WO2014013281A2 - Apparatus and method for separating of solid material content of slurry - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for separating of solid material content of slurry Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014013281A2
WO2014013281A2 PCT/HU2013/000069 HU2013000069W WO2014013281A2 WO 2014013281 A2 WO2014013281 A2 WO 2014013281A2 HU 2013000069 W HU2013000069 W HU 2013000069W WO 2014013281 A2 WO2014013281 A2 WO 2014013281A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
slurry
conveying channel
particles
liquid
internal space
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/HU2013/000069
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French (fr)
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WO2014013281A3 (en
Inventor
Ottó TELLINGER
Oleg Igorovich NOSOVSKYI
Lajos Gábor DUDINSZKI
Mikhaylo Volodimirovich MYKHAYLENKO
Original Assignee
Tellinger Otto
Nosovskyi Oleg Igorovich
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Application filed by Tellinger Otto, Nosovskyi Oleg Igorovich filed Critical Tellinger Otto
Publication of WO2014013281A2 publication Critical patent/WO2014013281A2/en
Publication of WO2014013281A3 publication Critical patent/WO2014013281A3/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B1/00—Conditioning for facilitating separation by altering physical properties of the matter to be treated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B11/00—Feed or discharge devices integral with washing or wet-separating equipment
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B5/00—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating
    • B03B5/62—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by hydraulic classifiers, e.g. of launder, tank, spiral or helical chute concentrator type
    • B03B5/623—Upward current classifiers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry.
  • the re-procession of the slurry originating from metallurgical production is beneficial.
  • the so-called enrichment of the slurry means the separation of the particles of their solid material content.
  • a apparatus for particle separation of solid material content of slurry is disclosed as illustrated in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1 B.
  • This known apparatus comprises a single conveying channel 108' in which the slurry is conveyed by means of a conveyor belt 104' fitted with a plurality of scraper elements 106', the solid material content of the slurry is disintegrated by the scraper elements 106', and the slurry is stimulated with ultrasound emitting devices 110' in the conveying channel 108'.
  • the ultrasound emitting devices 110' are arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 112' encompassing the conveying channel 108'.
  • An element 100' adapted for introducing slurry and an element 102' adapted for introducing liquid are both arranged at the inlet of the conveying channel 108'.
  • Separator means 114' are arranged at the outlet of the conveying channel 108'.
  • the separator means 114' have an overflow arrangement 116' at the top of its internal space, and there is liquid feeder inlet 118' in the cone- shape vessel of the separator means 114'.
  • a draining arrangement 120' is arranged at the bottom of the internal space of the separator means 114'.
  • Fig 1 B is a cross sectional view of the known apparatus of Fig. 1 A taken on line A-A of Fig. 1A.
  • UA 65854 In UA 65854 an apparatus similar to that of illustrated in Fig. 1A and 1 B is disclosed. The main difference between the two known apparatuses is that in the apparatus of UA 65854 the conveying channel is not encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel.
  • the particles of the solid material content of the slurry are separated in the separator means 114' in a known way, i.e. based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on each of the particles which orients the movement of each of the particles.
  • the main forces exerting on a particle in the slurry accommodated in the internal space of the separator means 114' are the following. Firstly, gravitational force exerts on the particles; due to the gravitational force the particles tend to fall down to the bottom part of the separator means. Secondly, buoyancy force is also exerts on the particles being in the fluid of the slurry.
  • the third main force exerting on a particle is the lifting force caused by emerging flows generated by means of the liquid introduced through a liquid feeder inlet 118'. Based on the resultant of these forces and other forces which may be present (e.g. friction force) at least two groups of particles can be separated. Several different types of separation are known; in some known separation methods the particles can be separated into more than two groups based on the resultant force.
  • the particles are separated into two groups as follows.
  • a first group of particles is outlet through the overflow arrangement 116'.
  • the first group of particles is exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force. If the main symmetry axis of the separator means is vertical, i.e. the gravitational force is directed vertically down, then the resultant force exerted on a particle of the first group has upwards directing component. Therefore, the particles of the first group will emerge in the slurry and are able to leave the internal space of the separator means 114' through the overflow arrangement 116'.
  • a second group of particles is outlet through the draining arrangement 120'.
  • the second group of particles is exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force.
  • the resultant force exerted on a particle of the second group has a component directing down. Therefore, the particles of the second group will fall down in the slurry and are able to leave the internal space of the separator means 114' through the draining arrangement 120'.
  • the particles having densities from a limited range can be well characterized by a characteristic size.
  • the particles of the first group are characteristically the smaller particles and the particles of the second group are characteristically the larger particles compared to each other.
  • the main disadvantage of the known apparatuses adapted for particle separation of the slurry is that the disintegration of each component of the solid material content of the slurry is not efficient enough, e.g. the particles may remain bound in larger conglomerates (smaller particles may cover or be integrated into larger particles). These conglomerates cannot be disintegrated with sufficient efficiency by the help of the known methods and apparatuses.
  • the primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method, which are free of disadvantages of prior art solutions to the greatest possible extent.
  • An object of the invention is to achieve a sufficient disintegration of the particles (eliminating the binding between the particles) before the separation realized by the separator means, to be able to separate sufficiently particles in the separator means into at least two groups.
  • the invention is an apparatus for separating particles of solid material content of slurry, comprising slurry introducing means arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel, a conveyor belt adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel and provided with a plurality of scraper elements adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry, liquid introducing means adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry, at least one ultrasound emitting device arranged in an ultrasonic vessel filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel partly encompasses the first conveying channel, and the at least one ultrasound emitting device is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, separator means having an internal space for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles, a second conveying channel arranged between the first conveying channel and the ultras
  • the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel, having an inclined bottom part and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel, the liquid introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel, and the separator means are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel.
  • two conveying channels are applied. In one of the channels, the solid material content of the slurry is exposed to mechanical-hydrodynamic impact, in the other channel, to hydrodynamic impact. In these two channels, the solid material content of the slurry can be disintegrated in a more effective manner than in the one channel of above described known solutions. As a result of applying two conveying channels the length and period of time of handling the slurry is increased.
  • the slurry introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the first conveying channel and the liquid introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel, i.e. between the first and the second conveying channels.
  • This separated arrangement of these means allows that the slurry can be diluted to the appropriate density with the liquid, preferably industrial water introduced into the slurry after the mechanical-hydrodynamic impact exerted on the slurry in the first conveying channel; in the first conveying channel the slurry is comparatively dense.
  • the solely hydrodynamic impact of the ultrasound wave can be exerted on diluted slurry.
  • the separator means have a substantially cone-shaped vessel enclosing the internal space, the separator means comprising an overflow arrangement at the top of the internal space and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, a draining arrangement at the bottom of the internal space and adapted for outletting particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space for introducing liquid into the internal space substantially in tangential direction.
  • the separator means have a substantially cone-shaped vessel enclosing the internal space, the separator means comprising an overflow arrangement at the top of the internal space and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational
  • the separator means can have many different configurations.
  • the separator means comprise the overflow arrangement, the draining arrangement and the at least one liquid feeder inlet, as it is specified above.
  • the separation of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry in the separator means is done in a gravitational-hydrodynamic way.
