Thickener--where flocculants are mainly used

Thickeners — or Clarifiers, depending on the application — can be used to recover immediately reusable process water, as well as extract fines and other materials. Thickeners are used by mineral and aggregate producers, as well as by environmental contractors in industries such as wastewater management, to separate solids from liquid in a slurry.

Conventional Thickeners

Conventional thickeners are the most common type of thickeners used in mineral processing plants. They have a large tank, where the slurry is introduced and allowed to settle. As the slurry settles, the solids sink to the bottom of the tank, and the water rises to the top. A rake mechanism is used to move the settled solids toward the center of the tank, where they are removed through a discharge nozzle.

High-Efficiency Thickener

High-Efficiency thickeners are similar to conventional thickeners, but they have a smaller tank and a faster settling rate. This allows for higher throughput and a smaller footprint. The settled solids are removed through a discharge nozzle at the bottom of the tank.

Paste Thickeners

Paste thickeners are specialized thickeners that are used to produce a paste-like substance from the slurry. They use a higher concentration of solids and a slower settling rate to produce a thick paste. The paste is discharged through a nozzle at the bottom of the tank.

Counter-Current Decantation Thickeners

CCD thickeners are used in situations where there are multiple stages of thickening required. In a CCD thickener, the slurry is introduced into a series of tanks, each with a smaller tank than the previous one. As the slurry moves from tank to tank, the solids are separated and removed from the slurry.

Deep Cone Thickeners

Deep cone thickeners are used when a large number of solids need to be settled in a small space. They have a cone-shaped bottom that allows for a higher concentration of solids. The settled solids are removed through a discharge nozzle at the bottom of the cone.

Each type of thickener has its own advantages and disadvantages. Conventional thickeners are the most common and have a lower capital cost than other types. However, they have a large footprint and can be less efficient than other types of thickeners.

High-Efficiency thickeners are more efficient than conventional thickeners and have a smaller footprint. However, they have a higher capital cost than conventional thickeners.

Paste thickeners produce a paste-like substance that is easier to handle and transport. They have a higher capital cost than conventional and high-rate thickeners.

CCD thickeners are used in situations where multiple stages of thickening are required. They are more complex than other types of thickeners and have a higher capital cost.

Deep cone thickeners are used when a large number of solids need to be settled in a small space. They have a smaller footprint than conventional thickeners but have a higher capital cost.