GRAVITATIONAL THICKENER Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: chemical engineering. SUBSTANCE: thickener contains conical stepped bottom in the form of annular swellings with vertical cylindrical or rectangular walls. Solid particles move downward, approach these swellings, and form on them, in the initial period of thickener' operation, funnel-shaped deposit. When slope of upper surface of deposit attains value close to that of natural slope, solid particles approaching the deposit change their motion direction and flow down from swelling in the form of thickened suspension. Further, this layer moves along vertical wall of swelling toward deposit layer on the next swelling, flows down from this, and so on, thereby approaching discharge pipe. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of process. 1 dwg