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Title: Separation of solids by varying the bulk density of a fluid separating medium

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating objects having a density greater than a selected density value from objects having a density less than said selected density value. The method typically comprises: (a) providing a separation vessel having an upper and lower portion, said vessel containing a liquid having a density exceeding said selected density value; (b) reducing the apparent density of the liquid to said selected density value by introducing solid, bubble-like bodies having a density less than that of the liquid into the lower portion of the vessel and permitting them to rise therethrough; (c) introducing the objects to be separated into the separation vessel and permitting the objects having a density greater than the apparent density of the liquid to sink to the lower portion of the vessel, while the objects having a density less than said selected density value float in the upper portion of the vessel; and (d) separately removing the higher density objects in the lower portion and the lower density objects in the upper portion from the separation vessel. The apparatus typically comprises: (a) a vessel containing a liquid having a density such that at least part of said objects having a density exceedingmore » said selected density value will float therein; (b) means to place said objects into said vessel; (c) means to reduce the effective density of at least a portion of said liquid to said selected density value, whereby said objects having a density exceeding said selected density value sink into said liquid and said objects having a density less than said selected density value remain afloat, said means to adjust the effective density comprising solid, bubble-like bodies having a density less than said selected density value and means for introducing said bodies into said liquid; and (d) means for separately removing said objects having a density exceeding said selected density value and said objects having a density less than said selected density value from said vessel.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Richland, WA
  2. Brea, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
863174
Patent Number(s):
4111798
Assignee:
Battelle Development Corporation (Columbus, OH)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B03 - SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS B03B - SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
separation; solids; varying; bulk; density; fluid; separating; medium; method; apparatus; selected; value; typically; comprises; providing; vessel; upper; portion; containing; liquid; exceeding; reducing; apparent; introducing; solid; bubble-like; bodies; permitting; rise; therethrough; separated; sink; float; separately; removing; therein; means; reduce; effective; whereby; remain; afloat; adjust; comprising; typically comprises; bulk density; selected density; upper portion; vessel containing; density value; separation vessel; comprising solid; introducing solid; typically comprise; /209/252/

Citation Formats

Peterson, Palmer L, Duffy, James B, and Tokarz, Richard D. Separation of solids by varying the bulk density of a fluid separating medium. United States: N. p., 1978. Web.
Peterson, Palmer L, Duffy, James B, & Tokarz, Richard D. Separation of solids by varying the bulk density of a fluid separating medium. United States.
Peterson, Palmer L, Duffy, James B, and Tokarz, Richard D. Sun . "Separation of solids by varying the bulk density of a fluid separating medium". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863174.
@article{osti_863174,
title = {Separation of solids by varying the bulk density of a fluid separating medium},
author = {Peterson, Palmer L and Duffy, James B and Tokarz, Richard D},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus for separating objects having a density greater than a selected density value from objects having a density less than said selected density value. The method typically comprises: (a) providing a separation vessel having an upper and lower portion, said vessel containing a liquid having a density exceeding said selected density value; (b) reducing the apparent density of the liquid to said selected density value by introducing solid, bubble-like bodies having a density less than that of the liquid into the lower portion of the vessel and permitting them to rise therethrough; (c) introducing the objects to be separated into the separation vessel and permitting the objects having a density greater than the apparent density of the liquid to sink to the lower portion of the vessel, while the objects having a density less than said selected density value float in the upper portion of the vessel; and (d) separately removing the higher density objects in the lower portion and the lower density objects in the upper portion from the separation vessel. The apparatus typically comprises: (a) a vessel containing a liquid having a density such that at least part of said objects having a density exceeding said selected density value will float therein; (b) means to place said objects into said vessel; (c) means to reduce the effective density of at least a portion of said liquid to said selected density value, whereby said objects having a density exceeding said selected density value sink into said liquid and said objects having a density less than said selected density value remain afloat, said means to adjust the effective density comprising solid, bubble-like bodies having a density less than said selected density value and means for introducing said bodies into said liquid; and (d) means for separately removing said objects having a density exceeding said selected density value and said objects having a density less than said selected density value from said vessel.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1978},
month = {1}
}