Gravitational separator for separating solid components out of a liquid

Abstract

There is described a low energy separator for separating solid components out of a liquid mixture, comprising (a) a vessel having a cylindrical outer wall and a base at one end, (b) a body which is provided within the vessel and which defines with the base an annular opening spaced from the outer wall, (c) an inlet for introducing the liquid mixture into the vessel said inlet opening directly into the vessel, (d) an outlet in the upper region of the vessel for removing from the vessel liquid from which solid components have been separated, (e) a primary annular dip plate extending downwardly toward the base from an upper region of the vessel and spaced from the outer wall of the vessel, and (f) means for promoting a rotational movement of liquid and suspended solids within the vessel, said rotational movement being sufficient to cause or enhance an inward sweeping effect towards the annular opening on solids accumulated at the base of the vessel, while being of sufficiently low energy that separation of the solids components of the liquid in the vessel is brought about primarily by gravity; characterized in that the separator also includes a central upper chamber and a means for trapping and concentrating buoyant solids material which have already entered the vessel in said central upper chamber.