THICKENER

FIELD: separation of suspended particles from liquid. SUBSTANCE: thickener has housing provided with sediment discharge branch pipe, clarified liquid discharge branch pipes and starting suspension inlet branch pipe. Housing is made in form of truncated pyramid with vertex directed downward terminating in sediment discharge branch pipe. Housing has two or more tiers of settling members which are tightly and rigidly-detachably secured on load-bearing structure. Each said member is made in form of hermetic flat hollow structure, such as case whose wall is in contact with suspension; it is made from liquid and gas permeable material and other walls are made from non-corroding material. Cavity of each member is communicated with clarified liquid discharge pipe line system and with air duct system; provision is made for control equipment of high-pressure and low- pressure working medium supply, liquid drainage reservoir and high- pressure and low-pressure working medium sources. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency; reduced volume of device; increased unloading capacity. 2 cl, 2 dwg