Envirotech Corporation

Baker Hughes Corporation

Robert C Emmett, Jr

Lawrence T O'Connor

Gunter H Brox

Bruce C Wojcik

Frank A Baczek

Leonard J Wood

Timothy J Laros

Simon D Turner

James K Dicksa

Douglas E Hanify

Steven P Duncan

Lawrence L Tuttle

Robert D Cook

Benjamin K Pocock

Stanley D Heden

Roger P Summerhays

William J Grove, Jr

A self-diluting feedwell for a thickener or settling tank includes a delivery pipe for providing an influent feed stream of slurry, a nozzle for directionally discharging the influent feed stream, and an eductor structure including a launder zone for receiving the nozzle discharge, a throat zone for creating a reduced pressure area for eduction of diluent into the launder zone, and a discharge zone for dispensing the diluted influent into a thickener or settling tank.

Self-diluting feedwell for thickener dilution

Self diluting feedwell for thickener dilution

A reactor vessel for use in treating slurries containing minerals, soils or sludges contaminated with toxic organic substances is disclosed. The vessel includes a tank, having a sealed cover, a mixer arrangement, an air supply arrangement and an exhaust gas recycling system. The air supply arrangement includes one or more porous, flexible membrane diffusers adapted for introducing gas, in the form of fine bubbles, into a tank-contained slurry.

Bioslurry reactor for treatment of slurries containing minerals, soils

A transportable apparatus for biological treatment of a slurry of contaminated materials, including a series of square reactor cells having substantially parabolic lower portions, set at the same elevation and communicating in series. Gas diffusers are placed in each cell for aerating and mixing the slurry, and an airlift slurry transport system is employed for recirculating the slurry. The apparatus also has applicability to the treatment of water and waste water.

Multi-cell transportable bioslurry reactor

A reactor vessel for use in treating slurries containing minerals, soils or sludges contaminated with toxic organic substances is disclosed. The vessel includes a tank, having a sealed cover, a mixer arrangement, an air supply arrangement and an exhaust gas recycling system. The air supply arrangement includes one or more porous, flexible membrane diffusers adapted for introducing gas, in the form of fine bubbles, into a tank contained slurry.

An apparatus for use in bioleach processing of metal-bearing solids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a containment means adapted for containing a slurry made up of metal-bearing solids, a predetermined quantity of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and a species of microorganisms capable of oxidizing some portion of the metal-bearing solids and obtaining energy for growth from that oxidation. The apparatus further includes a plurality of horizontally oriented porous, flexible membrane diffusers adapted for introducing oxygen into the bottom of the reactor vessel in the form of small widely dispersed bubbles.

Apparatus for biological processing of metal-containing ores

A method and attendant apparatus for use in bioleach processing of metal-bearing solids is disclosed. The method includes the placement into a tank of metal-bearing solids, a predetermined quantity of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and a species of microorganisms capable of oxidizing some portion of the metal-bearing solids and obtaining energy for growth from that oxidation. The slurry formed by this placement is continuously filtered to remove process delimiting metabolic end products products by the oxidation reaction. The ratios of the various slurry components are monitored and controlled to effectuate an optimized environment for oxidation to occur. The attendant apparatus includes a means of introducing oxygen into the bottom of the reactor vessel in the form of small widely dispersed bubbles.

Method and apparatus for biological processing of metal-containing ores

A reactor for use in processing metal bearing solids by means of a bioleaching technique is disclosed. The reactor includes an open topped basin, a gantry adapted for displacement along the length of that basin and an agitation means mounted on that gantry for use in agitating a slurry retained within the basin. An air injection system having a plurality of membrane diffusers is positioned within the basin.

Bioleaching apparatus and system

A method and attendant apparatus for use in bioleach processing of metal-bearing solids is disclosed. The method includes the placement into a tank of metal-bearing solids, a predetermined quantity of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and a species of microorganisms capable of oxidizing some portion of the metal-bearing solids and obtaining energy for growth from that oxidation. The slurry formed by this placement is continuously filtered to remove process delimiting metabolic end products produced by the oxidation reaction. The ratios of the various slurry components are monitored and controlled to effectuate an optimized environment for oxidation to occur. The attendant apparatus includes a means of introducing oxygen into the bottom of the reactor vessel in the form of small widely dispersed bubbles.

