Patent · US Expired

Device and process for gravitational separation of solid particles

US5507393A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 14, 1994
Grant dateApr 16, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 14, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB03B5/30
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A gravitational separation device is provided and the process is provided involving a packed column containing a packing material and having a device for vibrating the packed column and the particles. The gravitational separation device allows for efficient and effective separation of solid particles having different densities. The process preferably involves conditioning an aqueous pulp of mineral ore with a dispersant and feeding the dispersed aqueous pulp into an inlet into an intermediate section of the packed column and forming a high density bed of high density particles in a lower portion of the column, and forming a low density bed of low density particles in an upper portion of the column. Tailings are removed from the upper end of the column and concentrated mineral ore having reduced levels of gangue are removed from the bottom of the column. The device and process are especially useful in the separation of silica particles having small particle sizes from iron ore particles having small particle sizes.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.