Hydrocyclone for detecting formation of a roping state

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022097082-A1
Application number	US-201917421831-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2019
Publication date	Mar 31, 2022
Grant date	—

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 be-tween 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

1 . Hydrocyclone for separating feed into overflow and underflow, comprising:
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;
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; wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned within an annular gasket.

2 . 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 . Hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the electrodes in the plurality of electrodes is at least 2.5 millimeters.

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

5 . Hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the conical section is divided in separate upper part and lower part in the axial dimension and the gasket is clamped between the upper part and the lower part.

6 . Hydrocyclone according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the gasket is at least 5 millimeters.

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

8 . Method for measuring electrical conductivity within a hydrocyclone to detect the formation of a roping state in the hydrocyclone, wherein the hydrocyclone comprises:
a feed inlet; an overflow outlet; an apex for discharging underflow; an upper section connected to the feed inlet and the overflow outlet; and a conical section between the upper section and the apex; wherein the method comprises: measuring electrical conductivity inside the hydrocyclone, to detect the formation of a roping state in the hydrocyclone, with a plurality of electrodes 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; wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned within an annular gasket.

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

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

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

Assignees

• Outotec Finland Oy
• Metso Outotec Finland Oy

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• G01N27/10

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