MXPA97007129A - Liquid separator / soli - Google Patents

Abstract

A separator for separating solids and liquids from a feedstock containing a mixture of solids and liquids is presented, the separator includes a tank having an upper part, generally vertical side walls, and a tapered converging bottom. A clarified liquid outlet is provided in the upper part of the tank or in said upper part and a sediment outlet is provided from the tapered bottom of the tank. A generally vertically aligned feed conduit is located within the tank near the top of the tank, the feeder conduit includes a feed section and a feed section and a discharge section. The feeding section is adapted to receive the feed material and the discharge section is adapted to discharge the feed material into the tank below the part thereof. The discharge section tapers preferably outwards in a downward direction

Description

SEPARATOR OF THE IMMUNE / SOLID BACKGROUND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a buffer / thickener or separator of the type adapted to be used to separate solids suspended in a liquid. Thinners / thickeners of the above-mentioned type are used in many different applications and said equipment has a particular relevance in water larification and in the thickening of sludge produced in mining and in mining processing operations. them. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to its use in a particular application. Generally a liquid and suspended solids are fed into the inlet of the separator at a relatively low density. Within the separator, a large part of the solids are separated from the liquid and s > It discharges a clear liquid, usually in the upper part of the toilet, and the liquids that settle out under the influence of gravity are removed from the separator at the lower end thereof. Clarified liquid is often referred to as "surface current". The solids of high densities, in the form of a follow-up, are frequently removed from the bottom outlet of the separator. This sedimented material is often referred to as "bottom stream".

In operation, the solid particles mr.s and rn.ndea are generally reacted under the influence of gravity towards the lower region of the separator. Smaller particles, known as colloidal solids, generally do not settle out within an acceptable period of time. Accordingly, builders / thickeners require the addition of a coagulant or flocculating agent that provides an effective choke mechanism between small particles. This pontoon mechanism results in the formation of larger particles that sediment after the influence of gravity. To join the particles, they need to "collide" with each other, and for this reason, energy must be applied to the liquid. The energy is generally provided by causing the liquid to flow through the separator. With the application of the correct energy the particles will remain together after the collision. Prior art cleaners / handcuffs have often presented one or several disadvantages. Beneficially what is required is that the separator operate at an acceptable degree of efficiency, be it relatively automatic and maintenance-free, and require acceptable levels of flocculation agents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a separator for.-Separating liquid solids; from a fed material containing a mixture of solids and liquids, the separator comprises a tank having an upper part, generally vertical side walls, and a convergent tapered bottom; a clarified liquid outlet in the upper part of the tank or close to said upper part; a deposit of sediment from the tapered bottom of the tank; and a feed line generates vertically aligned lining inside the tank, near the top of the mine; The feeding conduit includes a feed section and a discharge section, the feeding section is adapted to receive fed material and the discharge section is adapted to discharge material fed into the tank under the upper part thereof, the The discharge section has a larger diameter than the feeding section. The discharge section preferably tapers divergently in a downward direction. The supply duct can be centrally located and aligned vertically inside the tank. Preferably, the feeding section is cylindrical, and the seccion of doñ ar y. Is the shape of an inverted cone, and the e e of the section of? feed and the e of the discharge section coincide with each other and with the vertical e of the tank. The discharge section may terminate at a lower substance substantially spaced equidistantly from the vertical side walls of the tank around the entire periphery of the tank, thus defining an annular groove between said lower edge and the vertical side walls. The width of the throat can be between W and IV, of the diameter of the tank. Preferably, the width of the throat is approximately 1% centimeter of the tank. The upper surface of the cylindrical discharge section can define, together with the vertical side walls of the tank, an ascending and ascending bed. The angle of the half cone of the discharge section can be between 20ß and 45 °. Preferably, the angle of the half cone of the discharge section is approximately 30 °. The separator may include a recycling conduit that extends upwardly into the tank from a lower region of the discharge section toward the top or the vicinity. from the top of the tank. The recycling conduit can be located inside the mint conduit, preferably coaxially. The recycle conduit may comprise an upper straight circular cylindrical section and a lower conical section, descendingly divergent. The discharge section may comprise a downwardly divergent conical section, and the lower conical section of the recycle conduit may be accommodated within the discharge section. The cone angles of the discharge section and the lower conical section are preferably substantially the same. The separator may further include a plurality of truncated