  • the at least one liquid feeder inlet is arranged closer to the bottom of the internal space than the top thereof, and the at least one liquid feeder inlet is inclined upwards with maximum 10°, preferably maximum 5°.
  • the above configuration of the liquid feeder inlet leads to much better type of emerging flows than the flows generated in the known apparatuses. Therefore, by the application of the liquid feeder inlet according to one embodiment of the invention, much better separation of the solid material content can be achieved than with the known apparatuses.
  • the liquid introduced by the liquid introducing means and/or the liquid feeder inlet is water, preferably industrial water.
  • water or industrial water can be mixed to the slurry by means of the liquid introducing means, i.e. the slurry coming from the first conveying channel can be diluted by water or industrial water.
  • the emerging flows in the separator means can be also generated by water as liquid injected through the liquid feeder inlet.
  • the inlet of the first conveying channel is formed with an overflow element and an edge of the overflow element is arranged substantially at the same level as the overflow arrangement of the separator means.
  • This configuration of the overflow element enables that a part of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry, being not bound to other particles and levitating in the slurry, especially the particles on which an up-directing resultant force exerts, can leave the slurry at the edge of the overflow element and is able to enter the separator means at the top of it. Through the internal space of the separator means, these particles are able to reach the overflow arrangement and can be collected at the same place as those particles which are lifted from the bottom part of the separator means.
  • a wall element arranged between the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel has a wavy shape configuration on its side facing to the second conveying channel.
  • the wall with wavy shape configuration reflects the ultrasound waves with higher efficiency than the wall with a flat surface.
  • the period of the wavy shape configuration is connected to the wavelength of the ultrasound in a known way. Therefore, due to the appropriate wavy shape configuration the ultrasound waves can be kept more efficiently inside the second conveying channel than in the case of a second conveying channel having flat upper surface. This results in an enhanced ultrasound wave impact in the present configuration of the second conveying channel, i.e. the disintegrating effect of the ultrasound waves is enhanced in this embodiment compared to such embodiments where the second conveying channel has flat upper surface.
  • the at least one ultrasound emitting device is movable within the ultrasonic vessel and the ultrasonic vessel is filled with a liquid having stable properties.
  • the invention is furthermore a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry based on particle size, in the course of which the slurry is introduced into a first conveying channel through slurry introducing means, the slurry is conveyed in the first conveying channel by means of a conveyor belt provided with a plurality of scraper elements and the solid material content of the slurry is disintegrated by means of the plurality of scraper elements, particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry conducted through the first conveying channel is stimulated by means of at least one ultrasound emitting device arranged in an ultrasonic vessel filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel partly encompasses the first conveying channel, liquid is introduced through liquid introducing means into the slurry at the outlet of the first conveying channel, the slurry is conducted into a second conveying channel arranged between the first conveying channel and the ultrasonic vessel, the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel, having an inclined bottom part and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first convey
  • the separator means comprises an overflow arrangement at the top of the internal space, a draining arrangement at the bottom of the internal space and at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and bottom of the internal space, and after conducting the slurry into the separator means, particles of a first group of particles are outlet through the overflow arrangement, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and liquid is introduced substantially in tangential direction into the internal space by means of the at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space.
  • Slurry is a fluid (e.g. sludge, sloppy mud or cement) having solid material content, preferably in pulverized form.
  • the particles are separated based on the direction of the resultant force exerted, i.e. particles of a first group - which are characteristically smaller - and particles of a second group - which are characteristically larger - are separated.
  • the solid material content of the slurry to be separated preferably comprises particles of the first group having a characteristic size of some micrometers, preferably 1-100 ⁇ , more preferably 5-50 ⁇ ⁇ , especially preferably 15-20 ⁇ .
  • the larger particles may be covered by smaller particles, due to surface tension.
  • smaller particles may constitute a surface microcrystal layer which is valuable for the metallurgical industry.
  • the characteristic size of the larger particles is preferably approx. one order of magnitude larger than the characteristic size of the smaller particles.
  • the larger particles characteristically give 10-20% of the solid material content of the slurry. This means that characteristically the smaller particles give the predominant part of the solid material content of the slurry.
  • the smaller particles and larger particles may be bound weakly to each other in the slurry before conducted to the apparatus.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention can be efficiently applied when the larger particles are covered by smaller particles and the smaller particles are connected to the larger particles due to weak molecular bond or surface tension.
  • two separate streams can be made from the slurry based on the different density, different hydraulic size and other size parameters of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry which characterizes the resultant force exerted on a particle.
  • the different components of the slurry can be separated independently of their magnetic features by the apparatus according to the invention. Magnetization can be set during the storage of the raw slurry. This allows that the apparatus and method according to the invention is not only applicable for enrichment of slurry, metallurgical depositions or sludge, but for the enrichment of such technological powders which comprise valuable contents.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention is connected to metallurgical industry and can be preferably applied in the complex processing of technogenic raw materials (e.g. minerals) coming from slurry or sludge of black or colour metallurgical production.
  • the apparatus according to the invention may be preferably applied as a so-called enrichment apparatus for separating the solid material components of slurry, where the components of the slurry are conglomerates of particles - with various particle sizes and hydraulic volume -, i.e. the particles are bound to each other.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention is connected to metallurgical industry and can be preferably applied in the complex processing of technogenic raw materials (e.g. minerals) coming from slurry or sludge of black or colour metallurgical production.
  • the apparatus according to the invention may be preferably applied as a so-called enrichment apparatus for separating the solid material components of slurry, where the components of the slurry are conglomerates of particles - with various particle sizes and hydraulic volume -, i.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention is adapted for separating at least two streams comprising preferably a stream of first group of particles and a stream of second group of particles; the streams are generated in the separator means.
  • separator means including known apparatuses
  • more than two streams of particles can be generated, i.e. more than two groups of particles can be collected according to the streams.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention can be particularly preferably applied for such slurries which comprise both particles of low dispersity and relatively large particles.
  • the particles of law dispersity characteristically cover the larger particles due to the weak molecular bond and various magnetic fields, as well as enter into small caves and cracks thereof.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention ensures the separation of different particles. Therefore, the apparatus according to the invention is effective in removing particles from the caves of other particles, i.e. the particles collected to each group will not be polluted by particles from the other groups of particles.
  • Fig. 1A shows the side view of a known apparatus adapted for particle separation
  • Fig. 1 B shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 A taken on line A-A of
  • Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention
  • Fig. 3A shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 taken on line A-A of
  • Fig. 3B shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 taken on line B-B of
  • Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
  • Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention adapted for particle separation from solid material content of slurry.
  • the apparatus according to the invention comprises slurry introducing means 10 arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel 12 and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel 12, a conveyor belt 16 adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel 12 and provided with a plurality of scraper elements 18 adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry, liquid introducing means 14 adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry, at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 22 filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel 22 partly encompasses the first conveying channel 12, and the at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, separator means 26 having an internal space 27 for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of
  • the second conveying channel 24 is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel 22, having an inclined bottom part 25 and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel 12, the liquid introducing means 14 are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel 24, and the separator means 26 are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel 24.
