Solvent Extraction Tank With Deflector Wall for Organic Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solvent extraction systems face issues with organic particles becoming entrained in aqueous flow streams, leading to impurities in electrowinning processes, decreased metal recovery efficiency, and operational challenges in leaching processes.
Innovation Solution
A tank system with curved impellers, a deflector wall, and a skim launder is used to impel a rotational motion in the mixed solution, allowing organic particles to separate from the aqueous phase, with baffles and accumulation zones to trap and recover the organic particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the aqueous flow stream enters the mixer-settler at high velocity, then the extraction process operates efficiently, but organic particles become entrained in the aqueous flow stream
Solution Approach 1:
A deflector wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the high-velocity aqueous inlet and the organic layer. This deflector wall redirects the aqueous flow away from the organic particles, preventing entrainment while allowing the high-velocity flow to continue. The deflector wall acts as a mediator that protects the organic phase from the harmful effects of high-velocity aqueous flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector wall extends vertically from the floor to a significant height, utilizing the vertical dimension to redirect flow. By positioning the deflector wall in the vertical space above the inlet, it intercepts the horizontally moving aqueous stream and redirects it upward and away from the organic layer, effectively using spatial dimensionality to solve the entrainment problem.
2Speed
If organic particles are entrained in the aqueous flow stream, then the flow moves quickly through the system, but impurities are included in the electrowinning process and metal recovery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector wall extracts or removes the harmful component (entrained organic particles) from the aqueous flow stream by redirecting the flow before it can pick up organic particles. This prevents impurities from being carried forward to the electrowinning process, thereby maintaining metal recovery purity without sacrificing flow velocity.
3Loss of time
If organic particles are entrained in raffinate solutions, then the solution is recycled quickly back to leaching, but organic buildup occurs in leach heap emitters and solution flow decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector wall applies preliminary anti-action by preventing organic particle entrainment in the first place, before the raffinate solution is recycled back to the leaching process. This proactive measure stops organic buildup at its source, ensuring reliable solution flow through leach heap emitters without requiring additional treatment steps.
4Device complexity
If organic particles are not separated from the aqueous flow stream, then the system operates with fewer components, but organic particles plug solution channels and inhibit beneficial microorganisms
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector wall serves as a simple intermediary structure that separates the aqueous flow from the organic layer without requiring complex separation systems. By redirecting the aqueous flow away from the organic particles, it prevents channel plugging and microorganism inhibition while adding minimal structural complexity to the system.
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
The system effectively reduces organic particle entrainment, enhancing metal recovery purity and reducing operational inefficiencies by allowing for the reuse of organic material.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of curved impellers coupled to a floor of the tank configured to impel a torque on the mixed solution, wherein in response to receiving the torque the mixed solution moves in a rotational motion within the tank
Implementation Method 2
a deflector wall coupled to the floor extending vertically from the floor and surrounding the plurality of curved impellers to form an inner well configured to direct a flow of the rotating mixed solution vertically upwards towards a top surface of the tank
Implementation Method 3
Within all sections of the mixer-settler, organic particles are less dense than the various aqueous flow streams and rise above the aqueous flow streams' higher densities
Data Source
AI summary
A device for recovering entrained organic particles from an aqueous solution is provided. The device comprises a tank configured to receive a mixed solution through an inlet, wherein the mixed solution comprises an aqueous solution and organic particles, a plurality of curved impellers configured to impel a torque on the mixed solution, wherein in response to receiving the torque the mixed solution moves in a rotational motion within the tank, a deflector wall coupled to the floor extending vertically from the floor and surrounding the plurality of curved impellers to form an inner well configured to direct a flow of the rotating mixed solution towards a top surface of the tank, and a skim launder coupled to a boundary wall of the tank and positioned at the top surface, wherein the skim launder is configured to recover organic particles from the tank as they separate from the aqueous solution.