Separator

Claim 1

A separator for operation at low energy levels for classifying a particulate material carried in suspension by a liquid, comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an annular dip plate in an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel for stabilising flow patterns in the vessel, (d) an inlet for introducing the liquid carrying the particulate material into the vessel, (e) an outlet in an upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid carrying a component of the particulate material having a settlement velocity below a predetermined level, (f) a solids collection region centrally disposed of the base for collecting particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level and (g) means for promoting a rotational movement of the liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, said rotational movement being sufficient to cause or enhance an inward sweeping effect towards the annular opening on solids accumulated at the base of the vessel, whilst being of sufficiently low energy that settlement of the particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level is brought about primarily by gravity; the arrangement of the separator being such that the liquid carrying particulate material which has a settlement velocity below said predetermined level may flow upwardly to the top of the vessel toward the outlet in a substantially axial direction.

Claim 5

A method of separating components of a liquid mixture from each other which comprises : introducing an aqueous suspension of a solid material into a separator comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an annular dip plate in an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel for stabilising flow patterns in the vessel, (d) an inlet for introducing the liquid carrying the particulate material into the vessel, (e) an outlet in an upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid carrying a component of the particulate material having a settlement velocity below a predetermined level, (f) a solids collection region centrally disposed of the base for collecting particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level and (g) means for promoting a rotational movement of the liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, the arrangement of the vessel being such that liquid may flow upwardly to the top of the vessel towards the outlet in a substantially axially direction; causing a low energy rotational motion in the vessel; and permitting solids having a settlement velocity above a predetermined level to settle and be concentrated at the solids collection region whilst solids having a settlement velocity below said predetermined size are carried axially to the top of the vessel and out of the vessel through the outlet in the upper region of the vessel.

Claim 6

A method of separating components of a liquid mixture from each other which comprises : introducing an aqueous suspension of a solid material into a separator comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an annular dip plate in an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel for stabilising flow patterns in the vessel, (d) an inlet for introducing the liquid carrying the particulate material into the vessel, (e) an outlet in an upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid carrying a component of the particulate material having a settlement velocity below a predetermined level, (f) a solids collection region centrally disposed of the base for collecting particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level and (g) means for promoting a rotational movement of the liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, the arrangement of the vessel being such that liquid may flow upwardly to the top of the vessel towards the outlet in a substantially axially direction; causing a low energy rotational motion in the vessel; and permitting solids having a settlement velocity above a predetermined level to settle and be concentrated at the solids collection region whilst solids having a settlement velocity below said predetermined size are carried axially to the top of the vessel and out of the vessel through the outlet in the upper region of the vessel.

Claim 7

A method of classifying a particulate material which comprises : introducing an aqueous suspension of a particulate material into a separator comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an annular dip plate in an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel for stabilising flow patterns in the vessel, (d) an inlet for introducing the liquid carrying the particulate material into the vessel, (e) an outlet in an upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid carrying a component of the particulate material having a settlement velocity below a predetermined level, (f) a solids collection region centrally disposed of the base for collecting particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level and (g) means for promoting a rotational movement of the liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, the arrangement of the vessel being such that liquid may flow upwardly to the top of the vessel towards the outlet in a substantially axially direction; causing a low energy rotational motion in the vessel; and permitting solids having a size above a predetermined level to settle and be concentrated at the solids collection region whilst particles below said predetermined size are carried axially to the top of the vessel and out of the vessel through the outlet in the upper region of the vessel.

Claim 8

A method of classifying a particulate material which comprises : introducing an aqueous suspension of a particulate material into a separator comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an annular dip plate in an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel for stabilising flow patterns in the vessel, (d) an inlet for introducing the liquid carrying the particulate material into the vessel, (e) an outlet in an upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid carrying a component of the particulate material having a settlement velocity below a predetermined level, (f) a solids collection region centrally disposed of the base for collecting particulate material having a settlement velocity above said predetermined level and (g) means for promoting a rotational movement of the liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, the arrangement of the vessel being such that liquid may flow upwardly to the top of the vessel towards the outlet in a substantially axially direction; causing a low energy rotational motion in the vessel; and permitting solids having a size above a predetermined level to settle and be concentrated at the solids collection region whilst particles below said predetermined size are carried axially to the top of the vessel and out of the vessel through the outlet in the upper region of the vessel.