  • the separator means can e.g. have cylindrical or cone-shaped vessel.
  • the slurry introducing means 10 are arranged above an overflow element 36 arranged at the inlet of the first conveying channel 12.
  • the slurry is conducted through the overflow element 36 into the first conveying channel 12, in which the slurry is conveyed by means of the scraper elements 18 of the conveyor belt 16.
  • the operation of the conveyor belt 16 is preferably continuous.
  • the scraper elements 18 cause disintegrating effect by mixing and stirring the slurry, i.e. the conglomerates of the solid material content thereof.
  • the ultrasonic vessel 22, besides the second conveying channel 24, encompasses also the first conveying channel 12 as shown in Fig. 3A.
  • Fig. 3A shows a section view taken on line A-A of Fig. 2.
  • FIG. 3A shows that the preferably insulated ultrasonic vessel 22 having two vertical arms, in which there is liquid at a higher level than the slurry filled into the first conveying channel 12.
  • the structure of the ultrasonic vessel 22 ensures that the slurry is handled by means of ultrasonic waves not only in the second conveying channel, but also in the first conveying channel.
  • the configuration of the ultrasonic vessel illustrated in Fig. 3A and 3B also allows the waves to propagate in various directions, i.e. ensures effective impact on the solid material content of the slurry as proved also by experiments.
  • the ultrasonic waves enter the first conveying channel through its side walls and also through a wall element 37 between the first conveying channel 12 and the second conveying channel 24.
  • the ultrasound emitting device 20 is preferably a lamellated ultrasound emitter.
  • the slurry is introduced into the second conveying channel 24.
  • the transition of the slurry from the first conveying channel 12 to the second conveying channel 24 is realized in a bend in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
  • Liquid, preferably industrial water, from the liquid introducing means 14 is introduced into the slurry at this bend.
  • the slurry can be diluted to an appropriate density for the next slurry handling phase of the second conveying channel 24.
  • the slurry, diluted by the liquid of the liquid introducing means 14, is only handled by the ultrasound emitting devices.
  • the slurry is conveyed by the inclined bottom part 25 of the second conveying channel 24 in this phase.
  • the ultrasonic waves of the ultrasound emitting devices 20 are partly reflected from the wall element 37; therefore, a wave space can be established in the second conveying channel 24, which is very efficient in the view of particle disintegration. Accordingly, in the second conveying channel 24 the slurry is only exposed to hydrodynamic effects.
  • the separator means 26 At the outlet of the second conveying channel 24 the slurry enters the separator means.
  • the separator means 26 have a substantially cone-shaped vessel 29 enclosing the internal space 27.
  • Substantially cone-shape means a cone shape which is deformed by a vertical section as illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the separator means 26 comprise an overflow arrangement 32 at the top of the internal space 27 and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, a draining arrangement 28 at the bottom of the internal space 27 and adapted for outletting particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space 27 for introducing liquid into the internal space 27 substantially in tangential direction.
  • the separator means 26 comprise furthermore at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged on the cone-shaped vessel 29 substantially in tangential direction for introducing liquid into the internal space 27 of the separator means 26.
  • the at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 is arranged closer to the bottom of the internal space than the top thereof, and the at least one liquid feeder inlet is inclined upwards with maximum 10°, preferably maximum 5°.
  • the separator means 26 separate the particles of the solid material content of the slurry based on the resultant force exerted on the particles.
  • the solid material content of the slurry comprising preferably particles from the first group and the second group, is disintegrated by means of mechanical-hydrodynamic impacts in the first conveying channel 12 and by means of hydrodynamic impacts in the second conveying channel 24.
  • the particles have been bound to each other in the slurry when it was introduced, become disintegrated, i.e. not connected to each other after leaving the second conveying channel.
  • the smaller particles Due to the application of ultrasound waves in the second conveying channel 24, the smaller particles can be removed from the caves of larger particles, which may not be done by means of the scraper elements 18, and also the surface microcrystal layer comprising valuable metallic compounds can be peeled off.
  • Ultrasound waves ensure the effective movement of smaller particles, i.e. the particles of the first group, within the slurry. Therefore, ultrasound waves are effectively applicable for removing smaller particles from little caves, for disintegrating the conglomerates of particles, and for peeling off surface microcrystal layers. It is the main advantage of the apparatus according to the invention compared to the known apparatuses that the disintegration is more complete if two conveying channels are applied and the impacts are exerted on a longer path of the slurry than in the known apparatuses. Therefore, by means of the apparatus according to the invention, a high level of disintegration can be achieved and the slurry enters the separator means 26 with highly disintegrated solid material content.
  • the embodiment of the separator means 26 shown in Fig. 2 is of gravitational- hydrodynamic type in a sense detailed below, similarly to the known separator means 114' shown in Fig. 1.
  • the separator means 26 and the known separator means 114' show many substantial differences as also detailed below.
  • Separator means are of gravitational-hydrodynamic type when the separation of the particles is based on gravitational and hydrodynamic grounds.
  • gravitational force the particles, as well as the whole solid material content of the slurry, tend to fall, i.e. sink to the bottom part of the separator means.
  • emerging flows arise in the internal space of the separator means 26.
  • additional emerging flows arise. Based on their volume, as well as their mass, some of the particles - the particles of the second group, i.e.
  • the larger particles - of the solid material content of the slurry will fall into the bottom part of the separator means despite of the effect of the emerging flows.
  • the gravitational force is larger than the lifting forces exerted by the emerging flows; therefore they will fall in the direction characterized by the gravitational force, i.e. fall down to the bottom part of the separator means.
  • Particles of the second group can be collected from the bottom part of the separator means through the draining arrangement 28 or 120'.
  • the draining arrangement 28 is preferably configured with a penstock lock, which can be adjustable. Both group of particles, i.e.
  • the particles of the first group collected through the overflow arrangement 32 in an overflow bin 34, and second type particles collected through draining arrangement 28 in a vessel 31 are valuable components.
  • the liquid comprising particles can be outlet from the bin 34 and the vessel 31.
  • Other embodiments are conceivable which does not comprise draining arrangement; in these embodiments, the particles of the second group leave continuously the inner space 27 of the separator means 26.
  • the gravitational force is exceeded by lifting forces comprising buoyancy force and the force which is generated by the emerging flows.
  • the particles of the first group will emerge in the slurry.
  • the particles of the first group may leave the internal space 27 through the overflow arrangement 32 or, in the known solutions, through the overflow arrangement 116'.
  • the configuration of the liquid feeder inlet 30 applied in the apparatus according to the invention differs substantially from the known liquid feeder inlet 18' (shown in Fig. 1).
  • Fig. 2 and 3B there is a pair of liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged on the cone-shape vessel 29 of the separator means 26.
  • liquid can be introduced into the internal space 27 of separator means 26 substantially in tangential direction. Since the liquid feeder inlet 30 is oriented slightly upwards, a circular stream can be arisen in the internal space 27 of the separator means 26 to help the separation of particles of the first group and the second group, as well as the cleaning particles of the second group from particles of the first group.
  • the known liquid feeder inlet 118' introducing liquid pointing to the direction of the bottom part of the separator means 114'.
