Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Konzentrieren,Abtrennen und/oder Fraktionieren von in einer Fluessigkeit geloestem,kolloidal geloestem oder suspendiertem Material

1,144,243. Treating water. AXEL JOHNSON INSTITUTET FOR INDUSTRIFORSKNING. 28 Feb., 1966 [1 March, 1965], No. 8627/66. Heading C1C. [Also in Division B2] A method of separating or fractionating material(s) suspended or dissolved in a liquid comprises flowing a charge of the liquid, preceded and followed by a gas, through a channel whereby a concentration effect is obtained in the liquid as a consequence of the relative movement between the liquid and the channel, and progressively collecting the charge of liquid as it issues from the channel as two or more separate fractions. The method is applicable to the separation or fractionation of material(s) when suspended in a liquid; the separation of material from a liquid in which the material is suspended or dissolved; and the fractionation of a suspension or solution of material(s) in a liquid. In Fig. 1 a liquid suspension is introduced into an inlet chamber 1 and passes through a nest 2 of inclined tubes 14 in which fractionation takes place, the different fractions being collected in a collec - tor 3. The tubes are mounted in an end plate 21 and in an end wall 13 of the chamber 1. The chamber 1, the end plate 21 and the tubes rotate with a shaft 4 rotatably supported in bearings in brackets 9, 10. The collector 3 is stationary and is urged by a spring 6 against a flange of the end plate 21. The collector, Fig. 4, is divided internally into a number of compartments 15 by adjustable walls or scraper elements 16. In operation, the suspension to be treated enters the chamber 1 via an opening 12 and is maintained at a certain level therein so that there is space above the suspension for a gas, e.g. air. During rotation, the tubes become filled with plugs of suspension separated by the gas. As the plugs flow down the pipes, the concentration of material in suspension increases in the forward portion of each plug and gradually diminishes towards the trailing portion. Fractions of different concentrations delivered from the tubes are collected in the various compartments 15 and are discharged through pipes 19. Instead of the inclined arrangement, the shaft 4 and the tubes 14 may be horizontal and the inlet chamber 1 may be internally pressurized to give forced flow of liquid suspension through the tubes 14. In another embodiment, Fig. 5, a helical tube 32 is mounted on a rotatable inclined shaft 35, the lower end 33 of the tube at each revolution dipping into suspension contained in a vessel so that each turn of th