METHOD FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES IN HYDROUS SLURRY AND A HINDERED-BED SEPARATOR

PROCEDE POUR LA SEPARATION DE PARTICULES DANS UNE SUSPENSION EPAISSE AQUEUSE ET SEPARATEUR A LIT ENTRAVE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a method for separating
particles in hydrous slurry (38) and to a hindered-bed
separator. The method comprises a step for connecting
at least one teeter water pipe (8) of a teeter water
distributor means (7) of a hindered-bed separator in fluid
connection with a teeter water discharging means (10),
and discharging teeter water (9) from the at least one
teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the
teeter water discharging means (10) to the teeter water
discharging means (10).

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé pour la séparation de particules dans une suspension épaisse aqueuse (38) et sur un séparateur à lit entravé. Le procédé comprend une étape pour raccorder au moins un tuyau d'eau de fluidisation (8) d'un moyen de distribution d'eau de fluidisation (7) d'un séparateur à lit entravé en communication fluidique avec un moyen d'évacuation d'eau de fluidisation (10) et évacuer l'eau de fluidisation (9) à partir dudit ou desdits tuyaux d'eau de fluidisation (8) qui sont en communication fluidique avec le moyen d'évacuation d'eau de fluidisation (10) vers le moyen d'évacuation d'eau de fluidisation (10).

Claims

14
Claims
1 . A method for separating particles in hydrous slurry (38), which method
comprises steps
for
using a hindered-bed separator (1) comprising a body (2) defining an inner
space (3),
feed well means (4) for introducing hydrous slurry (38) into the inner space
(3) of the body (2),
overflow launder means (5) for discharging light particles (34) from the inner
space (3) of the
body (2), coarse feed means (6) for discharging heavy particles (35) from the
inner- space (3) of
the body (2), and teeter water distributor means (7) comprising teeter water
pipes (8) arranged in
the inner space (3) of the body (2) for introducing teeter water (9) into the
inner space (3) of the
body (2),
introducing hydrous slurry (38) into the inner space (3) of the body (2),
feeding teeter water (9) into the teeter water distributor means (7) and
introducing teeter
water (9) into the inner space (3) of the body (2) by means of the teeter
water distributor means
(7),
discharging light particles (34) from the inner space (3) of the body (2), and

discharging heavy particles (35) from the inner space (3) of the body (2),
characterized by
connecting at least one teeter water pipe (8) of the teeter water distributor
means (7) in
fluid connection with a teeter water discharging means (10),
discharging teeter water (9) from the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that
is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means (10) to the teeter water
discharging means
(10), and
feeding an amount of teeter water (9) into the teeter water distributor means
(7) that
exceeds the amount of teeter water (9) needed for the separation process
performed in the inner
space (3) of the body (2) of the hindered-bed separator (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by
using a hindered-bed separator (1) having a teeter water distributor means (7)
having at
least one teeter water pipe (8), which has a first end (11) that is in fluid
connection with a first
manifold (12) configured for receiving teeter water (9) from an intake pipe
(32) and configured
for distributing teeter water (9) to the at least one teeter water pipe (8),
and which has an
opposite second end (13), and
connecting the opposite second end (13) of the at least one teeter water pipe
(8) in fluid
connection with the teeter- water discharging means (10).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized by
connecting the opposite second end (13) of the at least one teeter water pipe
(8) in fluid
connection with a second manifold (14) of the teeter water discharging means
(10).


15
discharging teeter water (9) from the teeter water discharging means (10), and
controlling the first valve means (15) to adjust the amount of teeter water
(9) discharged
from the teeter water discharging means (10).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized by
measuring the amount of teeter water (9) flowing into the teeter water
distributor means
(7) from an intake pipe (32),
measuring the amount of discharged teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter
water
discharging means (10) into an return pipe (33),
calculating the difference between the amount of teeter water (9) flowing into
the teeter
water distributor means (7) and the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from
the teeter water
discharging means (10), and
controlling the first valve means (15) in accordance with the calculated
difference to
adjust the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter water
discharging means (10).

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by
measuring the pressure of the teeter water (9) flowing into the teeter water
distributor
means (7), and
controlling the first valve means (15) in accordance with the measured
pressure to adjust
the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter water discharging
means (10).

7. The method according to any of the claims 4 to 6, characterized by
controlling the first
valve means (15) with a timer (40) to adjust the amount of teeter water (9)
discharged from the
teeter water discharging means (10).

8. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized by
arranging a second valve means (16) in at least one teeter water pipe (8) that
is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means (10), and
controlling the second valve means (16) to adjust the amount of teeter water
(9) that is
discharged from said at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid
connection with the teeter
water discharging means (10) to the teeter water discharging means (10).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized by
measuring the amount of teeter water (9) flowing into the at least one teeter
water pipe
(8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means (10),
measuring the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the at least one
teeter water
pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means
(10) to the teeter
water discharging means (10),


16
calculating the difference between the teeter water (9) flowing into the at
least one teeter
water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging
means (10) and the
teeter water (9) that is discharged from the at least one teeter water pipe
(8) that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means (10), and
controlling the second valve means (16) in accordance with the calculated
difference to
adjust the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the at least one teeter
water pipe (8) that is
in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means (10) to the teeter
water discharging
means (10).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by
measuring the pressure of teeter water (9) flowing into the at least one
teeter water pipe
(8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means (10),
and
controlling the second valve means (16) in accordance with the measured
pressure to
adjust the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the at least one teeter
water pipe (8) that is
in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means (10) to the teeter
water discharging
means (10).

11. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 10, characterized by
controlling the second valve means (16) with a timer (40) to adjust the amount
of teeter
water (9) discharged from the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in
fluid connection with the
teeter water discharging means (10) to the teeter water discharging means
(10).

12. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized by
feeding an amount
of teeter water (9) into the teeter water distributor means (7) that exceeds
the amount of teeter
water (9) needed for the separation process performed in the inner space (3)
of the body (2) of
the hindered-bed separator (1).

13. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 12, characterized by
feeding between
about 110 % to about 200 % the amount of teeter water (9) into the teeter
water distributor
means (7) of the amount of teeter water (9) that needed for the separation
process performed in
the inner space (3) of the body (2) of the hindered-bed separator (1).

14. A hindered-bed separator (1) for separating particles in hydrous slurry
(38), the hindered-
bed separator (1) comprising
a body (2) defining an inner space (3),
a teeter water distributor means (7) comprising teeter water pipes (8)
arranged in the
inner space (3) of the body (2) for introducing teeter water (9) into the
inner space (3) of the
body (2) and directing water therefrom, the teeter water distributor means (7)
comprising a first


17
manifold (12), an intake pipe (32) for introducing teeter water (9) into the
first manifold (12),
teeter water pipes (8) in fluid connection with the first manifold (12), the
teeter water pipes (8)
being provided with apertures (29) for discharging teeter water (9) from the
teeter water pipes (8)
into the inner space (3) of the body (2),
a feed well means (30) for introducing hydrous slurry (38) into the inner
space (3) of the
body (2),
an overflow launder means (5) for discharging light particles (34) from the
inner space
(3) of the body (2), and
a coarse feed means (6) for discharging heavy particles from the inner space
(3) of the
body (2),
characterized
by at least one teeter water pipe (8) being in fluid connection with a teeter
water
discharging means (10) for discharging teeter water (9) from said at least one
teeter water pipe
(8) of the teeter water distributor means (7) into the teeter water
discharging means (10).


15. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 14, characterized by the
teeter water
discharging means (10) comprising a second manifold (14) in fluid connection
with the at least
one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water
discharging means (10)
and a return pipe (33) for discharging teeter water (9) from the second
manifold (14), the second
manifold (14) being configured for receiving teeter water (9) from the at
least one teeter water
pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging means
(10) and configured for
discharging teeter water (9) into the return pipe (33).

16. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 15, characterized by the at
least one
teeter water pipe (8) being arranged between the first manifold (12) and the
second manifold
(14).

17. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 14 to 16,
characterized
by a first valve means (15) arranged in the teeter water discharging means
(10) for
adjusting the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter water
discharging means (10)
into a return pipe (33).

18. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 17, characterized
by first flow measuring means (17) for measuring the amount of teeter water
(9) flowing
into the teeter water distributor means (7) from an intake pipe (32),
by second flow measuring means (19) for measuring the amount of teeter water
(9)
discharged from the teeter water discharging means (10) into the return pipe
(33),
by calculating means (18) for calculating the difference between the amount of
teeter


18
water (9) flowing into teeter water distributor means (7) and the amount of
teeter water (9)
discharged from the teeter water discharging means (10), and
by the calculating means (18) being functionally connected to the first valve
means (15)
for adjusting the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter water
discharging means
(10) in accordance with the calculated difference.

19. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 17 or 18, characterized
by pressure measuring means (39) for measuring the pressure of teeter water
(9) flowing
into teeter water distributor means (7), and
by the pressure measuring means (39) being functionally connected to the first
valve
means (15) for adjusting the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the
teeter water
discharging means (10) into the return pipe (33) in accordance with the
measured pressure.

20. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 17 to 19,
characterized
by the first valve means (15) being functionally connected to a timer (40) for
adjusting
the amount of teeter water (9) discharged from the teeter water discharging
means (10) into the
return pipe (33)in accordance with a time schedule.

21. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 17 to 20,
characterized
by a second valve means (16) arranged in at least one teeter water pipe (8)
that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means (10) for adjusting the
amount of teeter water
(9) discharged from said at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid
connection with the
teeter water discharging means (10) into the teeter water discharging means
(10).

22. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 21, characterized
by first flow measuring means (17) for measuring the amount of teeter water
(9) flowing
into the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with
the teeter water
discharging means (10),
by second flow measuring means (19) for measuring the amount of teeter water
(9)
flowing out of the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid
connection with the teeter
water discharging means (10) into the teeter water discharging means (10),
by calculating means (18) for calculating the difference between the amount of
teeter
water (9) flowing into the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid
connection with the
teeter water discharging means (10) and the amount of teeter water (9) flowing
out of the at least
one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water
discharging means (10)
into the teeter water discharging means (10), and
by the second valve means (16) being functionally connected to the calculating
means
(18) for adjusting the amount of teeter water (9) flowing out of the at least
one teeter water pipe


19
(8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means (10)
into the teeter water
discharging means (10) in accordance with the calculated difference.

23. The hindered-bed separator according to claim 21 or 22, characterized
by pressure measuring means (39) for measuring the pressure of teeter water
(9) flowing
into the at least one teeter water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with
the teeter water
discharging means (10), and
by the second valve means (16) being functionally connected to the pressure
measuring
means (39) for adjusting the amount of teeter water (9) flowing out of the at
least one teeter
water pipe (8) that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging
means (10) into the
teeter water discharging means (10) in accordance with the measured pressure.

24. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 21 to 23,
characterized
by the second valve means (16) being functionally connected to a timer (40)
for adjusting
amount of teeter water (9) flowing out of the at least one teeter water pipe
(8) that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means (10) into the teeter water
discharging means
(10) in accordance with a time schedule.

25. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 14 to 24,
characterized
by the body (2) having an upper part (21), a middle part (22), and a lower
part (23) and
an open top (24) and a bottom (25) defining the inner space (3) with an upper
portion (26),
middle portion (27), and lower portion (28),
by the overflow launder means (5) being arranged adjacent to the open top (24)
of the
body (2),
an overflow weir (36) adjacent to the open top (24) of the body (2) providing
flow from
the inner space (3) of the body (2) through the open top (24) of the body (2)
to the overflow
launder means (5),
by the coarse feed means (6) being arranged adjacent to the bottom (25) of the
body (2),
by the teeter water distributor means (7) being arranged for introducing
teeter water (9)
into the lower portion (28) of inner space (3) of the body (2).

26. The hindered-bed separator according to any of the claims 14 to 25,
characterized by the
feed well means (30) for introducing hydrous slurry (38) into the inner space
(3) of the body (2)
comprising a feed well (30) for feed material entering the hindered-bed
separator (1) and a slurry
introducer (31) for introducing a hydrous slurry (38) into the feed well (30).

Description

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METHOD FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES IN HYDROUS SLURRY AND
A HINDERED-BED SEPARATOR

Field of the invention
The invention relates to a method for separating particles in hydrous slurry
as defined in
the preamble of independent claim 1.
The invention also relates to a hindered-bed separator for separating
particles in hydrous
slurry as defined in the preamble of independent claim 14.
The present invention relates to a hindered-bed separator or hindered-bed
settler or
similar separator or settler apparatus (hereinafter "hindered-bed settler") to
partition solid
particles in a hydrous slurry or pulp into two or more fractions containing
particles of different
size and density.
Many sizing and classifying methods employ gravity of solid material in
hydrous slurry
with an incoming feed containing the material encountering an upward teeter
water flow. The
variation in size and/or density will result in heavier particles falling to a
lower level of the
hindered-bed settler and lighter particles being uplifted to an overflow level
of the hindered-bed
settler thus affecting the desired separation.
The operation of so called hindered-bed settlers is based on even distribution
of a
controlled amount of teeter water into an in inner space of the body of the
hindered-bed separator
with teeter water distributor means arranged in the inner space of the body of
the hindered-bed
separator. Usually, the teeter water is pumped into teeter pipes of the teeter
water distributor
means from one side only, but if the water is "dirty" and contains for example
much fine solids ,
the teeter water pipes will get clogged because of the fine solids settling at
the end of the teeter
pipe where the flow velocity is lowest. Gradually this clogging then is
proceeding towards the
feed end of the teeter pipes and relatively soon the teeter water feed into
the hindered-bed settler
becomes biased and operation becomes poor. The hindered-bed settler has to be
stopped for pipe
cleaning meaning production losses etc. In some cases teeter water is pumped
into the teeter
pipes from both ends, but then the clogging starts from the middle of the
teeter pipes.
Short description of the invention

The aim of the invention is to solve the above-identified problem.
The method for separating particles in hydrous slurry of the invention is
characterized by
the definitions of independent claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in the dependent claims 2 to
13.
The hindered-bed separator for separating particles in hydrous slurry of the
invention is
correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim 14.