downwardly convergent cones suspended, one below the other, within the tank, the lower truncated cone leading towards the tapered bottom of the tank. Preferably, the separator has three truncated cones. The truncated cones are preferably suspended from the supply conduit and are located below said conduit. The separator may include a smooth channel in the upper part of the tank or close to said upper part in which, during use, the rinsed liquid flows. The feed conduit may have an open upper end or in which, during use, the clarified liquid may flow. Preferably, the levels of the smooth channel and the upper end of the supply conduit can be adjusted between them to thereby provide a device for selectively varying the relative percentages of clarified liquid flowing? in the supply duct and in the smooth channel, respectfully. The smooth channel can have an annular shape and surround the; upper section of the feeder conduit, but spacing of said conduit. The smooth channel preferably incorporates an overflow over which the clarified liquid flows into the smooth channel, the overflow comprises a plurality of V-shaped notches. The V-shaped notches are preferably spaced regularly around the smooth channel. The channel li can be adjusted relative to the open upper end of the delivery conduit. The level of the open end of the feed duct can also be adjusted in relation to the smooth channel. The open upper end of the feed conduit may include an overflow over which the clarified liquid flows into the feed conduit, the overflow comprising a plurality of V-shaped muscas spaced around the upper trem > : < ] lead to the entrance. The feed material can be fed into the feed duct through a side feed duct which is connected to the feed duct below the upper end of the feed duct i n. The side supply conduit may have a conduit au; The feeding duct is fed to the auxiliary duct used to introduce a fl exing agent into the fed material during use. According to a second aspect of the invention, a supply conduit for solids / liquids separator is provided, said supply conduit comprises a cylindrical feed section, and a second descendingly divergent discharge that is fixed on 1? The supply line is aligned in such a way that said feed section, the feed line is adapted to be mounted with its generally vertical inside a liquid / solid separator. The feeding section can be straight circular cylindrical and conical discharge section. The feed conduit may further include a recycling conduit that extends through the feed section and the discharge section and aligns coaxially with said sections. The recycling duct may have a cylindrical section r I rcnliii -iii tp j'ir straight, and a single lower section des > endepte divergent. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid concentration apparatus for use within a liquid / solid separator, said solid concentration apparatus comprises a plurality of right angled, truncated, aligned cones, adapted to be mounted one beneath the other within a liquid / solid separator, each cone is oriented so that it is downwardly convergent. The angles of the cones of all the truncated cones are preferably substantially the same. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for separating a feed material dosed from solids / liquids in a separation tank. has generally vertical side walls and a feed conduit which includes a descendingly divergent discharge section centrally located within the tank and spaced from the walls of the tank thus defining an annular throat between the tank and the discharge section, the method of study or steps of: introducing the feed material into the tank through the feed conduit; adding a flocculating agent to the feed material either before or after its penetration into the tank; pf'rnulir that the material of ali entation passes to t a o of the discharge section; allow the heavier solid particles to settle or the influence of gravity towards the bottom of the tank; allow lighter solid particles to pass up through the throat; selecting and monitoring the flow of feed material in the tank so that a bed of solid particles forms inside the tank, above the throat; and remove the clarified liquid from the top of the tank above the bed, and the sediment from the bottom of the tank. The method may include the step of diverting a percentage of clarified liquid into the feed conduit to mix it with the feed material. The method can approach the step of varying the percentage of rinse liquid introduced in the feed conduit to vary the specific gravity of the material passing in the feed conduit and thereby optimize the separation characteristics of the separator. An embodiment of the present invention is described below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are only intended to illustrate how the invention can be carried out in such a way that the specific form and the specific arrangement of the various features presented do not represent a limitation of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a side view in section through a cl 3r? ficator / thickener in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a view in plants of the processor / thickener presented in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A MODALITY As shown in the drawings, a separator 10 for separating solids from liquids in a feedstock includes a tank 12 which extends generally vertically, having a vertical side wall 14, a top part 1 substance open and a bottom 18 tapered downwardly or in the shape of a cone. Tank 12 shown in the drawing has a circular section, but the tank can be square or rectangular in its section and if so, would operate in substantially the same manner as described above. The tank 12 has a clarified liquid outlet 20 located near the top 16, and a sediment outlet 22 through which the sediment collected in the tapered bottom is discharged.

