Hydrocyclone for detecting formation of a roping state

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12508603-B2
Application number	US-201917421831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2019
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A hydrocyclone for separating feed into overflow and underflow comprises a feed inlet, an overflow outlet, an apex for discharging underflow, an upper section connected to the feed inlet and the overflow outlet, a conical section between the upper section and the apex and a plurality of electrodes for measuring electrical conductivity inside the hydrocyclone to detect the formation of a roping state in the hydrocyclone. The plurality of electrodes are is positioned circumferentially in the conical section on an axial distance from the apex (d meas ); wherein d meas is at least 5 percent of the axial distance between the apex and the upper section, and d meas is at most 50 percent of the axial distance between the apex and the upper section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A hydrocyclone for separating feed into overflow and underflow, comprising:
(i) a feed inlet; (ii) an overflow outlet; (iii) an apex for discharging underflow; (iv) an upper section connected to the feed inlet and the overflow outlet; (v) a conical section between the upper section and the apex, the conical section is divided in separate upper part and lower part in an axial dimension; and (vi) a plurality of electrodes for measuring electrical conductivity inside the hydrocyclone to detect the formation of a roping state in the hydrocyclone; wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned circumferentially in the conical section on an axial distance from the apex (d meas ); wherein d meas is at least 5 percent of the axial distance between the apex and the upper section, and d meas is at most 50 percent of the axial distance between the apex and the upper section; and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned substantially horizontally, perpendicular to the axial dimension, within an annular gasket, the annular gasket is located between the upper part and the lower part of the conical section.

2 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least nine electrodes for electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and/or electrical impedance tomography (EIT) mapping.

3 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the electrodes in the plurality of electrodes is at least 2.5 millimeters.

4 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the annular gasket is of rubber or insulating polymer.

5 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the annular gasket is clamped between the upper part and the lower part.

6 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the annular gasket is at least 5 millimeters.

7 . The hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein an outer circumference of the annular gasket comprises an extension for each of the electrodes in the plurality of electrodes.

8 . A method for measuring electrical conductivity within a hydrocyclone to detect the formation of a roping state in the hydrocyclone by using the hydrocyclone recited in claim 1 ,
wherein the method comprises utilizing the plurality of electrodes positioned within the annular gasket to measure electrical conductivity inside the hydrocyclone to detect the formation of the roping state in the hydrocyclone.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein a weight of solid matter in the feed introduced into the hydrocyclone corresponds to 10-85 percent of the total weight of the feed.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein solid matter in the feed introduced into the hydrocyclone has specific weight of 1.5-7.0 tons per cubic meter.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein solid matter in the feed introduced into the hydrocyclone has specific weight of 1.5-7.0 tons per cubic meter.

Assignees

• Metso Outotec Finland Oy
• Metso Finland Oy

Inventors

• Sakaranaho Matti
• Soini Teemu
• Kourunen Jari
• Kaartinen Jani
• Loimi Janne
• Heiskanen Kari

Classifications

• G01N27/10

  Investigation or analysis specially adapted for controlling or monitoring operations or for signalling · CPC title

• B04C5/14 Primary

  Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements {; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations (provided with a great number of slits or perforations B04C5/10)} · CPC title

• B04C11/00 Primary

  Accessories, e.g. safety or control devices, not otherwise provided for {, e.g. regulators, valves in inlet or overflow ducting}(with electrostatic precipitating arrangements B03C3/14) · CPC title