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Preferred embodiments of the hindered-bed separator are defined in the
dependent claims
15 to 26.
The invention is based on discharging part of the teeter water that is fed
into the teeter
water distributor means by using a teeter water discharging means that is in
fluid connection
with the teeter water distributor means. This means for example that a certain
amount of teeter
water is fed into the teeter water distributor means. This amount can for
example be the double
compared to the amount actually used for teetering in the hindered-bed
separator, so the other
half just runs through the teeter water pipes of the teeter water distributor
means inside the
hindered-bed separator. This way the flow speed in the teeter water pipes
system is high or large
enough to keep the teeter water pipes clean by transporting fine solids
effectively through the
teeter water pipes. This way an arrangement can be created that does not need
cleaning of the
teeter pipes at all or very seldom.
In a method and a hindered-bed separator somewhat dirty teeter water i.e.
teeter water
containing particles can be used. The new arrangement is essentially useful in
cases where dirty
circulating water e.g. from the tailings pond or thickener is used. Because of
environmental
reasons this is nowadays the most common situation in the industry.
In the suggested system the pipes could also be cleaned, if necessary, just by
increasing
momentarily the flow speed of water. The opening of the unit for cleaning
would then not be
necessary at all.
In one embodiment of the invention both in the intake pipe for feeding
teetering water to
the teeter water distributor means and in the return pipe for leading
teetering water from the
teeter water discharging means is provided with a flow measuring means, such
as a flow meter,
for measuring the flow before the hindered-bed separator and respectively for
measuring the
flow after the hindered-bed separator. The difference in the flows naturally
flows into the interior
of the hindered-bed separator. In this embodiment the amount of teeter water
entering the inner
space of the body of the hindered-bed separator and correspondingly the amount
of teeter water
flowing through the inner space of the body of the hindered-bed separator can
be controlled by a
valve means such as an automatic valve in the return pipe.

List of figures

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by referring
to the figures,
of which
Fig 1 shows a hindered-bed separator having a teeter water distributor means,
Fig 2 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a first
preferred embodiment of the invention,
Fig 3 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a
second preferred embodiment of the invention,


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Fig 4 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a third
preferred embodiment of the invention,
Fig 5 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a
fourth preferred embodiment of the invention
Fig 6 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a fifth
preferred embodiment of the invention,
Fig 7 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a sixth
preferred embodiment of the invention,
Fig 8 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to a
seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, and
Fig 9 shows the principle of a teeter water distribution system means
according to an
eight preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention
The invention relates to a method for separating particles (not shown in the
figures) in
hydrous slurry 38 and to a hindered-bed separator 1 for separating particles
in hydrous slurry 38.
First the method and preferred embodiments and variations thereof will be
described.
The method for separating particles in hydrous slurry 38 comprises a step for
using a
hindered-bed separator comprising a body 2 defining an inner space 3, feed
well means 4 for
introducing hydrous slurry 38 into the inner space 3 of the body 2, overflow
launder means 5 for
discharging light particles 34 from the inner space 3 of the body 2, coarse
feed means 6 for
discharging heavy particles 35 from the inner space 3 of the body 2, and
teeter water distributor
means 7 comprising teeter water pipes 8 arranged in the inner space 3 of the
body 2 for
introducing teeter water 9 into the inner space 3 of the body 2.
The method includes a step for introducing hydrous slurry 38 into the inner
space 3 of the
body 2.
The method includes steps for feeding teeter water 9 into the teeter water
distributor
means 7 and introducing teeter water 9 into the inner space 3 of the body 2 by
means of the teeter
water distributor means 7. The amount of teeter water 9 fed into the teeter
water distributor
means 7 exceeds preferably, but not necessarily, the amount of teeter water 9
needed for the
separation process performed in the inner space 3 of the body 2 of the
hindered-bed separator. In
one embodiment of the method of the invention, the method includes a step for
feeding between
about 110 % to about 200 %, for example between about 125 % to about 150 %,
the amount of
teeter water 9 into the teeter water distributor means 7 of the amount of
teeter water 9 that is
needed for the separation process performed in the inner space 3 of the body 2
of the hindered-
bed separator 1.
The method includes a step for discharging light particles 34 from the inner
space 3 of