A supply conduit 24 is located in tank 1? near the upper end of it. The feed conduit has a generally vertical alignment and includes a feed section 26 and a discharge section 28 which is located due to the feed section 26. Feed section 26 has ds > preference? a cylindrical shape. The discharge section 28 is of a larger diameter than the delivery section 26 and preferably deviates from it as shown. The cross-sectional shape of the discharge section will correspond to the shape of the tank such that the lower edge 30 of the discharge section is equally spaced from the tank walls 14 around the entire lower periphery of the discharge section. The fed material is supplied to the supply duct 24 through a feed duct 32 which passes through the lateral side 14 of the tank and which extends into the feed condition 24. The discharge end 34 of the duct arrangement 32 may be directed downwardly as shown in the drawings to direct the feed material in process downward. The feed duct has a flocculating agent supply duct 36 connected there by means of which it is added to said feed duct by means of which the flocculating agent is added to the feed matepal when p = p > la2ra in the food pipe 3 ?. The discharge section 28, as mentioned above, preferably has a conical shape. The half cone angle of the discharge section may be between approximately 2 ° and approximately 45 * and is preferably approximately 30 °. The axes of the feeding section and of the discharge section coincide preferentially with the e e 38 of the tank. A throat 4? is defined between the lower edge 30 of the section of? discharge 28 and the side walls 34. As mentioned above, the throat 40 preferably has a constant width around the entire periphery of the discharge section. The width of the throat can be between approximately 5% and approximately 1% of the total width of the tank 12. In a preferred arrangement, the width of the throat 40 is approximately 10% of the diameter of tank 1. A recycling conduit 42 is contained within the tank, co-located with the conduit 1 at 24. The recycling conduit includes an upper cylindrical section 44, a lower truncated conical section 46. The conical section 46 diverges downwardly as shown and is housed within the discharge section 28. An annular recess 48 is thus defined between the discharge section 28 and the conical section 46.

Under the conduit > '? ec? > . l je 4? There is a 50% concentration of solids. The solid content of solids comprises a plurality of truncated truncated descending stems 52. The cones 52 lead toward each other and serve to direct the sedimentation of solids within the tank 12 to the sediment outlet 22. The cones 52 are suspended from the recycling conduit 42 by means of a plurality of suspension rods 54. The clarified liquid 20 is supplied with clarified liquid from the separator 3 through a smooth 56 channel. It has an annular shape and is supported in its position by means of a structure 58 located in the upper part of the tank 12. The smooth channel receives the liquid that has been poured into tank 12. The liquid flows into the tank. smooth channel on a overflow defined by the edge? radially internal 6,0 the radially outer edge 62 of the smooth channel 56. The overflow is defined by means of a series of V-shaped notches. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the elevation of the smooth channel 56, in relation to to the tank, it is variable. The upper end 64 of the feed duct also serves as an overflow for the clarified liquid. As shown, the upper end 64 of the feed conduit is also equipped > On one of our? i > V-shaped. Varying the elevation of channel 1 i s? 56 relative to the former upper paddle 64 of the feed conduit, the relative percentages of clarified liquid flowing in the smooth channel and in the feed conduit can be varied. This characteristic is presented in greater detail with con ion. During use, the feed material containing a minimum of 13 solids and liquids is introduced through the feed pipe 32. > Jr? The controlled volume of flocculating agent is added to the feedstock through the flocculation agent supply duct 36. The feed material, when it enters the feed conduit 24, is displaced downwards towards the discharge section 28. When the feed material is in the discharge section and moves radially towards the end part through the hollow 48, its flow rate decreases and, in this way, the most thoughtful and largest solid particles in the flow begin to flow towards the lower regions of the tank. The flaking agent will help the particles join together. Lighter and smaller solid particles will tend to move around the lower edge 30 of the discharge section 28. The liquid particles and the like will then be spilled upwardly at the root of the iguana 40 in the settling bed or "bed. This is indicated by the shaded area 66 located above the throat 40. It will be noted that the flocculation bed 66 diverges upwardly and consequently when liquids and smaller solid particles flow upwards. t > 3, the flow velocity will tend to decrease. Accordingly, on the underside of the flocculation bed 66, the solid pads of? = Rpl rising upward relatively rapidly will tend to strike against the underside of the fixture bed 66. FIG. solid particles will collide with each other thus increasing the collective size of the particles.As the solid particles increase in size, they will tend to begin to fall down, returning through the throat, towards the bottom of the anqi.ie. The flocculation 66 acts in a certain way as a sieve to trap the solid particles that flow upwards.The liquid will pass through the bed of the ion into the smooth channel but small solid particles will be trapped in the bed The flocculation bed 66 will naturally form as a result of the upward divergence configuration of the flow guide above the discharge section 28. Therefore, the flocculation bed 66 will naturally form. If the conical shape of the discharge section serves first for d? =. m? n? u? r the speed of flL <; it allows the larger particles to settle, and then, secondarily, after the flow has passed through the throat, to again decrease the flow velocity above the throat to allow the bed to form. Flocculation 66. It is important1 that the density of the feed material is optimized to achieve an appropriate efficiency of the