  • This arrangement leads to such type of flows which are illustrated by arrows in Fig. 1 , i.e. go downward by their generation and turn to be emerging flows as a consequence of the configuration of the bottom part.
  • This kind of flow cause rousing of the slurry, i.e. mixing it, and the emerging part of this flow exerts only a little lifting force on the particles, in particular as compared to the emerging flows obtained by liquid feeder inlet 30 of the invention.
  • FIG. 3B The section view taken on line B-B of Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3B.
  • the section of the apparatus of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is shown from the left as indicated in Fig. 2, therefore the first conveying channel 12 and the scraper elements 18 in it are hidden by the overflow element 36. Otherwise, the outlet of the second conveying channel 24 can be clearly seen in Fig. 3B.
  • the slurry enters to the internal space 27 of separator means.
  • these streams help the particles of the first group to propagate in the direction of overflow arrangement.
  • these streams have negligible effect on the larger particles which settle at the bottom of the internal space 27 of the separator means, i.e. the larger particles of the second group are collected at the bottom of the internal space 27.
  • These larger particles can be drained from the internal space 27 by means of the draining arrangement 28.
  • the inlet of the first conveying channel 12 is formed with the overflow element 36 and an edge 39 of the overflow element 36 is arranged substantially at the same level as the overflow arrangement 32 of the separator means 26.
  • the internal space 27 of the separator means 26 is filled up to the level of the overflow arrangement 32.
  • the particles of the first group which are not bound to other particles when the slurry is introduced from the slurry introducing means 10 to the overflow element 36, can reach the internal space 27 of the separator means 26 through the edge 39 of the overflow element 36 if the first conveying channel 12 is completely filled by slurry as illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the liquid introduced by the liquid introducing means 14 and/or the liquid feeder inlet 30 is water, preferably industrial water.
  • the at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 is movable within the ultrasonic vessel 22 and the ultrasonic vessel 22 is filled with a liquid having stable properties. Liquids with stable properties are known; a liquid with stable properties helps the ultrasound waves to propagate in a well controlled manner.
  • a further embodiment of the apparatus is shown.
  • the wall element 37 between the first conveying channel 12 and the second conveying channel 24 has a wavy shape configuration 38 in its side facing to the second conveying channel 24.
  • the wavy shape configuration 38 improves the reflection properties of the wall element 37, therefore the configuration 38 helps the establishment of a better ultrasonic wave space in the second conveying channel than in the embodiment of Fig. 2, i.e. the hydrodynamic effect exerted by the ultrasound emitting devices may be even stronger than in the other embodiments.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry.
  • the slurry is introduced into a first conveying channel 12 through slurry introducing means 10, the slurry is conveyed in the first conveying channel 12 by means of a conveyor belt 16 provided with a plurality of scraper elements 18 and disintegrating the solid material content of the slurry by means of the plurality of scraper elements 18, particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry conducted through the first conveying channel 12 is stimulated by means of at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 22 filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel 22 partly encompasses the first conveying channel 12, liquid is introduced through liquid introducing means 14 into the slurry at the outlet of the first conveying channel 12, the slurry is conducted into a second conveying channel 24 arranged between the first conveying channel 12 and the ultrasonic vessel 22, the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel 22, having an inclined bottom part 25 and connected with its in
  • the method comprises the following steps after conducting the slurry into the separator means.
  • Particles of a first group of particles are outlet through the overflow arrangement, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, particles of a second group of particles , said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and liquid is introduced substantially in tangential direction into the internal space by means of the at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention can be preferably applied at the place of the raw material.
  • the apparatus according to the invention can be applied in a chain of apparatuses adapted for enrichment of slurries.

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for separating particles of solid material content of slurry, the apparatus comprising slurry introducing means (10) arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel (12) and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel (12), a conveyor belt (16) adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel (12) and provided with a plurality of scraper elements (18) adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry, liquid introducing means (14) adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry, at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) arranged in an ultrasonic vessel (22) filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel (22) partly encompasses the first conveying channel (12), and the at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, separator means (26) having an internal space (27) for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles, and a second conveying channel (24) arranged between the first conveying channel (12) and the ultrasonic vessel (22). In the apparatus the second conveying channel (24) is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel (22), having an inclined bottom part (25) and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel (12), the liquid introducing means (14) are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel (24), and the separator means (26) are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel (24). The invention is furthermore a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry based on particle size. (Fig. 2)

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING OF SOLID MATERIAL CONTENT
OF SLURRY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry.
BACKGROUND ART
In the metallurgical industry the re-procession of the slurry originating from metallurgical production is beneficial. The so-called enrichment of the slurry means the separation of the particles of their solid material content.
An enrichment apparatus and method for minerals, e.g. iron ore, is known from a book of Sinkorenko (Sinkorenko et al.: Spravochnik po obogascheniyu u aglomeratzii rud chernyh metallov, M. Nedra, 1964, pp. 234-236). The separation can be made by this known apparatus and method based on the density of the particles, but this known method for separation is only efficient in the case of non-bound particles. By the application of this method and apparatus, the particles bound to each other are settling together, this may lead to the pollution of the concentrated particles, spoiling their quality.
In UA 65856 an apparatus for particle separation of solid material content of slurry is disclosed as illustrated in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1 B. This known apparatus comprises a single conveying channel 108' in which the slurry is conveyed by means of a conveyor belt 104' fitted with a plurality of scraper elements 106', the solid material content of the slurry is disintegrated by the scraper elements 106', and the slurry is stimulated with ultrasound emitting devices 110' in the conveying channel 108'. The ultrasound emitting devices 110' are arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 112' encompassing the conveying channel 108'. An element 100' adapted for introducing slurry and an element 102' adapted for introducing liquid are both arranged at the inlet of the conveying channel 108'. Separator means 114' are arranged at the outlet of the conveying channel 108'. The separator means 114' have an overflow arrangement 116' at the top of its internal space, and there is liquid feeder inlet 118' in the cone- shape vessel of the separator means 114'. A draining arrangement 120' is arranged at the bottom of the internal space of the separator means 114'. Fig 1 B is a cross sectional view of the known apparatus of Fig. 1 A taken on line A-A of Fig. 1A.
In UA 65854 an apparatus similar to that of illustrated in Fig. 1A and 1 B is disclosed. The main difference between the two known apparatuses is that in the apparatus of UA 65854 the conveying channel is not encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel.
In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 A the particles of the solid material content of the slurry are separated in the separator means 114' in a known way, i.e. based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on each of the particles which orients the movement of each of the particles. The main forces exerting on a particle in the slurry accommodated in the internal space of the separator means 114' are the following. Firstly, gravitational force exerts on the particles; due to the gravitational force the particles tend to fall down to the bottom part of the separator means. Secondly, buoyancy force is also exerts on the particles being in the fluid of the slurry. The third main force exerting on a particle is the lifting force caused by emerging flows generated by means of the liquid introduced through a liquid feeder inlet 118'. Based on the resultant of these forces and other forces which may be present (e.g. friction force) at least two groups of particles can be separated. Several different types of separation are known; in some known separation methods the particles can be separated into more than two groups based on the resultant force.
