Gravity Separation Device Underflow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gravity separation devices face challenges in stabilizing the flow rate of underflow, leading to issues like shelving and overflowing, due to variations in flow rates and uncontrollable discharge of separated materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a valve and a metering pump in the extraction pipe for discharging underflow, with a pressure meter to control the discharged amount based on pressure measurements, ensuring a stable and quantifiable discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional valve is used to control underflow discharge, then the device structure is simple, but the flow rate of underflow cannot be stabilized and shelving or flushing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the extraction pipe by introducing a metering pump that can precisely control the discharge flow rate. The metering pump adjusts rotational speed and discharge volume parameters to maintain stable underflow flow rate, preventing shelving and flushing while managing the increased device complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback control system where the metering pump monitors and adjusts the underflow discharge flow rate in real-time. By measuring actual flow conditions and comparing them to target values, the system automatically corrects deviations, ensuring stable flow rate control and preventing shelving or flushing events.
2Productivity
If the flow rate of underflow is increased to improve productivity, then more material is processed, but the slurry overflows from the receiving tank
Solution Approach 1:
The metering pump provides feedback control by continuously monitoring the underflow discharge rate and adjusting it to match the receiving tank's capacity. This prevents overflow by ensuring that the discharge flow rate never exceeds the tank's acceptance rate, while still maximizing productivity within safe operating limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the discharge flow rate dynamic rather than fixed. The metering pump can adjust its discharge rate in real-time based on receiving tank level, upstream slurry production rate, and other operational conditions, optimizing productivity while preventing overflow through continuous adaptation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses shelving and flushing, allowing for stable discharge of underflow at a predetermined rate, preventing overflow and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure meter for measuring a pressure inside the separation section is provided in the separation section, and the metering pump controls a discharged amount of the underflow on the basis of a measurement value obtained by the pressure meter
Implementation Method 2
specific gravity separation of the slurry is performed by the upward flow of the injected water... particles included in the mixed material are separated into the upper portion or a lower portion of the gravity separation device by a difference between the upward flow of the injected water and the precipitation rate of the precipitated particles
Implementation Method 3
a deposition section that is positioned at the lower side of the separation section and in which the underflow separated by precipitation is deposited
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a gravity separation device wherein occurrences of shelving, flashing, and the like inside the device can be suppressed, variations in the flow rate of underflow obtained by gravity separation can be minimized and underflow can be stably extracted. This gravity separation device, which separates overflow and underflow using differences in specific gravity from mixed material, is provided with a separation section that has a supply pipe for supplying a slurry of the mixed material at the top and separates that slurry into overflow and underflow, and a deposition section that is positioned below the separation section and wherein the underflow that has been separated by precipitation is deposited. An extraction pipe for extracting the underflow is connected to the deposition section, and a valve for extracting the underflow and a metering pump for quantitatively extracting the underflow are provided in the extraction pipe.