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the body 2.
The method includes a step for discharging heavy particles 35 from the inner
space 3 of
the body 2.
The method includes a step for connecting at least one teeter water pipe 8 of
the teeter
water distributor means 7 in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging
means 10.
The method includes a step for discharging teeter water 9 from the at least
one teeter
water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging
means 10 to the teeter
water discharging means 10.
The method includes preferably a step for connecting all teeter water pipes 8
of the teeter
water distributor means 7 in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging
means 10 and a step
for discharging teeter water from all teeter water pipes 8 to the teeter water
discharging means
10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method using a hindered-
bed
separator 1 having a teeter water distributor means 7 having at least one
teeter water pipe 8 that
has a first end 11, which is in fluid connection with a first manifold 12
configured for receiving
teeter water 9 from an intake pipe 32 and configured for distributing teeter
water 9 to the at least
one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the first manifold
12, and which has an
opposite second end 13. This preferred embodiment of the method of the
invention comprises a
step for connecting the opposite second end 13 of the at least one teeter
water pipe 8 that is in
fluid connection with the first manifold 12, in fluid connection with the
teeter water discharging
means 10. This preferred embodiment of the method of the invention comprises
preferably a step
for connecting the opposite second end 13 of the at least one teeter water
pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the first manifold 12, in fluid connection with a second
manifold 14 of the teeter
water discharging means 10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method using a hindered-
bed
separator 1 having a teeter water distributor means 7 having several teeter
water pipes 8 each
having a first end 11, which is in fluid connection with a first manifold 12
configured for
receiving teeter water 9 from an intake pipe 32 and configured for
distributing teeter water 9 to
the several teeter water pipes 8 that are in fluid connection with the first
manifold 12, and each of
which teeter water pipes 8 has a opposite second end 13. This preferred
embodiment of the
method of the invention comprises a step for connecting the opposite second
end 13 of each
teeter water pipe 8, which are in fluid connection with the first manifold 12,
in fluid connection
with the teeter water discharging means 10. This preferred embodiment of the
method of the
invention comprises preferably a step for connecting the opposite second end
13 of each teeter
water pipe 8, which are in fluid connection with the first manifold 12, in
fluid connection with a
second manifold 14 of the teeter water discharging means 10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
first valve means 15 to the teeter water discharging means 10 to adjust the
amount of teeter water


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9 that is discharged from the teeter water discharging means 10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
first valve means 15 to the teeter water discharging means 10 to adjust the
amount of teeter water
9 that is discharged from the teeter water discharging means 10. This
preferable embodiment of
the method includes a step for measuring by means of a first flow measuring
means 17 the
amount of inflowing teeter water 9 flowing into the teeter water distributor
means 7 and a step
for measuring by means of a second flow measuring means 19 the amount of
outflowing teeter
water 9 flowing from the teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable
embodiment of the
method includes a step for calculating the difference between the inflowing
teeter water 9 and
the outflowing teeter water 9, and a step for controlling the first valve
means 15 in accordance
with the calculated difference to adjust the flow in the teeter water
discharging means 10, in
other words to adjust the flow of teeter water 9 flowing through the inner
space 3 of the body 2
of the hindered-bed separator 1. Figure 3 and 5 illustrates arrangements
suitable for this preferred
embodiment. In this preferred embodiment the amount of teeter water entering
the inner space 3
of the body 2 of the hindered-bed separator 1 can also be calculated by means
of the calculated
difference, i.e. the amount of teeter water 9 going into the separation
process can also be
calculated from the calculated difference.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
first valve means 15 to the teeter water discharging means 10 to adjust the
amount of teeter water
9 discharged from the teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable
embodiment of the
method includes a step for measuring by means of a pressure measuring means 39
the pressure
of inflowing teeter water 9 flowing into the teeter water distributor means 7.
This preferable
embodiment of the method includes a step for controlling the first valve means
15 in accordance
with the measured pressure to adjust the flow in the teeter water discharging
means 10, in other
words to adjust the flow of teeter water flowing through the inner space 3 of
the body 2 of the
hindered-bed separator. Figure 3 and 4 illustrate arrangements suitable for
this preferred
embodiment.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
first valve means 15 in the teeter water discharging means 10 to adjust the
amount of teeter water
9 discharged from the teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable
embodiment of the
method of the invention includes steps for controlling the first valve means
15 by means of a
timer 40 for example according to a pre-set time schedule. Figure 3 and 8
illustrate arrangements
suitable for this preferred embodiment.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
second valve means 16 in the at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the
teeter water discharging means 10 and a step for controlling the second valve
means 16 to adjust
the amount of teeter water flowing from said at least one teeter water pipe 8
that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means 10 into said teeter water
discharging means


