ANALYSIS OF SEMI-CONTINUOUS THICKENER USING A BATCH SETTLING CURVE

Abstract

Using the batch settling curve of a feed slurry instead of the solid flux curve, a graphical analysis for semi-continuous thickeners with cyclic bottom discharge is developed on the basis of the Kynch theory for the sedimentation of suspension and the Talmage and Fitch technique for the design of thickener area.
The analysis presented in this paper provides a method for predicting concentration distributions, the height of a discontinuity in concentration, and optimum operating conditions in semi-continuous thickeners. The values predicted by this method coincided well with experimental results for precipitated calcium carbonate slurries over a wide range of underloading or overloading operations.