APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE LEVEL OF A MUD BED

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and controlling a level of a mud bed in a high compression gravity thickener (10 ). The thickener is fitted with upper and lower vibrating probes (12 and 24) which vibrate at a predetermined amplitude and frequency. When the mud bed reaches a level (30), the vibrating probe (12) is switched, thereby delivering an "on" signal via a control line (32) to turn on an underflow pu mp (22). In the event of the mud bed reaching a lower level (34), the vibrating probe (24) transmits an "off" signal via a control line (36), thereby turnin g the pump (22) off and allowing the mud level to increase. The control signal s from the upper and lower vibrating probes (12) and (24) are thus used to adjust the throughflow of mud by adjusting the speed of the underflow pump (22) so as to control the level of the mud bed within the thickener.