In the apparatus of Fig. 1A, the particles are separated into two groups as follows. A first group of particles is outlet through the overflow arrangement 116'. The first group of particles is exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force. If the main symmetry axis of the separator means is vertical, i.e. the gravitational force is directed vertically down, then the resultant force exerted on a particle of the first group has upwards directing component. Therefore, the particles of the first group will emerge in the slurry and are able to leave the internal space of the separator means 114' through the overflow arrangement 116'.
A second group of particles is outlet through the draining arrangement 120'. The second group of particles is exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force. This means that in the separator means 114' arranged as detailed above, the resultant force exerted on a particle of the second group has a component directing down. Therefore, the particles of the second group will fall down in the slurry and are able to leave the internal space of the separator means 114' through the draining arrangement 120'.
Since the forces exerting on the particles mainly depends on the mass or the volume of a particle, which are proportional to each other, where the density is the coefficient, the particles having densities from a limited range can be well characterized by a characteristic size. In this case, the particles of the first group are characteristically the smaller particles and the particles of the second group are characteristically the larger particles compared to each other.
The main disadvantage of the known apparatuses adapted for particle separation of the slurry is that the disintegration of each component of the solid material content of the slurry is not efficient enough, e.g. the particles may remain bound in larger conglomerates (smaller particles may cover or be integrated into larger particles). These conglomerates cannot be disintegrated with sufficient efficiency by the help of the known methods and apparatuses.
In light of known approaches, a need has emerged to develop an apparatus and method for particle separation by means of which the disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry can be done with higher efficiency than the prior art technologies.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method, which are free of disadvantages of prior art solutions to the greatest possible extent.
An object of the invention is to achieve a sufficient disintegration of the particles (eliminating the binding between the particles) before the separation realized by the separator means, to be able to separate sufficiently particles in the separator means into at least two groups.
The invention is an apparatus for separating particles of solid material content of slurry, comprising slurry introducing means arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel, a conveyor belt adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel and provided with a plurality of scraper elements adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry, liquid introducing means adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry, at least one ultrasound emitting device arranged in an ultrasonic vessel filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel partly encompasses the first conveying channel, and the at least one ultrasound emitting device is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, separator means having an internal space for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles, a second conveying channel arranged between the first conveying channel and the ultrasonic vessel. In the apparatus the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel, having an inclined bottom part and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel, the liquid introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel, and the separator means are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel. According to the invention, two conveying channels are applied. In one of the channels, the solid material content of the slurry is exposed to mechanical-hydrodynamic impact, in the other channel, to hydrodynamic impact. In these two channels, the solid material content of the slurry can be disintegrated in a more effective manner than in the one channel of above described known solutions. As a result of applying two conveying channels the length and period of time of handling the slurry is increased. In the apparatus according to the invention, the slurry introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the first conveying channel and the liquid introducing means are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel, i.e. between the first and the second conveying channels. This separated arrangement of these means allows that the slurry can be diluted to the appropriate density with the liquid, preferably industrial water introduced into the slurry after the mechanical-hydrodynamic impact exerted on the slurry in the first conveying channel; in the first conveying channel the slurry is comparatively dense. In the second conveying channel, the solely hydrodynamic impact of the ultrasound wave can be exerted on diluted slurry. As an advantage, the mostly mechanical impact can be exerted on denser slurry in the first conveying channel, and the purely hydrodynamic impact in the second conveying channel is exerted on less dense slurry as preferred because of the character of the different type impacts. ln an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the separator means have a substantially cone-shaped vessel enclosing the internal space, the separator means comprising an overflow arrangement at the top of the internal space and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, a draining arrangement at the bottom of the internal space and adapted for outletting particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space for introducing liquid into the internal space substantially in tangential direction. As detailed below, in the separator means the particles are separated based on the resultant force, i.e. substantially the difference of the gravitational and lifting forces exerted on them.
In general, the separator means can have many different configurations. In the present embodiment, the separator means comprise the overflow arrangement, the draining arrangement and the at least one liquid feeder inlet, as it is specified above. The separation of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry in the separator means is done in a gravitational-hydrodynamic way.
In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the at least one liquid feeder inlet is arranged closer to the bottom of the internal space than the top thereof, and the at least one liquid feeder inlet is inclined upwards with maximum 10°, preferably maximum 5°. Compared to the known solutions, the above configuration of the liquid feeder inlet leads to much better type of emerging flows than the flows generated in the known apparatuses. Therefore, by the application of the liquid feeder inlet according to one embodiment of the invention, much better separation of the solid material content can be achieved than with the known apparatuses.
In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the liquid introduced by the liquid introducing means and/or the liquid feeder inlet is water, preferably industrial water. In this embodiment, on the one hand, water or industrial water can be mixed to the slurry by means of the liquid introducing means, i.e. the slurry coming from the first conveying channel can be diluted by water or industrial water. On the other hand the emerging flows in the separator means can be also generated by water as liquid injected through the liquid feeder inlet.
In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the inlet of the first conveying channel is formed with an overflow element and an edge of the overflow element is arranged substantially at the same level as the overflow arrangement of the separator means. This configuration of the overflow element enables that a part of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry, being not bound to other particles and levitating in the slurry, especially the particles on which an up-directing resultant force exerts, can leave the slurry at the edge of the overflow element and is able to enter the separator means at the top of it. Through the internal space of the separator means, these particles are able to reach the overflow arrangement and can be collected at the same place as those particles which are lifted from the bottom part of the separator means.
In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, a wall element arranged between the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel has a wavy shape configuration on its side facing to the second conveying channel. The wall with wavy shape configuration reflects the ultrasound waves with higher efficiency than the wall with a flat surface. The period of the wavy shape configuration is connected to the wavelength of the ultrasound in a known way. Therefore, due to the appropriate wavy shape configuration the ultrasound waves can be kept more efficiently inside the second conveying channel than in the case of a second conveying channel having flat upper surface. This results in an enhanced ultrasound wave impact in the present configuration of the second conveying channel, i.e. the disintegrating effect of the ultrasound waves is enhanced in this embodiment compared to such embodiments where the second conveying channel has flat upper surface.
In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the at least one ultrasound emitting device is movable within the ultrasonic vessel and the ultrasonic vessel is filled with a liquid having stable properties.
The invention is furthermore a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry based on particle size, in the course of which the slurry is introduced into a first conveying channel through slurry introducing means, the slurry is conveyed in the first conveying channel by means of a conveyor belt provided with a plurality of scraper elements and the solid material content of the slurry is disintegrated by means of the plurality of scraper elements, particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry conducted through the first conveying channel is stimulated by means of at least one ultrasound emitting device arranged in an ultrasonic vessel filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel partly encompasses the first conveying channel, liquid is introduced through liquid introducing means into the slurry at the outlet of the first conveying channel, the slurry is conducted into a second conveying channel arranged between the first conveying channel and the ultrasonic vessel, the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel, having an inclined bottom part and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel, the slurry is handled as conducted through the second conveying channel by means of the at least one ultrasound emitting device, the slurry is conducted into separator means arranged with an internal space for accommodating the slurry, and particles of solid material content of slurry are separated into at least two groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the separator means comprises an overflow arrangement at the top of the internal space, a draining arrangement at the bottom of the internal space and at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and bottom of the internal space, and after conducting the slurry into the separator means, particles of a first group of particles are outlet through the overflow arrangement, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and liquid is introduced substantially in tangential direction into the internal space by means of the at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space.
