Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D11/00—Solvent extraction
  • B01D11/04—Solvent extraction of solutions which are liquid
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D11/00—Solvent extraction
  • B01D11/04—Solvent extraction of solutions which are liquid
  • B01D11/0446—Juxtaposition of mixers-settlers
  • B01D11/0449—Juxtaposition of mixers-settlers with stationary contacting elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D11/00—Solvent extraction
  • B01D11/04—Solvent extraction of solutions which are liquid
  • B01D11/0484—Controlling means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
  • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
  • B01D17/0208—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation
  • B01D17/0214—Separation of non-miscible liquids by sedimentation with removal of one of the phases
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
  • C22B3/02—Apparatus therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
  • C22B3/20—Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
  • Y02P10/20—Recycling

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a solvent extraction settler arrangement adapted for hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes.
• a solvent extraction settler arrangement which is adapted for hydrometallurgical liquid- liquid extraction processes and which typically com ⁇ prises a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions.
• a settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end of the settler.
• Elongated discharge launders are arranged at the discharge end of the set ⁇ tler to receive from the settler and discharge each solution phase that is separated from the dispersion in the settler.
• Each discharge launder includes a first end to which an outlet is arranged and a closed second end.
• the discharge launder has a same cross-sectional shape along the entire length of the discharge launder.
• the flow volume increases gradually along the length of the launder as the flow propagates towards the outlet.
• the discharge launder with a uniform cross-section is normally designed for the greatest flow volume to achieve a certain flow rate. The flow volume is greatest adjacent to the out- let and therefore the cross-section of the discharge launder is optimal only at a very short range of the launder .
• a launder with a constant cross-section the flow rate is lower at positions which are distant from the outlet in relation to other positions which are nearer the outlet whereby standing flow zones and eddies may occur. If the solution contains solids, crud accumula- tion may occur in these areas of standing zones and eddies.
• One disadvantage of the constant cross-section of the launder is also that the structure of the laun ⁇ der includes an excess of material which actually would not be needed.
• the object of the invention is to eliminate the disad ⁇ vantages mentioned above.
• the present invention provides a solvent extraction settler ar- rangement adapted for hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes.
• the settler arrangement compris ⁇ es a settler having a feed end and a discharge end.
• the settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dis ⁇ persion flows to the discharge end.
• Elongated dis ⁇ charge launders are arranged at the discharge end of the settler for collecting and discharging each solution phase to be separated from the dispersion.
• Each discharge launder includes a first end, an outlet ar ⁇ ranged at the first end, and a closed second end.
• at least one of the discharge launders has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end towards the second end, and an inclined bottom descending from the second end towards the first end.
• the advantage of the invention is that, due to the conical form of the discharge launder, the cross- section is optimal for the flow rate at each point along the length of the discharge launder.
• the flow rate remains constant and no standing flow zones and eddies occur. Crud accumulation is small and thus the need for interrupting the process to remove the crud will be reduced. Due to the conical shape, material costs are also reduced in the manufacturing of the discharge launder.
• the first and second discharge launders are tubular closed compartments which have many advantages. As an essentially closed structure, the inner atmosphere of the launders can be isolated from the outer atmosphere so that mist emissions can- not escape from the interior of the launders to con ⁇ taminate the air and worsen the working conditions. Likewise, the surrounding air and e.g.
• the dis ⁇ charge launders include a first discharge launder for receiving a separated lighter solution phase as an overflow from the settler, and for discharging the lighter solution phase to a first outlet located at the first end of the first discharge launder.
• the dis ⁇ charge launders include a second discharge launder ar- ranged beside and in parallel with the first discharge launder for receiving a separated heavier solution phase from the settler as an underflow, and for discharging the heavier solution phase to a second outlet at the first end of the second discharge launder.
• At least one of the first discharge launder and the second dis ⁇ charge launder is a hollow body made of a fibre- reinforced plastic composite and manufactured by fila- ment winding technology.
• At least one of the first discharge launder and the second dis ⁇ charge launder is a hollow body made of steel.
• the set ⁇ tler arrangement comprises a plurality of first outlet pipes arranged along the length of the first discharge launder at a distance from each other, each first out- let pipe having a third end opening to the settler to receive the lighter solution phase as an overflow from the settler, and a fourth end opening to the inner space of the first discharge launder.
• the ar ⁇ rangement comprises a plurality of second outlet pipes arranged along the length of the second discharge launder at a distance from each other, each second outlet pipe having a fifth end opening to the settler to receive the heavier solution phase as an underflow from the settler, and a sixth end opening to the inner space of the second discharge launder at the bottom of the second discharge launder.
• the ar ⁇ rangement comprises a level control valve connected to the sixth end of each second outlet pipe inside the second discharge launder.
• the lev ⁇ el control valve comprises an extendable and collapsi- ble tube member, such as a bellows tube, having a low ⁇ er end connected to the sixth end of the second outlet pipe, and an upper end; an overflow lip attached at the upper end of the tube member; and an actuator connected to the overflow lip for vertical adjustment of the height position of the overflow lip.
• an extendable and collapsi- ble tube member such as a bellows tube, having a low ⁇ er end connected to the sixth end of the second outlet pipe, and an upper end; an overflow lip attached at the upper end of the tube member; and an actuator connected to the overflow lip for vertical adjustment of the height position of the overflow lip.