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10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method of the invention
a step
for arranging second valve means 16 in all the teeter water pipes 8 that are
in fluid connection
with the teeter water discharging means 10 and a step for individually
controlling the second
valve means 16 to individually adjust the amount of teeter water flowing from
each teeter water
pipe 8 into said teeter water discharging means 10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
second valve means 16 in the at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the
teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of
the invention
includes a step for measuring by means of a first flow measuring means 17 the
amount of
inflowing teeter water 9 flowing into said at least one teeter water pipe 8
that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means 10 and a step for measuring
by means of a
second flow measuring means 19 the amount of outflowing teeter water 9 flowing
from said at
least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the teeter
water discharging means
10. This preferable embodiment of the method of the invention includes a step
for calculating the
difference between the inflowing teeter water 9 and the outflowing teeter
water 9 and a step for
controlling the second valve means 16 in accordance with the calculated
difference to adjust the
flow in said at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with
the teeter water
discharging means 10, in other words to adjust the flow of teeter water
flowing through the inner
space 3 of the body 2 of the hindered-bed separator I in said at least one
teeter water pipe 8 that
is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
second valve means 16 in the at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the
teeter- water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method
of the invention
includes steps for measuring by means of a first pressure measuring means 39
the pressure of
teeter water 9 flowing into said teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the teeter
water discharging means 10 and for controlling the second valve means 16 in
accordance with
the measured pressure to adjust the flow in said at least one teeter water
pipe 8 that is in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means 10, in other words to
adjust the flow of teeter
water flowing through the inner space 3 of the body 2 of the hindered-bed
separator 1 in said at
least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the teeter
water discharging means
10. Figure 10 illustrate an arrangement suitable for this preferred
embodiment.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging a
second valve means 16 in said at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in
fluid connection with the
teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of
the invention
includes steps for controlling the second valve means 16 with a timer 40 for
example in
accordance with a pre-set schedule. Figure 9 illustrates an arrangement
suitable for this preferred
embodiment.

AMENDED SHEET (IPEA/FI)


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The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging
second valve means 16 in all the teeter water pipes 8 that are in fluid
connection with the teeter
water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of the
invention
includes a step for individually measuring the amount of inflowing teeter
water 9 flowing into
each teeter water pipe 8 that are in fluid connection with the teeter water
discharging means 10
and a step for individually measuring the amount of teeter water 9 flowing out
from each teeter
water pipe 8 that are in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging
means 10 into the
teeter water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of
the invention
includes a step for calculating the difference between the inflowing teeter
water and the
outflowing teeter water in each individual teeter water pipe 8 that are in
fluid connection with the
teeter water discharging means 10 and a step for controlling each second valve
means 16 in each
teeter water pipe 8 that are in fluid connection with the teeter water
discharging means 10 in
accordance with the calculated difference to individually adjust the flow in
each teeter water pipe
8 that are in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10, in
other words to
individually adjust the flow of teeter water 9 flowing through the inner space
3 of the body 2 of
the hindered-bed separator 1 in each individual teeter water pipe 8.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging
second valve means 16 in all teeter water pipes 8 that are in fluid connection
with the teeter
water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of the
invention
includes a step for measuring the pressure of teeter water 9 flowing into each
teeter water pipe 8
that are in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10 and
for individually
controlling each second valve means 16 in each teeter water pipe 8 in
accordance with the
measured pressure to individually adjust the flow in each teeter water pipe 8
that are in fluid
connection with the teeter water discharging means 10, in other words to
adjust the flow of teeter
water 9 flowing through the inner space 3 of the body 2 of the hindered-bed
separator 1
individually in each individual teeter water pipes 8.
The method comprises in a preferable embodiment of the method a step for
arranging
second valve means 16 in all the teeter water pipes 8 that are in fluid
connection with the teeter
water discharging means 10. This preferable embodiment of the method of the
invention
includes a step for individually controlling each second valve means 16 in
each teeter water pipe
8 with a timer 40 for example according to a pre-set time schedule.
Next the hindered-bed separator 1 for separating particles in a hydrous slurry
38 and
preferred embodiments and variations of the hindered-bed separator 1 will be
described.
The hindered-bed separator 1 comprises a body 2 defining an inner space 3.
The body 2 of the hindered-bed separator 1 shown in figure 1 has an upper part
21, a
middle part 22, and a lower part 23 and an open top 24 and a bottom 25
defining the inner space
3 with an upper portion 26, a middle portion 27, and a lower portion 28.
A teeter water distributor means 7 comprises teeter water pipes 8 is at least
partly


