwell.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as a slurry containing minerals. The thickening apparatus comprises a tank (2), a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having an inlet for receiving feed slurry (9) and an outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one conduit (5) for feed slurry to deliver a feed slurry (9) into the feedwell, means for diluting the feed slurry, when at least one separate dilute liquid conduit (16, 19) is directed tangentially with respect to the feedwell (4) and at least one inflow aperture (15) is arranged tangentially with respect to the feedwell for recirculating the dilute liquid from the tank inside the feedwell in order to dilute the feed slurry.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device to be used in connection with thickening and clarifying apparatuses for shear-thinning of solids containing material such as slurry. According to the invention the flow area of the shear-thinned material (11) is restricted by arranging a restriction element (12) in the conduit (4,15) for discharging back the shear-thinned material (11).