Material separation process and apparatus

摘要

This invention generally provides a process and apparatus for the separation of material and more particularly, the separation of material(s) using a separation fluid and based upon the relative buoyancies of the components of the material solution. This invention more particularly provides an apparatus and a process in which the feedstock is first introduced into a separation hopper wherein partial separation occurs by the less buoyant solid particles contained in the feedstock descending to and entering a separation chamber. The separation fluid flowing upwardly in the separation chamber is adaptable to match the settling velocity of the desired solid particle separation. The less buoyant particles settling to the bottom of the separation chamber are discharged as clean or separated material, whereas the more buoyant particles are carried upward by the flow of the separation fluid and discharged from the upper end of the separation chamber to either one or more additional or similar devices or recirculated to one or more early stages in the system process and apparatus.