The apparatus and method according to the invention can be applied for separating solid material components of slurry. Slurry is a fluid (e.g. sludge, sloppy mud or cement) having solid material content, preferably in pulverized form. In an embodiment the particles are separated based on the direction of the resultant force exerted, i.e. particles of a first group - which are characteristically smaller - and particles of a second group - which are characteristically larger - are separated. The solid material content of the slurry to be separated preferably comprises particles of the first group having a characteristic size of some micrometers, preferably 1-100 μΐη, more preferably 5-50 μηη, especially preferably 15-20 μΐτι. There are also particles of a second group in the solid material content of the slurry. The larger particles may be covered by smaller particles, due to surface tension. On the larger particles, which are e.g. metal particles, smaller particles may constitute a surface microcrystal layer which is valuable for the metallurgical industry. As detailed above, the characteristic size of the larger particles is preferably approx. one order of magnitude larger than the characteristic size of the smaller particles. The larger particles characteristically give 10-20% of the solid material content of the slurry. This means that characteristically the smaller particles give the predominant part of the solid material content of the slurry. The smaller particles and larger particles may be bound weakly to each other in the slurry before conducted to the apparatus. The apparatus and method according to the invention can be efficiently applied when the larger particles are covered by smaller particles and the smaller particles are connected to the larger particles due to weak molecular bond or surface tension.
By the application of the apparatus and the method according to the invention two separate streams can be made from the slurry based on the different density, different hydraulic size and other size parameters of the particles of the solid material content of the slurry which characterizes the resultant force exerted on a particle. The different components of the slurry can be separated independently of their magnetic features by the apparatus according to the invention. Magnetization can be set during the storage of the raw slurry. This allows that the apparatus and method according to the invention is not only applicable for enrichment of slurry, metallurgical depositions or sludge, but for the enrichment of such technological powders which comprise valuable contents.
The apparatus and method according to the invention is connected to metallurgical industry and can be preferably applied in the complex processing of technogenic raw materials (e.g. minerals) coming from slurry or sludge of black or colour metallurgical production. The apparatus according to the invention may be preferably applied as a so-called enrichment apparatus for separating the solid material components of slurry, where the components of the slurry are conglomerates of particles - with various particle sizes and hydraulic volume -, i.e. the particles are bound to each other. The apparatus and method according to the invention
The apparatus and method according to the invention is adapted for separating at least two streams comprising preferably a stream of first group of particles and a stream of second group of particles; the streams are generated in the separator means. Applying various types of separator means (including known apparatuses), more than two streams of particles can be generated, i.e. more than two groups of particles can be collected according to the streams.
The apparatus and method according to the invention can be particularly preferably applied for such slurries which comprise both particles of low dispersity and relatively large particles. In such slurry the particles of law dispersity characteristically cover the larger particles due to the weak molecular bond and various magnetic fields, as well as enter into small caves and cracks thereof. The apparatus and method according to the invention ensures the separation of different particles. Therefore, the apparatus according to the invention is effective in removing particles from the caves of other particles, i.e. the particles collected to each group will not be polluted by particles from the other groups of particles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the following drawings, where
Fig. 1A shows the side view of a known apparatus adapted for particle separation,
Fig. 1 B shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 A taken on line A-A of
Fig. 1A,
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,
Fig. 3A shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 taken on line A-A of
Fig. 2,
Fig. 3B shows the section view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 taken on line B-B of
Fig. 2,
Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention adapted for particle separation from solid material content of slurry. The apparatus according to the invention comprises slurry introducing means 10 arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel 12 and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel 12, a conveyor belt 16 adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel 12 and provided with a plurality of scraper elements 18 adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry, liquid introducing means 14 adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry, at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 22 filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel 22 partly encompasses the first conveying channel 12, and the at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, separator means 26 having an internal space 27 for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles, and a second conveying channel 24 arranged between the first conveying channel 12 and the ultrasonic vessel 22. In the apparatus according to the invention, the second conveying channel 24 is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel 22, having an inclined bottom part 25 and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel 12, the liquid introducing means 14 are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel 24, and the separator means 26 are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel 24. The separator means can e.g. have cylindrical or cone-shaped vessel.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 the slurry introducing means 10 are arranged above an overflow element 36 arranged at the inlet of the first conveying channel 12. The slurry is conducted through the overflow element 36 into the first conveying channel 12, in which the slurry is conveyed by means of the scraper elements 18 of the conveyor belt 16. The operation of the conveyor belt 16 is preferably continuous. The scraper elements 18 cause disintegrating effect by mixing and stirring the slurry, i.e. the conglomerates of the solid material content thereof. The ultrasonic vessel 22, besides the second conveying channel 24, encompasses also the first conveying channel 12 as shown in Fig. 3A. Fig. 3A shows a section view taken on line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 3A shows that the preferably insulated ultrasonic vessel 22 having two vertical arms, in which there is liquid at a higher level than the slurry filled into the first conveying channel 12. The structure of the ultrasonic vessel 22 ensures that the slurry is handled by means of ultrasonic waves not only in the second conveying channel, but also in the first conveying channel. The configuration of the ultrasonic vessel illustrated in Fig. 3A and 3B also allows the waves to propagate in various directions, i.e. ensures effective impact on the solid material content of the slurry as proved also by experiments. The ultrasonic waves enter the first conveying channel through its side walls and also through a wall element 37 between the first conveying channel 12 and the second conveying channel 24. Consequently, in the first conveying channel the slurry is exposed both to mechanical effects exerted by the scraper elements and hydrodynamic effects exerted by the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasound emitting devices 20. The ultrasound emitting device 20 is preferably a lamellated ultrasound emitter.
From the outlet of the first conveying channel the slurry is introduced into the second conveying channel 24. The transition of the slurry from the first conveying channel 12 to the second conveying channel 24 is realized in a bend in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. Liquid, preferably industrial water, from the liquid introducing means 14 is introduced into the slurry at this bend. By means of the liquid introducing means 14 the slurry can be diluted to an appropriate density for the next slurry handling phase of the second conveying channel 24.
In the second conveying channel 24 the slurry, diluted by the liquid of the liquid introducing means 14, is only handled by the ultrasound emitting devices. The slurry is conveyed by the inclined bottom part 25 of the second conveying channel 24 in this phase. The ultrasonic waves of the ultrasound emitting devices 20 are partly reflected from the wall element 37; therefore, a wave space can be established in the second conveying channel 24, which is very efficient in the view of particle disintegration. Accordingly, in the second conveying channel 24 the slurry is only exposed to hydrodynamic effects.
