US 12,064,713 B2
Feed dilution apparatus for thickener/clarifiers
Joon Won Lee, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Thien Sok, Sandy, UT (US); Fred Schoenbrunn, Cottonwood Heights, UT (US); Brian Pliska, Midvale, UT (US); and Muthu Srinivasan, Midvale, UT (US)
Assigned to FLSmidth A/S, (DK)
Appl. No. 18/274,208
Filed by FLSmidth A/S, Valby (DK)
PCT Filed Jan. 25, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/050652
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 25, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/157748, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/257,946, filed on Oct. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/141,182, filed on Jan. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0091675 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B01D 21/24 (2006.01); B01F 23/50 (2022.01); B01F 35/71 (2022.01)
CPC B01D 21/2427 (2013.01) [B01D 21/2405 (2013.01); B01D 21/2433 (2013.01); B01D 21/2444 (2013.01); B01D 21/2488 (2013.01); B01F 23/581 (2022.01); B01F 35/71725 (2022.01); B01F 35/7176 (2022.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A feedwell assembly (1) comprising a feedwell (3) and a feed dilution apparatus (27) for diluting infeed slurry with diluent prior to entering the feedwell (3), the feed dilution apparatus (27) comprising a mixing chamber (5) operably connected to a feedwell inlet (4), the mixing chamber (5) configured to receive slurry from a slurry infeed conduit (7) and combine the slurry with the diluent received from a diluent inlet (10), the feed dilution apparatus (27) comprising a centrifugal-type pump apparatus (36) having a centrifugal impeller (16) arranged within a pump housing (9), the pump housing (9) being arranged below a weir box (12), the weir box (12) having a spill lip (12b) arranged at an upper periphery of the weir box (12), wherein the spill lip (12b) is configured to be arranged below an air-liquid interface (20) during operation such that there is a depth of submergence (26) between the spill lip (12b) and the air-liquid interface (20);
the pump housing (9) comprising a pump outlet (9e) extending from a volute sidewall (9c) of the pump housing (9) and operably connected to and/or fluidly communicating with an entrance portion (10a) of the diluent inlet (10), the pump outlet (9e) being operatively connected to the mixing chamber (5) via the diluent inlet (10);
the pump outlet (9e) being located adjacent a radially-outermost sidewall (9c) portion of the pump housing (9);
wherein the feed dilution apparatus (27) is further configured for drawing froth/foam containing entrained solids and clarified liquor into the pump housing (9) and then out of the pump outlet (9e) when the centrifugal impeller (16) within the pump housing (9) turns; and to enable the froth/foam containing entrained solids and clarified liquor to spill over lip (12b) and enter the weir box (12), which in turn, feeds the centrifugal-type pump apparatus (36) below.