Apparatus for separating intermixed materials of different specific gravity

摘要

An enhanced gravity laminar flow separation system is provided by a conical drum which has a plurality of flow channels along the inside surface of the drum. Feed material for separation is fed into the drum and accelerated by an impeller so as to enter the channels at a feed end at the base of the drum and to move along the channels to a discharge end at the mouth of the drum of increased diameter. Heavies are stripped from the base of the channel and the lights escape from the open mouth of the bowl longitudinally of the channel. The channel changes cross-section from the feed end to the discharge end decreasing in width and increasing in depth by the addition of a V-groove at the base. Tangential forces from the acceleration of the material which act on one side of the channel are balanced by the shape of the channel to provide symmetrical flow.