Method of controlling the density of the solids separated from a feed slurry in a separator

• US 5,899,844 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis C. Eberle Sr
• Original Assignee: Louis C. Eberle Sr
• Inventors: Eberle, Louis C. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US08/880,898
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 494/1, 494/5, 494/10, 494/23, 494/27, 494/30, 494/32, 494/35, 494/37, 494/42, 494/50-54, 210/194, 210/196, 210/765, 210/805
• US Class Current: 494/37
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 1/20 discharging solid particles from the bowl by a conveying screw coaxial with the bowl axis and rotating relatively to the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/00 Feeding, charging, or discharging bowls B04B1/00, B04B3/00, B04B7/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the density of the solids separated from a feed slurry by selectively recirculating the separated liquid component of the feed slurry to change the feed slurry'"'"'s density when an unwanted density of the separated solids is detected. Further, the efficiency of the separation is increased by recirculating and recharging unused catalyst into the feed slurry where it is used to assist in the separation of the solids.

Claims

1. In the method of controlling the density of the solids separated in a separator from a feed slurry which feed slurry includes both a liquid component and suspended solids component, the improvement comprising the steps of

identifying a desired density range for said separated solids;

permitting said feed slurry to enter said separator;

adding a catalyst to said feed slurry;

separating the liquid component of said feed slurry from the solids component by using said catalyst;

permitting the separated liquid and solids components of said feed slurry to exit from said separator separately;

selectively returning some of said separated liquid component to said separator to change the density of the entering feed slurry when the density of said separated solids falls outside said desired range; and

selectively recirculating to said separator the unused catalyst that exits from said separator.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 including

the step of providing a receptacle for said separated solids component, and

the step of conveying said separated solids component to said receptacle.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 including

the step of providing a water reclamation system, and

the step of conveying said separated liquid component to said water reclamation system.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein

said separator is a decanting centrifuge with a screw auger.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein

said catalyst has an electric charge.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 including

the step of recharging said unused catalyst before it returns to the feed slurry.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of recirculating said unused catalyst includes

adding said recirculating unused catalyst to said feed slurry.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 including

the step of applying a charge to the feed slurry.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 including

the step of separating said catalyst from said liquid component;

said last named step including

the step of selecting a catalyst that when unused by the feed slurry floats on the separated liquid component, and

skimming the unused catalyst off of the separated liquid component.