Method of manufacturing a solvent extraction settler and solvent extraction settler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220331-B2
Application number	US-201314408417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2013
Priority date	Jun 26, 2012
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a solvent extraction settler comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means ( 6 ) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the modules ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling the modules ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) into a complete settler at the site of installation. The settler comprises a module group ( 1 ) consisting of a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means ( 6 ) conforming to ISO shipping container standards to enable ISO compatible transportability.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a solvent extraction settler capable of use in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes for separating solutions mixed in a dispersion into different solution phases, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
manufacturing at a site of manufacture, a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules,
transporting the modules to a site of installation, and
assembling the modules into the solvent extraction settler at the site of installation, where the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules comprises at least two modules sequentially connected to each other in-line to jointly form a plug flow path across the width of the settler, and common to the at least two modules, for dispersion and solutions flowing in the settler, where each of the modules comprises (i) a self-supporting framework structure having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with corner fittings attached to each corner of the framework structure and (ii) a shell, which is supported inside the framework structure and forms at least a part of a flow path for the solutions flowing in the settler, where
the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules comprises two or more groups of at least two modules connected to each other in-line, the two or more groups arranged in parallel with each other, a first one of the at least two modules comprising a coalescing module having one or more coalescing fence elements to coalesce dispersion into different solution phases and a second one of the at least two modules comprising at least one retention module to increase residence time in the settler for enhancing phase separation, said retention module being arranged between the coalescing module and a launder module arranged to receive and discharge separated solutions.

2. A solvent extraction settler assembled from a plurality of self-supporting settler element modules and capable of use in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction processes for separating solutions mixed in a dispersion into different solution phases, where the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules comprises at least two modules sequentially connected to each other in-line to jointly form a plug flow path common to the at least two modules for at least one of dispersion and solutions flowing in the settler, where each of the modules comprises (i) a self-supporting framework structure having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with corner fittings attached to each corner of the framework structure and (ii) a shell, which is supported inside the framework structure and forms at least a part of a flow path for the solutions flowing in the settler, where the settler comprises a foundation on which the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules is supported at a height above the around level, thereby providing a space for piping access underneath the settler the foundation comprising a plurality of pillers having container lashing fittings to which the corner fittings of the modules are connected.

3. The settler according to claim 2 , characterized in that each of the modules conforms to standard ISO 668 Series 1 “Freight containers—Classification, dimensions and ratings” in effect at the time of manufacture, and that the corner fittings conform to standard ISO 1161 Series 1 “Freight containers—Corner fittings—specification” in effect at the time of manufacture.

4. The settler according to claim 2 , characterized in that the shell is a hollow body made of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite and manufactured by filament winding technology.

5. The settler according to claim 2 , characterized in that the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules comprises two or more groups of at least two modules connected to each other in-line, the two or more groups arranged in parallel with each other.

6. The settler according to claim 5 , characterized in that a first one of the at least two modules comprises a coalescing module having one or more coalescing fence elements to coalesce dispersion into different solution phases.

7. The settler according to claim 6 , characterized in that a second one of the at least two modules comprises a launder module arranged to feed dispersion to the coalescing module.

8. The settler according to claim 7 , characterized in that at least one of the at least two modules comprises at least one retention module to increase residence time in the settler for enhancing phase separation, said retention module being arranged between the coalescing module and the launder module.

9. The settler according to claim 8 , characterized in that the cross-section of a shell of the coalescing module is equal to the cross section of a shell of the retention module to enable abutting joint of the shells.

10. The settler according to claim 8 , characterized in that the shell of the coalescing module and/or the retention module has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape with cambered corners and convexly outwards curved side walls.

11. The settler according to claim 5 , characterized in that at least one of the at least two modules comprises a launder module which is arranged to receive and discharge separated solutions.

12. The settler according to claim 11 , characterized in that the launder module comprises
a first shell to receive and conduct an overflow of a lighter solution phase, and
a second shell to receive and conduct an underflow of a heavier solution phase.

13. The settler according to claim 12 , characterized in that the launder module is a combined feed and discharge launder comprising a third shell to feed dispersion to modules of a next settler.

14. The settler according to claim 12 , characterized in that the settler comprises two or more launder modules arranged side-by-side; that first shells of the side-by-side launder modules are abutting and sequentially connected to each other to form a first flow channel which is in the crosswise direction to the direction of a flow path; and that second shells of the side-by-side launder modules are abutting and sequentially connected to each other to form a continuous second flow channel which is in the crosswise direction to the direction of the flow path.

15. The settler according to claim 14 , characterized in that the first shells are conical so that the sequentially connected first shells together form a conical first flow channel.

16. The settler according to claim 14 , characterized in that the second shells are conical so that the sequentially connected second shells of the launder modules together form the conical second flow channel.

17. The settler according to claim 16 , characterized in that the plurality of self-supporting settler element modules comprises a box module comprising
a first discharge box supported inside the framework structure for receiving and discharging the lighter solution phase from the first flow channel, and
a second discharge box supported inside the framework structure for receiving and discharging the heavier solution phase from the second flow channel.

18. The settler according to claim 17 , characterized in that the box module comprises a feed box supported inside the framework structure for feeding dispersion to the third flow channel.

19. The settler according to claim 14 , having sequentially connected third shells capable of feeding dispersion to modules of a next settler, where the third shells are conical so that the sequentially connected third shells together form

Assignees

• Outotec Finland Oy

Inventors

• Vaarno Jussi
• Saario Rami
• Fredriksson Henri
• Pajala Jussi

Classifications

• B01D11/0446 Primary

  Juxtaposition of mixers-settlers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B01D21/0003

  Making of sedimentation devices, structural details thereof, e.g. prefabricated parts · CPC title

• B01D11/04 Primary

  of solutions which are liquid · CPC title

• B01D21/0033

  Vertical, perforated partition walls (B01D21/2422 takes precedence) · CPC title