SOLIDS CONCENTRATOR WITH A ROTOR HAVING PLOUGHS THEREON

摘要

A dynamic concentrator for separating a filtrate and a concentrated slurry from a solids-containing fluid. The concentrator comprising a housing having an inlet for introducing a solids-containing fluid therein and an outlet for removing a concentrated slurry of solids therefrom. Two coaxially spaced apart annular elements are mounted within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. A shaft extends coaxially through the housing with a radially extensive element secured coaxially thereto and located between opposite facing surfaces of the annular elements thereby to provide a flow path for solids-containing fluid from the inlet to the outlet which extends across the surfaces and from one side of the radially extensive element to the opposite side thereof passing around the outer periphery of the radially extensive element between the outer periphery and the interior surface of the housing, and from one side of each of the annular elements to the opposite side thereof passing around the inner peripheries of each of the annular elements between the inner peripheries and the shaft. The concentrator is arranged to have a motor coupled thereto for causing relative rotation between the shaft and the radially extensive element and the annular elements. At least one of the elements comprises at least one filtering surface with the interior side of the filtering surface being in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing for the removal of filtrate from the housing. The concentrator is characterized in that at least one plough member extends inwardly from the inner periphery of each of the annular elements into the flow path to deter accumulation of solids in the region defined radially between the surface of the shaft and the inner periphery of each of the annular elements during the relative rotation.