settler1 »For this reason, it is preferred that at least a part of the clarified liquid that is available for discharge from the settler is feed back to the feed conduit 26 pa to its mixture with fresh feed material. For this reason, the relative elevations of the smooth channel 56 and the upper end of the supply conduit must be able to be adjusted. This is achieved either by raising or lowering the smooth channel or by raising or lowering the supply conduit. In 1 s. presented mode, the elevation of the smooth channel 56 is adjustable and for this reason a flexible connecting duct 67 is adapted between the smooth channel 56 and the outlet 20 of the clarified liquid. The V-shaped notches defining the respective overflows ensure a relatively precise control of the flow in the feed pipe and in the smooth channel, the dilution of the feed material results in a lower consumption of flocculating agent in v 3 > _t i dad = > As the solid particles settle, these particles pass to the tapered bottom 18. The lower part of the tank is known as the consolidation zone. the solid material that passes downwards in the consolidation zone in such a way that the material removed by the sediment outlet 22 st- is in the form of sediment, when the solid material is deposited on the upper surface of the sediments. cones 52, begins to slide through the inner surfaces of these cones through the throats i of the cones to their deposit in the form of a sediment in the bottom 18 in the shape of a cone, a liquid, represented by the arrows 68 , it moves in an upward direction and moves upwards in the cone-shaped lower section of the refining duct.It is posed the possibility that the liquid 68 can be displaced as soon as possible at a rel ivative flow velocity. It goes upwards in such a way that it does not carry with it many solid particles that move downwards in this consolidation zone. A remarkable advantage of the configuration of the cones 52 is that the cones serve to guide solid particles that move downwards in this consolidation zone toward the center of the cone-shaped bottom 18. It will be observed that an accumulation of particles: -,? ar, as indicated by the number 70 occurs below the lower cone 52. The advantage of this is that the discharge that is made through the outlet 22 will tend to pull the sediment from this central region and therefore the problem of raisins is open to sediment (known as "rat holes") that are formed in the sediment will tend to disappear to a large extent. On the contrary, the discharge that is not carried out through outlet 22 will tend to consolidate the solid sediment material and this sediment material will be guided generally towards the center of the bottom 18 where there will be a tendency to the settling of said "holes of rats". The possibility that a separator of the type described will have important advantages is piled. The sepiarador, as it is proposed, will remove suspended solids in a wide range of flow velocities and solids levels. It will also remove particles of several densities and provide a relatively high surface current. ra . It is also possible to control background current densities over a wide range of densities. The separator can also be used to achieve the classification of solid particles by monitoring the feed flow rate, the flocculation agent addition levels, and the optimization or adjustment of the annular opening to suit the required separation. Clearly, numerous entries can be made and the separator shown in the drawings is a relatively simple example of how the invention can be performed. As already mentioned, the separator does not require to have a circular cross section. A square or rectangular separator can? expand Therefore, when the term "cone" is used in this specification, its purpose is not to refer to it 1. I to circular cones. The term may abbreviate pyramidal cones or in other ways. There are no advantages through the use of a clutch / feeler of the type described here. First, the dilution of the fed material can be automatically controlled in a wide range of operating conditions and can be changed to adapt to changes in fl? Speeds. or of feeding material and proportions between liquids and solids in the material of the product. The change of area of the annular passage provides a very high mixing speed due to the change in feed rates. It is a particularly pravecrhoso point when several units are used in decantation (wash) countercurrent, when high mixing efficiencies are required. The change in cross-section of the clapper / thickener upwardly of the annular groove 40 e = -t ab i i i i aa a nd the depth 'the locker bed and also increases the efficiency d > ? the bed flocs ion since the upward velocity provided to the flocculation particles rapidly decreases. This leads to a greater number of coll ions between the particles and the rapid creation of larger flocculation blocks which allows the larger flaking particles to fall under the effect of the yr through the throat 40 depleting in this way cons before the solids of the bed of floculad op. The discharge of the consolidation cone takes place essentially above the bottom current discharge. Most of the sediment and high density consequently accumulates from the center to the outside, thus ensuring one or more of the effects of "rat hole" and of the blockages or compaction that frequently result from the formation of " rat holes. " It is proposed that the erosion / erosion velocity will be low due to the slow movement of the solids in a downward direction. It will also be noted that there is no moving part in the apparatus. The device will be self-cleaning and the possibility that it will have a low consumption of flocculation agent due to the larger particles that tend to sediment under the effect of gravity in such a way that they will have to be taken to the bed of f Lilac i? N. The flocculation bed above the annular groove 40 has a self-checking characteristic. It will be noted that the shape of the throat 40 can be varied. For example, a downward skirt may be fixed on the lower edge of the discharge section 28. Such a skirt may define a throat of annular cylindrical shape which has the effect of decreasing the top of the flocculation bed but this could improve the efficiency of the flocculation bed n.