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arranged in the inner space 3 of the body 2 for introducing teeter water into
the inner space 3 of
the body 2 and directing water therefrom.
The teeter water distributor means 7 comprises a first manifold 12, an intake
pipe 32 for
introducing teeter water into the first manifold 12 and teeter water pipes 8
in fluid connection
with the first manifold 12. The teeter water pipes 8 are provided with
apertures 29 for
discharging teeter water from the teeter water pipes 8 into the inner space 3
of the body 2.
In the figures 2 to 10 the intake pipe 32 is provided with a third valve means
37.
In figure 1 the teeter water distributor means 7 is arranged for introducing
teeter water
into the lower portion 28 of inner space 3 of the body 2.
The hindered-bed separator 1 comprises also a teeter water discharging means
10 that is
in fluid connection with at least one teeter water pipe 8 for discharging
teeter water 9 from the at
least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the teeter
water discharging means
10 into the teeter water discharging means 10.
The hindered-bed separator 1 comprises also a feed well means 4 for
introducing hydrous
slurry 38 into the inner space 3 of the body 2.
In figure 1 the feed well means 4 for introducing hydrous slurry 38 into the
inner space 3
of the body 2 comprises a feed well 30 for feed material entering the hindered-
bed separator I
and a slurry introducer 31 for introducing hydrous slurry 38 into the feed
well 30.
The hindered-bed separator I comprises also an overflow launder means 5 for
discharging light particles 34 from the inner space 3 of the body 2.
In figure I the overflow launder means 5 is arranged adjacent to the open top
24 of the
body 2.
In figure 1 the overflow launder means 5 of the hindered-bed separator I
comprises also
an overflow weir 36 adjacent to the open top 24 of the body 2 for providing
flow containing light
particles 34 from the inner space 3 of the body 2 through the open top 24 of
the body 2 to the
overflow launder.
The hindered-bed separator I comprises also a coarse feed means 6 for
discharging heavy
particles from the inner space 3 of the body 2.
In figure I the coarse feed means 6 are arranged adjacent to the bottom 25 of
the body 2 .
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator I according to the
invention the
teeter water discharging means 10 comprises a second manifold 14 in fluid
connection with the
at least one teeter water pipe 8 and a return pipe 33 for discharging teeter
water from the second
manifold 14. The second manifold 14 is configured for receiving teeter water
from the at least
one teeter water pipe 8 and for discharging teeter water into the return pipe
33. The at least one
teeter water pipe 8 is preferably arranged between the first manifold 12 and
the second manifold
14.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 the teeter water
discharging
means 10 comprises a second manifold 14 in fluid connection with all teeter
water pipes 8 of the
AMENDED SHEET (IPEA/FI)


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teeter water distributor means 7 and a return pipe 33 for discharging teeter
water from the second
manifold 14. The second manifold 14 is configured for receiving teeter water
from all teeter
water pipes 8 of the teeter water distributor means 7 and for discharging
teeter water into the
return pipe 33. All teeter water pipes 8 of the teeter water distributor means
7 are preferably
arranged between the first manifold 12 and the second manifold 14.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, the hindered-bed
separator 1
comprises and first valve means 15 in the teeter water discharging means 10
for adjusting the
amount of teeter water 9 discharged from the teeter water discharging means 10
into a return
pipe 33. The first valve means 15 can be arranged in the return pipe 33 as
shown in figure 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, the hindered-bed
separator 1
comprises first flow measuring means 17 for measuring the amount of teeter
water flowing from
an intake pipe 32 into the teeter water distributor means 7, and second flow
measuring means 19
for measuring the amount of teeter water flowing out of the inner space 3 of
the body 2 via the
teeter water discharging means 10 into a return pipe 33. This preferred
embodiment of the
hindered-bed separator 1 comprises calculating means 18 for calculating the
difference between
the inflowing teeter water and the outflowing teeter water, and first valve
means 15 functionally
connected to the calculating means 18 for adjusting the amount of outflowing
teeter water in
accordance with the calculated difference. In this preferred embodiment also
the amount of teeter
water entering the inner space 3 of the body 2 of the hindered-bed separator 1
can be calculated
by means of the calculated difference, i.e. the amount of teeter water going
into the separation
process can also be calculated by means of the calculated difference.
In the preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 shown in figure 3
and 4, the
hindered-bed separator 1 comprises pressure measuring means 39 for measuring
the pressure of
teeter water flowing into the teeter water distributor means 7. In this
preferred embodiment a first
valve means 15 is functionally connected to the pressure measuring means 39
for adjusting the
amount of teeter water flowing into the return pipe 33 in accordance with the
measured pressure.
In the preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 shown in figure 3
and 8, the
hindered-bed separator 1 comprises a timer 40 functionally connected to first
valve means 15 in
the teeter water discharging means 10 for adjusting the amount of teeter water
9 flowing into a
return pipe 33 for example in accordance with a pre-set time schedule.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator a second valve means
16 is
arranged in at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with
the teeter water
discharging means 10 for adjusting the amount of teeter water 9 flowing from
said at least one
teeter water pipe 8 into the teeter water discharging means 10.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 the hindered-bed
separator 1
comprises first flow measuring means 17 for measuring the amount of teeter
water 9 flowing into
the at least one teeter water pipe 8 and second flow measuring means 19 for
measuring the
amount of teeter water 9 flowing out of the at least one teeter water pipe 8.
This preferred


