Abstract: This invention relates to an inverted up-flow separator, its use in a method of recovering target mineral particles from tailings and a process for the recovery of target mineral particles from tailings using the inverted up-flow separator of the invention.

Abstract: A cutterhead for dredging a body of water. The cutterhead comprising a shroud including a top wall, a bottom wall, and two sidewalls each extending between the top and bottom walls. The cutterhead additionally comprises a rotatable cutterbar at least partially received within an interior space presented by the shroud, a first water-jet bar extending along a portion of the top wall of the shroud, and a second water-jet bar extending along at least a portion of one of the two sidewalls. The cutterbar and the water-jet bars are configured to generate a slurry of fluidized material from the water-bed.

Abstract: A recovery method for recovering mineral resources from a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present beneath the ocean floor includes the steps of: (A) providing a hydrothermal fluid well by drilling a hole reaching a hydrothermal fluid reservoir from an ocean floor surface via a guide base on the ocean floor surface, and then installing a casing in the drilled hole via the guide base; (B) precipitating minerals on a mineral-culturing device by installing the mineral-culturing device on the base guide so as to cover a well head of the hydrothermal fluid well, and bringing hot water ejecting from the well head into contact with sea water on the mineral-culturing device; and (C) recovering minerals precipitated on the mineral-culturing device together with the mineral-culturing device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensor and control system, which automatically adjusts a product splitter position of a full-scale spiral. An electrical conductivity-based automation system is described and claimed herein and has been successfully developed and demonstrated as illustrated herein. The system includes a sensor and a microprocessor based and controlled servo or gear motor that is utilized to adjust the splitter of an operating coal/mineral spiral based on the readings of the sensor. The device as described and claimed herein converts a traditional coal spiral to an automated system for controlling the splitter thereby giving the spiral unit the ability to automatically adjust a key process variable, i.e., its splitter position, in real time as and when the feed coal or other mineral property changes to maintain the performance of the spiral at the optimum level.

Abstract: A device for the selective granulometric separation of solid powdery materials using centrifugal action, capable of separating materials into a fine material fraction and a coarse material fraction, includes: a housing, a cylindrical rotor rotatable, relative to the housing, about a vertical axis inside the housing and provided with blades evenly distributed on the periphery of an upper outlet opening through which a stream of gas, laden with particles having a size lower than a predetermined particle size, is drawn, a set of vertical adjustable vanes evenly distributed about the rotor along the generatrices of a virtual cylinder and directing the gas stream towards the rotor, elements for feeding the particles between the vanes and the rotor, collecting unit lower than the rotor for collecting the unfed particles having fallen and having a size larger than the predetermined particle size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for separating solid materials on the basis of a mutual difference in density, wherein the materials to be separated are brought into contact with a magnetic fluid across which fluid a density gradient is generated by means of a magnetic field such that fractions of solid materials of different densities are obtained, said device being provided with a magnet, an inflow chamber, a separation chamber, and means for discharging fractions of solid materials of different densities in separation, wherein the magnetic fluid flows from the inflow chamber to the separation chamber, wherein the magnet is arranged above the separation chamber, and wherein at least one duct for the supply of the solid materials to be separated is located below the inflow chamber and the separation chamber and encloses an angle with the inflow chamber and the separation chamber.

Abstract: A method of separating a mixture of particles in a liquid that within chosen limits have different physical property values, wherein the particles to be separated are supplied via a feeder to a screen upon which a layer of facilitating particles is disposed the size of the facilitating parties being too large to fit through the openings in the screen, wherein particles to be separated are passed through the layer of facilitating particles and through the openings in the screen and collected under the screen, the density of the particles being greater than that of the liquid, and wherein a repetitive vertical movement is provided between the particles and the liquid, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing lightweight particulates during processing of a primary material. The apparatus includes a classification tank having an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of settling stations located therebetween. A slurry of fluid and particles is introduced into the inlet and directed towards the outlet. As the slurry traverses along the classification tank, particles come out of suspension at the settling stations according to weight and to a lesser degree, density. The composition as well as the quantity of particles at the settling stations is periodically inspected. If particles deposited at a particular settling station are more or less the same size, and if they have accumulated in sufficient quantity, they are discharged to a flume which directs them to preselected collection areas.