At the outlet of the second conveying channel 24 the slurry enters the separator means. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the separator means 26 have a substantially cone-shaped vessel 29 enclosing the internal space 27. Substantially cone-shape means a cone shape which is deformed by a vertical section as illustrated in Fig. 2. The separator means 26 comprise an overflow arrangement 32 at the top of the internal space 27 and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, a draining arrangement 28 at the bottom of the internal space 27 and adapted for outletting particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space 27 for introducing liquid into the internal space 27 substantially in tangential direction.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the separator means 26 comprise furthermore at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged on the cone-shaped vessel 29 substantially in tangential direction for introducing liquid into the internal space 27 of the separator means 26. Preferably, the at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 is arranged closer to the bottom of the internal space than the top thereof, and the at least one liquid feeder inlet is inclined upwards with maximum 10°, preferably maximum 5°.
As it is clear from the above description, the separator means 26 separate the particles of the solid material content of the slurry based on the resultant force exerted on the particles. The solid material content of the slurry, comprising preferably particles from the first group and the second group, is disintegrated by means of mechanical-hydrodynamic impacts in the first conveying channel 12 and by means of hydrodynamic impacts in the second conveying channel 24. As a consequence of these complex impacts the particles have been bound to each other in the slurry when it was introduced, become disintegrated, i.e. not connected to each other after leaving the second conveying channel. Due to the application of ultrasound waves in the second conveying channel 24, the smaller particles can be removed from the caves of larger particles, which may not be done by means of the scraper elements 18, and also the surface microcrystal layer comprising valuable metallic compounds can be peeled off. Ultrasound waves ensure the effective movement of smaller particles, i.e. the particles of the first group, within the slurry. Therefore, ultrasound waves are effectively applicable for removing smaller particles from little caves, for disintegrating the conglomerates of particles, and for peeling off surface microcrystal layers. It is the main advantage of the apparatus according to the invention compared to the known apparatuses that the disintegration is more complete if two conveying channels are applied and the impacts are exerted on a longer path of the slurry than in the known apparatuses. Therefore, by means of the apparatus according to the invention, a high level of disintegration can be achieved and the slurry enters the separator means 26 with highly disintegrated solid material content.
The embodiment of the separator means 26 shown in Fig. 2 is of gravitational- hydrodynamic type in a sense detailed below, similarly to the known separator means 114' shown in Fig. 1. The separator means 26 and the known separator means 114' show many substantial differences as also detailed below.
Separator means are of gravitational-hydrodynamic type when the separation of the particles is based on gravitational and hydrodynamic grounds. As a consequence of the gravitational force, the particles, as well as the whole solid material content of the slurry, tend to fall, i.e. sink to the bottom part of the separator means. As a consequence of the incoming flow of the slurry, emerging flows arise in the internal space of the separator means 26. Furthermore, by means of two liquid feeder inlets 30 or the liquid feeder inlet 118', additional emerging flows arise. Based on their volume, as well as their mass, some of the particles - the particles of the second group, i.e. the larger particles - of the solid material content of the slurry will fall into the bottom part of the separator means despite of the effect of the emerging flows. In the case of these particles, the gravitational force is larger than the lifting forces exerted by the emerging flows; therefore they will fall in the direction characterized by the gravitational force, i.e. fall down to the bottom part of the separator means. Particles of the second group can be collected from the bottom part of the separator means through the draining arrangement 28 or 120'. The draining arrangement 28 is preferably configured with a penstock lock, which can be adjustable. Both group of particles, i.e. particles of the first group collected through the overflow arrangement 32 in an overflow bin 34, and second type particles collected through draining arrangement 28 in a vessel 31 are valuable components. As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid comprising particles can be outlet from the bin 34 and the vessel 31. Other embodiments are conceivable which does not comprise draining arrangement; in these embodiments, the particles of the second group leave continuously the inner space 27 of the separator means 26. ln case of the particles of the first group, i.e. the smaller particles, the gravitational force is exceeded by lifting forces comprising buoyancy force and the force which is generated by the emerging flows. As a consequence, the particles of the first group will emerge in the slurry. At the top of the internal space the particles of the first group may leave the internal space 27 through the overflow arrangement 32 or, in the known solutions, through the overflow arrangement 116'.
The configuration of the liquid feeder inlet 30 applied in the apparatus according to the invention (shown in Fig. 2) differs substantially from the known liquid feeder inlet 18' (shown in Fig. 1). As shown in Fig. 2 and 3B there is a pair of liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged on the cone-shape vessel 29 of the separator means 26. By means of the plurality of liquid feeder inlet 30 liquid can be introduced into the internal space 27 of separator means 26 substantially in tangential direction. Since the liquid feeder inlet 30 is oriented slightly upwards, a circular stream can be arisen in the internal space 27 of the separator means 26 to help the separation of particles of the first group and the second group, as well as the cleaning particles of the second group from particles of the first group. On the contrary, the known liquid feeder inlet 118' introducing liquid pointing to the direction of the bottom part of the separator means 114'. This arrangement leads to such type of flows which are illustrated by arrows in Fig. 1 , i.e. go downward by their generation and turn to be emerging flows as a consequence of the configuration of the bottom part. This kind of flow cause rousing of the slurry, i.e. mixing it, and the emerging part of this flow exerts only a little lifting force on the particles, in particular as compared to the emerging flows obtained by liquid feeder inlet 30 of the invention.
The section view taken on line B-B of Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3B. The section of the apparatus of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is shown from the left as indicated in Fig. 2, therefore the first conveying channel 12 and the scraper elements 18 in it are hidden by the overflow element 36. Otherwise, the outlet of the second conveying channel 24 can be clearly seen in Fig. 3B. Through this outlet the slurry enters to the internal space 27 of separator means. By the arrival of the slurry some streams arise in the internal space; these streams help the particles of the first group to propagate in the direction of overflow arrangement. On the other hand, these streams have negligible effect on the larger particles which settle at the bottom of the internal space 27 of the separator means, i.e. the larger particles of the second group are collected at the bottom of the internal space 27. These larger particles can be drained from the internal space 27 by means of the draining arrangement 28.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the inlet of the first conveying channel 12 is formed with the overflow element 36 and an edge 39 of the overflow element 36 is arranged substantially at the same level as the overflow arrangement 32 of the separator means 26. The internal space 27 of the separator means 26 is filled up to the level of the overflow arrangement 32. As the level of the overflow arrangement 32 is at substantially the same as the level of the edge 39 of the overflow element 36, the particles of the first group, which are not bound to other particles when the slurry is introduced from the slurry introducing means 10 to the overflow element 36, can reach the internal space 27 of the separator means 26 through the edge 39 of the overflow element 36 if the first conveying channel 12 is completely filled by slurry as illustrated in Fig. 2.
In some preferred embodiments of the invention the liquid introduced by the liquid introducing means 14 and/or the liquid feeder inlet 30 is water, preferably industrial water. In some other preferred embodiments of the invention the at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 is movable within the ultrasonic vessel 22 and the ultrasonic vessel 22 is filled with a liquid having stable properties. Liquids with stable properties are known; a liquid with stable properties helps the ultrasound waves to propagate in a well controlled manner.
In Fig. 4 a further embodiment of the apparatus is shown. In this embodiment the wall element 37 between the first conveying channel 12 and the second conveying channel 24 has a wavy shape configuration 38 in its side facing to the second conveying channel 24. The wavy shape configuration 38 improves the reflection properties of the wall element 37, therefore the configuration 38 helps the establishment of a better ultrasonic wave space in the second conveying channel than in the embodiment of Fig. 2, i.e. the hydrodynamic effect exerted by the ultrasound emitting devices may be even stronger than in the other embodiments.
