Feed Dilution System for a Thickener or Settling Tank

• Main Author: LAROS TIMOTHY J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.09.2013
• Subjects: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING, DISPERSING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING

In a feed dilution system and method for a thickener or settling tank, a feed pipe nozzle has an outlet opening or orifice configured to generate an initial stream of slurry from the feed pipe into an upstream end of a mixing conduit wherein the stream is extended from a first side of the mixing conduit to a substantially opposite second side in a first direction transverse to the mixing conduit so as to enhance entrainment of dilution fluid flow into the slurry stream and concomitantly produce a substantially uniform solids concentration across a stream flowing from the mixing conduit into the feedwell. The outlet opening is generally shaped asymmetrically towards a third side of the mixing conduit in a second direction transverse to the mixing conduit so as to bias the initial stream of slurry towards the one side, where the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.