Mixing solids with gas and liq. into streams - whose frictional interaction separates components

摘要

A mixt. of solids, esp. with widely differing properties, is fed from common worm conveyors (4,6,8) to a series of mixing chambers (10,12,14,16) operating in parallel to increase total output. In a subsequent reactor mixer chamber receiving the separate charges as a combined stream, injected streams of pressurised water, gas (esp. air or steam) enter between converging side walls to form high speed streams which intercept each other, with the resulting friction serving to break up agglomerations, break down connecting films, and alter the physical condition of particle surfaces so that in a subsequent settlement chambear the different components can be individually removed. Coarse solids collect at the base of a chamber (22) with a base worm extractor, while fine suspensions pass over a partition (28) with a settlement chamber (26). USE/ADVANTAGE - For contaminated soil, clay, tars and industrial wastes, differing widely in grain size and physical properties. Fractionation involves min. power consumption.