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry. In the course of the method the slurry is introduced into a first conveying channel 12 through slurry introducing means 10, the slurry is conveyed in the first conveying channel 12 by means of a conveyor belt 16 provided with a plurality of scraper elements 18 and disintegrating the solid material content of the slurry by means of the plurality of scraper elements 18, particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry conducted through the first conveying channel 12 is stimulated by means of at least one ultrasound emitting device 20 arranged in an ultrasonic vessel 22 filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel 22 partly encompasses the first conveying channel 12, liquid is introduced through liquid introducing means 14 into the slurry at the outlet of the first conveying channel 12, the slurry is conducted into a second conveying channel 24 arranged between the first conveying channel 12 and the ultrasonic vessel 22, the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel 22, having an inclined bottom part 25 and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel 12, the slurry is handled as conducted through the second conveying channel 24 by means of the at least one ultrasound emitting device 20, the slurry is conducted into separator means 26 arranged with an internal space 27 for accommodating the slurry, and particles of solid material content of slurry are separated into at least two groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles.
In an embodiment of the apparatus where the separator means comprise an overflow arrangement 32 at the top of the internal space 27, a draining arrangement 28 at the bottom of the internal space 27 and at least one liquid feeder inlet 30 arranged between the top and bottom of the internal space 27, the method comprises the following steps after conducting the slurry into the separator means. Particles of a first group of particles are outlet through the overflow arrangement, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force, particles of a second group of particles , said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and liquid is introduced substantially in tangential direction into the internal space by means of the at least one liquid feeder inlet arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space.
The apparatus and method according to the invention can be preferably applied at the place of the raw material. The apparatus according to the invention can be applied in a chain of apparatuses adapted for enrichment of slurries.
The invention is, of course, not limited to the preferred embodiments described in details above, but further variants, modifications and developments are possible within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

Apparatus for separating particles of solid material content of slurry, the apparatus comprising
- slurry introducing means (10) arranged at an inlet of a first conveying channel (12) and adapted for introducing the slurry into the first conveying channel (12),
- a conveyor belt (16) adapted for conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel (12) and provided with a plurality of scraper elements (18) adapted for disintegration of the solid material content of slurry,
- liquid introducing means (14) adapted for introducing liquid to be mixed to the slurry,
- at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) arranged in an ultrasonic vessel (22) filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel (22) partly encompasses the first conveying channel (12), and the at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) is adapted for stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry, and
- separator means (26) having an internal space (27) for accommodating the slurry and adapted for separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two particle groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles,
characterized by
- further comprising a second conveying channel (24) arranged between the first conveying channel (12) and the ultrasonic vessel (22),
- the second conveying channel (24) is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel (22), having an inclined bottom part (25) and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel (12),
- the liquid introducing means (14) are arranged at the inlet of the second conveying channel (24), and
- the separator means (26) are connected to the outlet of the second conveying channel (24).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized by that the separator means
(26) have a substantially cone-shaped vessel (29) enclosing the internal space
(27) , the separator means (26) comprising
- an overflow arrangement (32) at the top of the internal space (27) and adapted for outletting particles of a first group of particles, said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force,
- a draining arrangement (28) at the bottom of the internal space (27) and adapted for outletting particles of a second group of particles, said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and
- at least one liquid feeder inlet (30) arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space (27) for introducing liquid into the internal space (27) substantially in tangential direction.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one liquid feeder inlet (30) is arranged closer to the bottom of the internal space (27) than the top thereof, and the at least one liquid feeder inlet (30) is inclined upwards with maximum 10°, preferably maximum 5°.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the liquid introduced by the liquid introducing means (14) and/or the liquid feeder inlet (30) is water, preferably industrial water.
5. The apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the inlet of the first conveying channel (12) is formed with an overflow element (36) and an edge (39) of the overflow element (36) is arranged substantially at the same level as the overflow arrangement (32) of the separator means (26).
6. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a wall element (37) arranged between the first conveying channel (12) and the second conveying channel (24) has a wavy shape configuration (38) on its side facing to the second conveying channel (24).
7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) is movable within the ultrasonic vessel (22) and the ultrasonic vessel (22) is filled with a liquid having stable properties.
8. Method for separating particles of solid material content of slurry, comprising
- introducing the slurry into a first conveying channel (12) through slurry introducing means (10),
- conveying the slurry in the first conveying channel (12) by means of a conveyor belt (16) provided with a plurality of scraper elements (18) and disintegrating the solid material content of the slurry by means of the plurality of scraper elements (18),
- stimulating particle disintegration of the solid material content of the slurry conducted through the first conveying channel (12) by means of at least one ultrasound emitting device (20) arranged in an ultrasonic vessel (22) filled with liquid, the ultrasonic vessel (22) partly encompasses the first conveying channel (12),
characterized by
- introducing liquid through liquid introducing means (14) into the slurry at the outlet of the first conveying channel (12),
- conducting the slurry into a second conveying channel (24) arranged between the first conveying channel (12) and the ultrasonic vessel (22), the second conveying channel is encompassed by the ultrasonic vessel (22), having an inclined bottom part (25) and connected with its inlet to the outlet of the first conveying channel (12),
- handling the slurry as conducted through the second conveying channel (24) by means of the at least one ultrasound emitting device (20),
- conducting the slurry into a separator means (26) arranged with an internal space (27) for accommodating the slurry, and
- separating particles of solid material content of slurry into at least two groups based on the direction of a resultant force exerted on the particles.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in the separator means
(26) comprises an overflow arrangement (32) at the top of the internal space
(27) , a draining arrangement (28) at the bottom of the internal space (27) and at least one liquid feeder inlet (30) arranged between the top and bottom of the internal space (27), and after conducting the slurry into the separator means (26),
- particles of a first group of particles are outlet through the overflow arrangement (32), said first group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component opposite to the direction of the gravitational force,
particles of a second group of particles , said second group of particles being exposed to a resultant force having a component with same direction as the direction of the gravitational force, and
- liquid is introduced substantially in tangential direction into the internal space (27) by means of the at least one liquid feeder inlet (30) arranged between the top and the bottom of the internal space (27).
PCT/HU2013/000069 2012-07-16 2013-07-16 Apparatus and method for separating of solid material content of slurry WO2014013281A2 (en)

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Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
UA65854A (en) 2003-06-11 2004-04-15 Military Unit A0858 Method for protecting anti-aircraft rocket complexes from anti-radar rockets

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE616776C (en) * 1931-02-12 1935-08-05 Clean Coal Company Ltd Device for separating carbon-containing goods
US2612267A (en) * 1946-09-11 1952-09-30 Vogel Walter Process and apparatus for preparatory dressing of coal, minerals, and other solids, using a heavy liquid

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
UA65854A (en) 2003-06-11 2004-04-15 Military Unit A0858 Method for protecting anti-aircraft rocket complexes from anti-radar rockets

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Title
SINKORENKO ET AL.: "Spravochnik po obogascheniyu u aglomeratzii rud chernyh metallov", M. NEDRA, 1964, pages 234 - 236

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