Classifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016296942-A1
Application number	US-201415035421-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A classifier and a method of separating material using such a classifier are disclosed. The classifier comprises a mixing chamber having a mixing fluidisation floor and a concentration chamber having a concentration fluidisation floor. The concentration fluidisation floor and at least a portion of the concentration chamber is located below the mixing fluidisation floor. The method of separating material using such a classifier comprises delivering material to be separated into a mixing chamber of the classifier, fluidising the material in the mixing chamber; transferring some of the material to a concentration chamber of the classifier in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, fluidising the material in the concentration chamber, forming a concentrating fluidised bed in the concentration chamber, separating the material with at least the concentrating fluidised bed and drawing heavier portions of the separated material from the concentration chamber.

First claim

1 . A classifier comprising:
a mixing chamber having a mixing fluidisation floor; and a concentration chamber having a concentration fluidisation floor; wherein the concentration fluidisation floor and at least a portion of the concentration chamber is located below the mixing fluidisation floor.

2 . The classifier of claim 1 , wherein the concentration chamber has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the mixing chamber.

3 . The classifier of claim 1 , wherein the concentration chamber, having an end adjacent to the mixing fluidization floor, is substantially elongated and the concentration fluidisation floor is located at an opposite end of the concentration chamber to the end located adjacent the mixing fluidisation floor.

4 . The classifier of claim 1 , wherein the concentration chamber extends downward from an apex region of the mixing fluidisation floor.

5 . The classifier of claim 1 , wherein the concentration chamber has an outlet and at least two pressure sensors located longitudinally between the mixing fluidisation floor and the concentration fluidisation floor.

6 . The classifier of claim 1 wherein a separation chamber is positioned above the mixing chamber.

7 . The classifier of claim 6 wherein at least one launder is positioned within the separation chamber.

8 . A method of separating material using a classifier comprising:
delivering material to be separated into a mixing chamber of the classifier; fluidising the material in the mixing chamber; transferring some of the material to a concentration chamber of the classifier in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; fluidising the material in the concentration chamber; forming a concentrating fluidised bed in the concentration chamber; separating the material with at least the concentrating fluidised bed; and drawing heavier portions of the separated material from the concentration chamber.

9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of forming a mixing fluidised bed in the mixing chamber. 10

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of drawing heavier portions of the separated material comprises monitoring pressure in at least the concentration chamber to maintain the concentrating fluidised bed.

11 . The method of any one of claim 8 , 9 or 10 , further comprising the step of forcing material through a separation chamber and drawing lighter portions of the separated material from the separation chamber.

12 . The method of any one of claim 8 , 9 , 10 or 11 , wherein the classifier is the classifier of any one of claims 1 to 7 .

Assignees

• Smidth As F L

Inventors

• Starr David
• Orupold Taavi

Classifications

• B03B5/623 Primary

  Upward current classifiers · CPC title

• B07B4/08 Primary

  while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements · CPC title