Abstract: A process is described for separating particles based on differences in mass after the selective attachment of air bubbles to reduce the density of one or more of the components of the feed. A novel feature of this process is aeration of a hindered-bed of solids in a fluidized-bed separator to create particle/bubble agglomerates that can be separated based on the principal of gravity. This approach offers an improvement in process efficiency that cannot be achieved by other processes. Air and water are mixed in a shear device before the aerated fluidized water is introduced to the separation chamber.

Abstract: An elutriation apparatus which combines pressurized liquid nozzles (16A) and the low energy air nozzles (20) producing bubbles for flotation and separation of trace materials in a heterogeneous mixture of materials is described. Quantitative separation of trace evidence is achieved by the apparatus by a closed system of mechanical separations using the water and the air to isolate and deposit trace evidence on a fine mesh screen filter (17) submerged in the water (24) in a container (23). The method provides a rapid, quantitative and inexpensive method for detection of the evidence in soil samples.

Abstract: In a process for controlling the product composition in an apparatus for sizing and sorting mineral raw materials, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one chamber, a sizing separation of the sand fraction into a sand product mass and into a micro particle sand fraction to be discharged via the overflow, is additionally performed in the chamber by means of the level of the fluidized bed in the chamber. For the adjustment of a pre-set concentration of micro particle sand in the sand product mass, the fluidized bed level is controlled such that the micro particle sand fraction in the supplied raw material mass is divided, by means of the fluidized bed, as a function of the pre-set admissible concentration into a micro particle sand fraction to be discharged into the sand product mass and a micro particle sand fraction to be discharged via the overflow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for sorting recycled solid waste materials, such as plastics, by a liquid-fluidized bed classifier (LFBC) technique. The application of a LFBC to the separation of plastics, and in particular plastic particles, is shown to be advantageous for a number of reasons. Firstly, the primary fluidization medium, i.e., water, is present in large quantities during conventional chopping, washing, and flotation operations that are performed during plastics recycling operations. Secondly, the natural density distribution of the major types of recycled plastics favors segregation by density in water, i.e., the "lighter-than-water" polyolefins, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) from the "heavier-than-water" polystyrene (PS) PVC and PET plastics. The latter types of plastics have been found to separate spatially in an upflow LFBC, while the "lighter-than-water" plastics can be collected at the top of the column, thereby combining flotation and classification in a single step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid distribution system, which is useful in a number of contexts, including in accomplishing various synthetic, diagnostic and drug screening reactions. The distribution system can comprise an alpha reservoir and a beta reservoir, a first set of parallel and adjacent first and second feeder channels and a second set of parallel and adjacent third and fourth feeder channels which are offset from the first and second feeder channels, wherein (a) the first and third feeder channels are connected to the alpha reservoir via a first connector channel that is situated above or below the second and fourth feeder channels and are independent of the beta reservoir and (b) the second and fourth feeder channels are connected to the beta reservoir via a second connector channel that is situated above or below the first and third feeder channels and are independent of the alpha reservoir. The distribution system is preferably a microscale distribution system.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously separating ion exchange resin particles with upwardly flowing carrier fluid. The apparatus includes a first vertically oriented separation vessel and a first collection vessel for receiving the first fraction of resin particles from the upper zone of the first separation vessel. A first rejuvenation tank is connected to the first collection vessel for receiving the first fraction of resin particles from the first collection vessel. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a second vertically oriented separation vessel and a second collection vessel for receiving the first sub-fraction of the second fraction of resin particles from the upper zone of the second separation vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to separate heavier metal particles from lighter particles gangue in a fluidic medium by gravity and fluid flow. A vertical container provides a lower fluid input chamber that communicates through a medial structure providing a plate defining a plurality of valve ports, a screen, and a plate defining a plurality of holes to an upper chamber carrying particulate material to be beneficiated. Pressurized water flows upwardly through the medial structure to separate more dense metal bearing particles in the medial structure and gangue exits from a central orifice defined in the medial portion of the separating structure. The apparatus uses small amounts of water which may be recycled. The beneficiator is unusually efficient in recovering particulate gold from alluvial sands.