• the settler consists of one tank having a single uniform flow space; and that all first and second outlet pipes open to said single flow space.
• the settler is di ⁇ vided into a plurality of mutually separated elongated parallel settler sections each extending from the feed end to the discharge end and forming a plurality of parallel flow spaces. At at least one first outlet pipe and at least one second outlet pipe are connected to each settler section.
• Figure 1 shows a plan view of a settler arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 shows a section II-II from Figure 1
• Figure 3 shows a plan view of a settler arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 4 shows a section IV-IV from Figure 1
• Figure 5 shows a section V-V from Figure 1
• Figure 6 shows an enlarged detail A from Figure 2
• Figures 7 and 8 show a level control valve in two po ⁇ sitions .
• Figures 1 and 3 show solvent extraction settler ar- rangements which are adapted for hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes.
• the settler arrangement comprises a mixing unit 24 for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solu- tions.
• the mixing unit 24 includes, in this case, a pumping unit 25 and two mixers 26.
• a settler 1 is ar ⁇ ranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion which is fed from the feed end 2 while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end 3.
• a feeding device 27 is arranged at the feed end 2 for feeding the dis ⁇ persion prepared by the mixing unit 24 to the settler 1.
• Elongated discharge launders 4 and 5 are arranged at the discharge end 3 to collect and discharge the sepa ⁇ rated solutions.
• Each discharge launder 4, 5 includes a first end 6, an outlet 7, 8 arranged at the first end 6, and a closed second end 9.
• both dis ⁇ charge launders 4, 5 have a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end 6 towards the second end 9 and an inclined bottom 10, 11 descending from the second end 9 towards the first end 6.
• the discharge launders 4, 5 have a form of a coni ⁇ cal tube which has substantially a form of a square pyramid with cambered edges.
• the discharge launders include a first discharge laun ⁇ der 4 for receiving a separated lighter solution phase (typically organic solution phase) as an overflow from the settler 1.
• the first discharge launder 4 discharges the lighter solution phase to a first outlet 7 lo ⁇ cated at the first end 6 of the first discharge laun ⁇ der 4.
• the discharge launders further include a second dis ⁇ charge launder 5 arranged beside and in parallel with the first discharge launder 4 for receiving a separat ⁇ ed heavier solution phase (typically aqueous solution phase) from the settler 1 as an underflow.
• the second discharge launder 5 discharges the heavier solution phase to a second outlet 8 at the first end 6 of the second discharge launder.
• the first discharge launder 4 and the sec- ond discharge launder 5 are hollow bodies made of a fibre-reinforced plastic composite and manufactured by filament winding technology.
• the cross-section of the discharge launders is substantially rectangular with cambered corners. Such a form allows it to be easily detached from the man ⁇ drel on which it is wound.
• a plurality of first outlet pipes 12 are arranged along the length of the first discharge launder 4 at a distance from each other.
• Each first outlet pipe 12 has a third end 13 which opens to the settler 1 to re- ceive the lighter solution phase as an overflow from the settler 1.
• a fourth end 14 of each first outlet pipe 12 opens to the inner space of the first dis ⁇ charge launder 4 to conduct the lighter solution phase to the first outlet pipe.
• a plurality of second outlet pipes 15 are also ar ⁇ ranged along the length of the second discharge laun ⁇ der 5 at a distance from each other.
• Each second out ⁇ let pipe 15 has a fifth end 16 which opens to the set- tier 1 to receive the heavier solution phase as an underflow from the settler 1.
• a sixth end 17 of each second outlet pipe 15 opens to the inner space of the second discharge launder 5 at the bottom 11 of the second discharge launder to conduct the heavier solu- tion phase to the second discharge launder.
• the settler 1 con ⁇ sists of one large tank which has a single uniform flow space which extends widthwise over the whole area of the tank and lengthwise from the feed end 2 to the discharge end 3.
• all first and second outlet pipes 12, 15 open to said single flow space.
• the settler 1 con- sists of a plurality of widthwise mutually separated elongated parallel settler sections 1' each extending from the feed end 2 to the discharge end 4 and forming a plurality of parallel flow spaces.
• At least one first outlet pipe 12 and at least one second outlet pipe 15 are connected to each settler section 1' .
• the arrangement comprises a level control valve 18 connected to the sixth end 17 of each second outlet pipe 15 inside the second dis ⁇ charge launder 5.
• the level control valve 18 comprises an extendable and collapsible tube member 19, such as a bellows tube, having a lower end 20 connected to the sixth end 17 of the second outlet pipe 15.
• An overflow lip 22 is attached at the upper end 21 of the tube member 19.
• An actuator 23 is connected to the overflow lip for vertical adjustment of the height position of the overflow lip.
• Figure 7 shows the level control valve 18 in a posi ⁇ tion in which the overflow lip 22 is adjusted to a certain level which determines the level of the heavi- er phase in the settler.
• the heavier solution flows from the second outlet pipe 15 over the overflow lip 22 into the inner space of the second discharge laun ⁇ der 5.
• Figure 8 shows the level control valve 18 being ad ⁇ justed so that the overflow lip 22 is at a higher po ⁇ sition than in Figure 7.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-26 FI FI20125717A patent/FI123835B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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