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embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 comprises calculating means 18 for
calculating the
difference between the inflowing teeter water and the outflowing teeter water,
and second valve
means 16 functionally connected to the calculating means 18 for adjusting the
amount of
outflowing teeter water in accordance with the calculated difference.
The preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 shown in figure 6
comprises
first flow measuring means 17 for measuring the amount of inflowing teeter
water flowing into
each individual teeter water pipe 8 and second flow measuring means 19 for
measuring the
amount of outflowing teeter water flowing out of the body 2 via each
individual teeter water pipe
8. This preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 comprises
calculating means 18
for calculating the difference between the inflowing teeter water and the
outflowing teeter water
in each teeter water pipe 8, and second valve means 16 functionally connected
to the calculating
means 18 for adjusting the amount of outflowing teeter water in accordance
with the calculated
difference in each teeter water pipe 8. For clarity reasons figure 6 is
simplified so that only one
teeter water pipe 8 is in figure 6 provided with a first flow measuring means
17, second flow
measuring means 19, calculating means 18, and a second valve means 16.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, the hindered-bed
separator 1
comprises first flow measuring means 17 for measuring the amount of inflowing
teeter water
flowing into the at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection
with the teeter water
discharging means 10. This preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator
1 according to
the invention comprises control means 20 for controlling that the amount of
inflowing teeter
water flowing into the at least one teeter water pipe 8 exceeds a pre-set
value and second valve
means 16 functionally connected to the control means 20 for increasing the
amount of inflowing
teeter water flowing into the at least one teeter water pipe 8 if the measured
amount is below the
pre-set value.
The preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 shown in figure 7
comprises
first flow measuring means 17 for measuring the amount of inflowing teeter
water flowing into
each individual teeter water pipe 8. This preferred embodiment of the hindered-
bed separator 1
according to the invention comprises control means 20 for controlling that the
amount of
inflowing teeter water flowing into each individual teeter water pipe 8
exceeds a pre-set value
and second valve means 16 functionally connected to the control means 20 for
increasing the
amount of inflowing teeter water flowing into each teeter water pipe 8 if the
measured amount is
below the pre-set value. For clarity reasons figure 7 is simplified so that
only one teeter water
pipe 8 is in figure 7 provided with a first flow measuring means 17, control
means 20, and a
second valve means 16.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, the at least teeter
water pipe 8
that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10
comprises first pressure
measuring means 39 for measuring the pressure in the teeter water flowing into
the at least teeter
water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging
means 10. In this


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preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1 the first pressure
measuring means 39 is
functionally connected to a second valve means 16 for adjusting the amount of
teeter water
flowing out the at least one teeter water pipe 8 that is in fluid connection
with the teeter water
discharging means 10 into the teeter water discharging means 10 in accordance
with the pressure
measured by the first pressure measuring means 39.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, all teeter water
pipes 8 are in
fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10 and all teeter
water pipes 8 comprise
first pressure measuring means 39 for measuring the pressure of the teeter
water flowing into
each teeter water pipe 8. In this preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed
separator 1 each first
pressure measuring means is functionally connected to a second valve means 16
arranged in each
teeter water pipe 8 for individually adjusting the amount of teeter water
flowing out of each
teeter water pipe 8 into the teeter water discharging means 10 in accordance
with the pressure
measured by the first pressure measuring means 39.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, the at least teeter
water pipe 8
that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10
comprises second valve
means 16 for adjusting the amount of teeter water flowing out of the at least
one teeter water pipe
8 into the teeter water discharging means 10 and a timer 40 that is
functionally connected to the
second valve means for adjusting the amount of teeter water 9 flowing into the
teeter water
discharging means 10 for example in accordance with a pre-set time schedule.
In a preferred embodiment of the hindered-bed separator 1, all the teeter
water pipes 8
that are in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means 10
comprise second valve
means 16 for adjusting the amount of teeter water flowing out of the teeter
water pipe 8 into the
teeter water discharging means 10 and a timer 40 that is functionally
connected to the second
valve means for adjusting the amount of teeter water 9 flowing into the teeter
water discharging
means 10 based on a time schedule.
It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the
basic idea of
the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its
embodiments are
therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the
scope of the claims.


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List of reference numerals
1. Hindered-bed separator
2. Body
3. Inner space
4. Feed well means
5. Overflow launder means
6. Coarse feed means
7. Teeter water distributor means
8. Teeter water pipe
9. Teeter water
10. Teeter water discharging means
11. First end
12. First manifold
13. Opposite second end
14. Second manifold
15. First valve means
16. Second valve means
17. First flow measuring means
18. Calculating means
19. Second flow measuring means
20. Control means
21. Upper part
22. Middle part
23. Lower part
24. Open top
25. Bottom
26. Upper portion
27. Middle portion
28. Lower portion
29. Apertures
30. Feed well
31. Slurry introducer
32. Intake pipe
33. Return pipe
34. Light particles
35. Heavy particles
36. Overflow weir
37. Third valve means


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38. Hydrous slurry
39. Pressure measuring means
40. Timer

Representative Drawing