A review on steeply inclined settlers for water clarification. (30th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reyes, Cristian; Apaz, Fernando; Niño, Yarko; Barraza, Belén; Arratia, Cristobal; Ihle, Christian F.
• Is Part Of: Minerals engineering. Volume 184(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-30
• Subjects: Lamella settlers -- High-rate settlers -- Super settlers -- Inclined plate settlers -- Tailings -- Water -- Clarification -- Mineral processing; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Mines and mineral resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107639
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-6875

Abstract

Highlights: Steeply inclined settlers (SIS) are low footprint solid liquid separators used for clarification purposes. A historical perspective exposing parallel alleys of fundamental and engineering research is provided. New advances and future development opportunities are discussed. Abstract: Steeply inclined settlers (SIS) are solid–liquid separators that feature close, inclined confining elements that allow significant settling enhancement when compared to vertical tanks, resulting in relatively low footprints at equal throughput. The present article reviews the working principle, flow configuration, capacity, and several technological advances related to this kind of equipment. The consistency of the Ponder, Nakamura and Kuroda theory, developed after the discovery of the Boycott effect in 1920, which is essential to the settling enhancement effect, and the engineering approach developed independently for the design of SIS settlers during the late 1960's, based on particle trajectory analysis, is established. A discussion about potential developments for future improvement of the technology is made, with emphasis on three main topical areas: improvements of settling element array, optimization of inlet conditions, and potential improvements of the design of settling elements. The application of the technology to the mining industry is discussed in the context of increasing water scarcity and the progressive ore grade decrease.