TUNABLE INCLINED VESSEL SETTLERS

摘要

A tunable inclined vessel settler in which an input fluid containing a sinking fraction and a floating fraction is separated into an underflow in which the sinking fraction predominates and an overflow in which the floating fraction predominates When the fluid is input into the settler, a thickening convection cell forms in the fluid in the lower portion of the inclined vessel and a clarifying convection cell forms in the upper portion thereof. The degree to which the floating fraction predominates in the overflow and the sinking fraction in the underflow is determined by the ratio of the size of the thickening convection cell to the size of the clarifying convection cell. The inclined vessel settler is tuned by changing the ratio of the sizes. This can be done by changing the location of the fluid input and/or by altering the volume of the overflow and/or the underflow.