Abstract: The invention consists of an upright tank structure that includes axially aligned first and second tank parts, the first tank part being smaller in diameter than the second part. A first horizontal barrier plate having holes therethrough is mounted in the first tank part between upper and lower regions of the same. A second annular barrier having holes therethrough is mounted between the side walls of the first and second tank parts between upper and lower regions. Feed slurry is introduced into the upper region of the first tank part. Water under pressure is introduced into the region below both the first and second barriers and is caused to flow upwardly through the openings of the barriers with the formation of water jets extending upwardly from the openings. In operation the solids of the feed slurry are separated into coarse, fine and intermediate or middling fractions. The invention includes both apparatus and a method of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the separation of solid particles from hydrous slurries being particles of different settling velocities, such as slurries containing minerals including ore solids, coal and sands. The slurry solids are subjected to the jetting action of water discharged through barrier plate openings to effect separation between particles of greater settling velocity, which progress downwardly through the openings and are discharged in an underflow, and particles of lower velocity that progress upwardly and are discharged in an overflow.

Abstract: A separator is fed with liquid from a slaughterhouse which will be a mixture of water, tallow, and solids. The tallow rises to the top, and solids go to the bottom. Nearly clean water is withdrawn between the top and bottom. The nearly clean water is withdrawn into a plenum ring which is blocked at one point and has an outlet pipe connected adjacent to the block. Therefore, the liquid in the plenum ring flows in only one direction. The cross section of the plenum ring is many times greater than the cross section of the outlet pipe so that the flow within the plenum ring is gentle. Baffles in the plenum ring divert any tallow which rises to the top of the plenum ring back into the separator. A sump in the plenum ring adjacent to the outlet pipe draws off any solid which settle out in the plenum ring. A constant bleed is provided at the bottom of the sump to help withdraw the settling solids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating particulate solid from a solid mixture based on the size of the particles which includes feeding a slurry of the particulate solid mixture into an upper vessel portion adapted to be filled with liquid such as the slurried particulate. The apparatus also includes a lower vessel portion having a cross-sectional area which is less than the cross-sectional area of the upper vessel portion and is sealingly connected for fluid communication with the upper vessel portion by an outwardly diverging wall located at the top of the lower vessel portion. The upper vessel portion has a free-settling region for separating particulate solids. The particulate containing slurry is met with an upwardly directed stream of fluidization fluid, e.g., water, in the lower vessel portion wherein a first fraction-containing solid particulate which has descended through the fluidization stream is directed from the apparatus by a means therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a hydrous slurry into overflow and underflow fractions which have particles differing in settling velocities. When applied to slurries of natural sand the invention provides an overflow containing fine sand particles and an underflow containing coarse sand particles. A barrier is employed having openings through which water flows upwardly with jetting action to provide a separating action in which coarse solids pass downwardly and fine particles progress upwardly. The apparatus is constructed whereby the slurry is introduced tangentially into the space above the barrier to cause continuous swirling movement of the material.

Abstract: A teeter bed density control device is disclosed in a hindered-settling fluid classifier of the type having a teeter fluid supply system in a chamber with a fluidized teeter bed zone, an overflow zone and an underflow discharge outlet with the control device comprising an upper sensor for measuring average particle density from the upper boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a lower sensor for measuring average particle density from the lower boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a controller connected to the sensors for generating a compensating control signal based upon a preselected density standard and the average density of the teeter bed zone as determinable from the upper and lower average particle density measurements, and an actuable valve for regulating the discharge of the underflow discharge outlet with the controller being connected to the valve for actuation thereof responsive to the compensating control signal.