Claims (43)

1. PEI INDICACIONGS i. A separator to separate slots and liquids from a feed material containing a mixture of solids and liquids, the separador compr-ende: a tank that has an upper part, generally vertical side walls, and a bottom with a tapering body.; an outlet of clarified liquid in the upper part of the tank or ce of said upper part; a sediment outlet from the tapered bottom of the tank; and a feed duct generally aligned vertically within the tank, near the top thereof; The feed duct includes a feed section and a discharge section, the feeding section and adapted to receive fed material and the discharge section i is adapted to discharge material fed into the tank or from the top thereof, the The discharge section has a larger diameter than the feeding section.
2. 2. A separator in accordance with the rei indication 1 where the discharge section tapers divergently in a downward direction.
3. 3. A separator according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the feed conduit is centrally located and aligned vertically inside the tank.
4. 4. A separator according to claim 3 wherein the feeding section is cylindrical and the discharge section has an inverted cone shape, and the axis of the feeding section and the desing section • coincide with each other and with the vertical axis of the tank.
5. 5. A separator in accordance with the law. indication 4 give the final discharge section at a substantially equidistant lower edge with spacing of the vertical side panels of the tank around the entire periphery of the tank, thereby defining an annular groove between said lower edge and the visible side walls.
6. 6. A separator according to claim 5 wherein the width of the throat represents ertre 5 '/. and 1 '/ of the diameter of the tank.
7. 7. A separator according to claim 6, wherein the width of the throat is approximately. of the diameter of the tank.
8. A separator according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the upper surface of the cone-shaped discharge section defines, together with the vertical side walls of the tank, a thirst bed ascendingly to see people.
9. A separator according to any of claims 4 to 8 wherein the half cone angle of the discharge section is between 20 ° and 45 °.
10. 10. A separator in accordance with the rei indication 9 where the half cone angle of the discharge section is approximately 30 °.
11. A separator according to any of the preceding claims that inclines a recycling conduit that extends upwardly into the tank from a region below the discharge section to the top or near the top. top of the tank.
12. 12. A separator according to claim 11, wherein the refractory pipe is located within the conduit of? to the 1 st.
13. 13. A separator according to claim 12 wherein? The condition of rec 1 c 1 a se finds 1 ib 1 occurs coa1ly within the feeding duct.
14. A separator according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the recycling conduit comprises an upper straight circular cylindrical section, and a conical, lower, descendingly divergent section.
15. 15. A separator according to claim 14 wherein the discharge section comprises a downwardly divergent conical section, and the lower conical section of the e-1 refill duct and accommodates within the discharge section.
16. 16. A spacer according to claim 15 wherein the conical angles of the discharge section and the lower conical section are substantially the same.
17. 17. A separator according to any of the preceding claims, which further includes a plurality of truncated descendingly convergent suspended cones, Flax underneath another, within the tank, the lower truncated cone leading towards a tapered bottom of the tank.
18. 18. A separator in accordance with the rei indication 17 having three truncated cones, l1 ?.
19. A separator in accordance with any of the rei indications 17 or 18 where the truncated cones * are suspended from the supply conduit and are located in or of said supply conduit.
20. 20. A separator according to any of the preceding claims which includes a channel li or in the upper part of the tank or near the top of the tank in which, during use, the clari fi ed liquid will flow.
21. 21. A separator according to claim 20 wherein the supply conduit has an open ex- tre or upper in which the liquid * ~ t can flow, in use. c the r i f? 3 o.
22. 22. A spacer according to claim 21 wherein the levels of the smooth channel and the upper end of the feed condixture can be adjusted in relation to each other to thereby provide a device for selectively varying the relative percentages of clarified liquid flowing in the feed line. location and on the smooth channel, respectively.
23. 23. A separator in accordance with the indi ation 22 where the smooth channel has an annular shape and surrounds the e; The upper section of the supply conduit is spaced from said upper end of the supply conduit.