Method for biological processing of metal-containing ores

Apparatus for biological processing of metal containing ores

A lime slaking system for hydration of lime and removal of unwanted grit, particularly for formation of reactive slaked lime to be used in SO.sub.2 scrubbing of effluent gases, comprising a series of slaking vessels (10, 12) for reacting CaO and water while agitating the reactants, a dilution mix tank (14) receiving a viscous slaked lime slurry from the vessels, diluent for the dilution tank comprising an upstream classifier overflow stream (16), a cyclone (19) receiving pumped diluted slurry from tank (14), the overflow (21) of the cyclone providing usable slaked lime product and the underflow (22) exiting to the upstream classifier (24) where grit materials are separated and removed. Dilution for effective classification is provided by spent scrubbing process water containing appreciable sulfate ions. Detention time is such in the classifier (24) along with presence of a prescribed amount of slaked lime exiting the cyclone underflow (22), to allow precipitation of the sulfate ion as gypsum in the classifier (24) to prevent scaling in the gas scrubbing equipment. Optionally an attrition machine (30 ) may be incorporated along with a subsequent classifier (32) to recover any occluded slaked lime particles reporting with the grit discharge (27) from classifier (24).

Lime slaking system including a cyclone and classifier for separating

A lime slaking system for hydration of lime and removal of unwanted grit, particularly for formation of reactive slaked lime to be used in SO.sub.2 scrubbing of effluent gases, comprising a series of slaking vessels (10,12) for reacting CaO and water while agitating the reactants, a dilution mix tank (14) receiving a viscous slaked lime slurry from the vessels, diluent for the dilution tank comprising an upstream classifier overflow stream (16), a cyclone (19) receiving pumped diluted slurry from tank (14), the overflow (21) of the cyclone providing usable slaked lime product and the underflow (22) exiting to the upstream classifier 24 where grit materials are separated and removed. Dilution for effective classification is provided by spent scrubbing process water containing appreciable sulfate ions. Detention time is such in the classifier (24) along with presence of a prescribed amount of slaked lime exiting the cyclone underflow (22), to allow precipitation of the sulfate ion as gypsum in the classifier (24) to prevent scaling in the gas scrubbing equipment. Optionally an attrition machine (30) may be incorporated along with a subsequent classifier (32) to recover any occluded slaked lime particles reporting with the grit discharge (27) from classifier (24).

Lime slaking and grit removal process utilized in SO.sub.2 removal

A slurry electrowinning apparatus includes a tank (10) in which are mounted alternating, spaced-apart anode (18) and cathode (20) electrodes. An inlet opening (60) is formed in a side of the tank (10) for introducing a copper-bearing electrolyte to the tank (10). An overflow opening (76) is also formed in a side of the tank (10) such that a solution level (62) is maintained in the tank (10) which is above the inlet opening (60). Baffles (64) are mounted within the tank (10) for evenly distributing the slurry within the tank (10) between the anodes (18) and cathodes (20). Both the anodes (18) and the cathodes (20) are supported within the tank (10) by electrode guides (22) such that a high pressure contact between the electrodes (18, 20) and the main electrical bussing (78) is provided.

Slurry electrowinning apparatus

Apparatus for countercurrent washing of finely divided solids comprising a vertical tank divided by transverse plates into a plurality of superimposed compartments, a single opening in each plate, a rake in each compartment for scraping settled solids on the plate to the opening, an inlet in the uppermost compartment for introducing solids, an outlet in the bottom of the lowermost compartment for discharge of settled solids, a wash liquor inlet in a lower zone of the lowermost compartment, a wash liquor outlet in the uppermost compartment for liquid discharge and valves for regulating the rate of introduction of both solids at the top of the tank and wash liquor at the bottom. Tubular components may depend from the edge of the single opening in each plate.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Robert C Emmett, Jr