Induced temperature gradient settling vessel

摘要

An apparatus and method are provided for settling small particles of micron and submicron size from a liquid in which the particles are contained. The method of the invention entails introducing the particle containing liquid into an apparatus of this invention. The apparatus is a settling vessel having vertical dimensions sufficient in relation to the overall capacity of the vessel to allow establishing a temperature gradient between the upper and lower portions of liquid contained therein with the vessel sufficiently insulated to minimize changes of the temperature inside the vessel in response to changes in the ambient temperature outside the vessel and also having means for supplying indirect cooling heat exchange within the lower portion of the vessel and indirect heating heat exchange within the upper portion of the vessel to induce a constant temperature gradient within the vessel.