Abstract: A mixture comprising non-magnetic solids is separated according to the density difference of its components by contact with a separating medium comprised of a fluidized bed of magnetizable particles which is stabilized by a magnetic means. The separating medium circulates in a closed loop within a contacting vessel or zone such that at least two portions of said separating medium flow in essentially opposite directions transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid exiting the medium. This invention is particularly effective for separating mixtures of coal or for separating coal from other solids.

Abstract: A high degree of water purity is obtained from a mixed-bed deionization process by minimization of cross-contamination of the cation and anion materials. After service, the materials are classified into superimposed uppermost, intermediate and lowermost layers above a perforate barrier in a separator vessel. The vessel has an elongate conduit having an inlet adjacent the barrier and an outlet outside the vessel. At least a major proportion of the material of the lowermost layer is passed through the outlet of the conduit and an interface between materials is detected. Thereupon, the conduit outlet is isolated from the conduit inlet so as to segregate in the conduit material from the intermediate layer. The ion exchange materials are then regenerated and re-mixed. The segregated material is independently removed from the conduit before the next regeneration cycle starts.

Abstract: Gold flakes and small nuggets are separated from heavy sand by fluidizing the mixture with an upwardly flowing water column having a very uniform velocity across its section. The upwardly flowing water column has sufficient flow to fluidize the suspended material but not enough to carry the heavy sand over the top of the column. Heavy sand is withdrawn from the upper portion of the fluidized mixture to leave the gold below the withdrawal point.

Abstract: A process for the wet concentration and cleaning of fine coal is provided which comprises the steps of desliming and thickening a dilute slurry of fine coal and contaminant particles having a size of less than about 10 mm by introducing the same to a hydrocyclone separator to retain a slurry of particles having a size greater than about 0.1 mm, wet concentrating the last-named slurry and removing the heavier contaminant particles by introducing it to an autogenous dense medium separation vessel having a manifold for injecting water at an intermediate level and controlling the underflow of heavier than coal particles to maintain a fluidized bed of heavier particles and causing a slurry of the lighter coal particles to overflow, and concentrating and dewatering the overflow by means of a static or vibratory sizing screen.

Abstract: A mixture of anion and cation exchange resins is separated into their respective resin types by classifying the resin mixture, using a fluid such as water, in the presence of a solid, inert material (e.g., copolymer beads of styrene, divinylbenzene and methyl methacrylate) which, upon classification, forms a layer intermediate between the layers of the anion and cation resins. The degree of resin separation and the location of the layers of the classified anion resin and cation resin are determined by measuring a conductivity property of the resulting classified resin bed.

Abstract: A method of separating granular pourable materials in fluidized bed layers formed by fluid media. These layers are withdrawn by a fluidizing medium from the top downwardly one after the other down to slightly above the border surface of the lowest layer but one. Subsequently, the fluidizing medium which remains above the residual layer is rotated, and the residual layer is completely withdrawn by means of the thus created secondary radial flow toward the central region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a mixture of cation and anion resins is disclosed. The separation involves introducing the mixture of cation and anion resins to a treatment zone in countercurrent flow with a carrier fluid to achieve hydroclassification of the resins. The method and apparatus may be employed to separate cation and anion resins on either a batch or continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an agglomeration of materials having different densities. The agglomeration of materials is fed to a vessel where separation into constituent parts takes place. The vessel is filled with a liquid having a density lower than the constituent materials, the liquid then being injected under pressure into the bottom of the vessel so that lighter materials are entrained in the subsequent liquid flow to be removed from the vessel while heavier materials collect at the bottom of the vessel. Means are provided at the bottom of the vessel to remove the collected heavier material.