CONCENTRATION OF SOLIDS IN A SUSPENSION

摘要

A concentrator (10) for concentrating the fine solids of a liquid feed suspension has a shell (11) within which there is a bundle of microporous fibres (12). Pressurized feed suspension is introduced through inlet (15) and passes over the external walls of the fibres (12) with the clarified liquid being drawn from the lumens of the fibres (12) through outlet port (16) and the concentrated feed being discharged through outlet (17). The solids retained within the shell are removed by first applying a pressurized liquid to stretch substantially all the pores of the fibres to wash out any retained solids and then applying a gas at a pressure sufficient to ensure that the gas will pass through the larger pores of the fibres to remove the solids from the shell (11) through outlet (17) to an external collection point.