Cyclone particle separator

Claim 1

The process as in claim 1 wherein in step (e) the predesired density range of the fine particle slurry is between about 25 percent and about 40 percent solid by weight.

Claim 5

An apparatus for separating particles within a liquified medium comprising a cyclone having an input feed line from a supply sump, an overflow discharge line and an underflow discharge line, the improvement which comprises at least one feedback link between the overflow and underflow discharge lines and the input feed line, said feedback line having a signal operated valve means; densitometer means positioned in the overflow discharge line and being capable of generating a signal whenever the detected density of the overflow discharge deviates from an adjustable predetermined range setting; and means for feeding said signal from said densitometer means to the valve means so as to operate said valve means and thereby divert a portion of the discharge back into the input feed line whenever the measured density in the overflow discharge line deviates from a predesired range.

Claim 6

An apparatus for separating particles within a liquified medium comprising a cyclone having an input feed line from a supply sump, an overflow discharge line and an underflow discharge line, the improvement which comprises at least one feedback link between the overflow and underflow discharge lines and the input supply sump; liquid level sensing means positioned in the input supply sump, said liquid level sensing means capable of generating a signal when the level of the slurry in the input supply sump decreases below a predetermined level; valve means assembled in at least one of the discharge feedback lines; means for feeding said signal from the liquid level sensing means to said valve means so as to operate said valve means to divert a portion of the flow of at least one of the discharge lines back into the input sump whenever the height of the slurry in the input supply sump decreases below a predetermined level that is required for maintaining a constant input feed flow into the cycLone; densitometer means positioned in the overflow discharge line and being capable of generating a signal whenever the detected density of the overflow discharge deviates from an adjustable predetermined range setting; and means for feeding said signal from said densitometer means to the valve means so as to operate said valve means and thereby deviate a portion of the discharge flow at least one discharge line back into the input supply sump whenever the measured density in the overflow discharge line deviates from a pre-set range.