Conveyor belt solids separator with combined scraper and gas jet control

摘要

Spherically-shaped rolling solids are separated from irregularly-shaped nonrolling solids with an inclined conveyor belt separating system. A dry mixture of the solids is fed onto a section of a continuously upward moving, appropriately inclined conveyor belt. Most of the nonrolling solids eventually move up with the belt and are then moved in a sideways, upward direction or directions off a side of the belt. Most of the rolling solids move down the belt to a preselected area where their movement down and off a side of the conveyor belt is controlled by a combined scraper and gas jet lower control arrangement. The control arrangement has a diagonally placed scraper blade and jets of gas directed longitudinally ahead of the scraper. The control arrangement may also have a side control scraper and side control gas jet. The combined lower control arrangement provides for more efficient utilization of the upper surface area of the conveyor belt while maintaining the desired separation efficiency of the system. This lower control is particularly advantageous for a wide belt divided into two or more distinct separating sections. The initial momentum and direction of movement of the solids feed stream may also be controlled to improve the operation of the solids separating system. The system is especially useful for separating spherical solid heat carriers from spent shale solids in an oil shale retorting facility.