24. 24. A separator according to any of claims 2 to 23 wherein the smooth channel incorporates an overflow over which the clarified liquid will flow in the smooth channel, the overflow comprises a plurality of v * -shaped notches.
25. 25. A separator according to claim 24 wherein the V-shaped notches are regularly spaced around the smooth channel.
26. 26. A separator according to claim 22 wherein the level of the smooth channel is adjustable relative to the open upper end of the supply conduit.
27. 27. A separator according to claim 22, where ol or e. iern < _.l > The feed pipe can be adjusted in relation to the smooth channel.
28. 28. A seperator according to any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the open top end of the feed conduit includes an overflow over which the clarified liquid flows in the feed-ion behavior, the overflow comprises a plurality of notches V-shaped spaced around the extreme foot of the duct and ali entation.
29. 29. A separator according to any of the preceding claims wherein the feedstock is? It feeds into the feed duct through a side feed duct which is connected to the feed duct below the upper end of the feed duct ion.
30. 30. A separator according to claim 1, wherein the side supply conduit has a "discharge limitation tube au; In this case, the auxiliary conduit is used to introduce fla ulation agent into the feedstock, during? the use.
31. 31. A supply conduit for liquid / solids separator, said supply conduit comprises a cylindrical feed section, and a descendingly diverging discharge section which is fixed on the feed section and coaxially aligned with said feed section. .8 In this section, the power line 1 is adapted to be mounted with SLI and is generally vertical within a 1-way separator.
32. 32. A feed chute according to claim 31 wherein the feed section is cylindrical, circular, and the discharge section is c ón i c a.
33. 33. A supply conduit according to claim 31 or claim 32 that further includes a conduit of? recric 3 to e that e; tends through the feed section and the discharge section and is it coa x the Try? aligned with the feeding section and the discharge section.
34. 34. A feed conduit according to claim 33 wherein the recycle conduit has an upper straight circular cylindrical section, and a lower conical section, descendingly divergent.
35. 35. An apparatus for entraining solids for its LISO within a liquid / solids separator, said solids concentrating apparatus comprises a plurality of right angled, truncated, aligned cones adapted to be mounted one beneath the other within a liquid / solid separator, each cone is oriented so that it is descendingly convergent.
36. 36. A solids concentration apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the cone angles of all the truncated cones are equally equal.
37. 37. A method to separate a feed material from mixed solids / liquids in a separation tank that it has?, generally, vertical side walls and a feed conduit including a descendingly diverging discharge section located centrally within the tank and spaced from the walls of the tank thereby defining an annular throat between the tank and the discharge section, the method includes the steps I introduced the feed material into the tank through the feed pipe; adding a flocculating agent to the feed material either before or after its penetration into the tank; allow the material to feed through the discharge section; allow the heavier solid particles to sediment under the influence of gravity towards the bottom of the tank; allow lighter solid particles to pass up through the throat; selecting and monitoring the flow of feed material in the tank in such a way that a bed of solid particles forms inside the tank above the throat; and 50 and the liquid liquified in the pcirte - superior of the tank * above? the bed, and sediment or the bottom of the tank.
38. 38. A method according to claim 37 which includes the step of diverting a percentage of clarified liquid into the feed line to mix it with the material of? limenta ion.
39. 39. A method of compliance with the rei indication 38 that includes the step of varying the percentage of liquide? clarified introduced into the feed conduit to vary the specific gravity of the material that passes through the feed pipe and therefore optimize the caraï ter íst i > .
40. Separation of 3 separator, 4 < "> A separator which substantially corresponds to what is described above with reference to the drawings
41. 41. U > onducti) that substantially corre sponds to what is described above with reference to the d ibs. ? ..
42. 42. A separation apparatus which corresponds to the above described with reference to the drawings
43. 43. A method of separating a solid / liquid mixture which corresponds substantially to the at the top, with reference to the drawings. RFOUr-IE OF THE INVENTION It is pre-.ent. a separator for separating solids and liquids from a feed material containing an inertia of solids and liquids, the cutter includes a tank having an upper part, generally vertical side walls, and a convergent tapered bottom. A clarified liquid outlet is made in the upper part of the tank or close to said upper part and a sediment outlet is provided to the ptarti of the tapered bottom of the tank. A generally vertically aligned feed line is located inside the tank near the top of the tank, the feed line includes a limitation section and the discharge section, the section of? The ion is adapted to receive the feed material and the section of the discharge is adapted for use. download the feed material in the tank? under the top of it. The discharge section tapers preferably outward in a downward direction.