APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DE-WATERING OF SLURRIES

摘要

A duct (19) for feeding water having solid suspended therein comprises an inlet portion (20) for receiving a flow of water having a solid suspended therein, the inlet portion (20) defining an inlet flow direction and having an inlet maximum width (a) in a direction normal to the inlet flow direction, an outlet portion (26) for delivering a flow of water having the solid suspended therein, the outlet portion (26) defining an outlet flow direction and having an outlet maximum width in a direction normal to the outlet flow direction, the outlet maximum width being greater than the inlet maximum width, and a duct section (24) connecting the inlet portion and the outlet portion. A gas feed (34) is provided within the inlet portion (20, 24) or duct section, for allowing gas to be fed into the flow of water having solid suspended therein, to lighten the weight of the fluid column and to increase the volume flow rate of water without increasing the mass flow rate of water.