Question

What are the differenates between batch thickeners and continue thickeners?

Answer 1

The process of gravity separation under hindered setteling environment is generally carried out by the conversion of the dilute slurry of fine particles to a clarified liquid and concentrated suspension. The large open tanks used for this process is called thickners.

Difference between batch and continuous thickeners.

In case of batch thickners, the sedimentation process is carried out in four simple steps

1. Fill up the slurry in the vessel

2. Slurry is kept for a predetermined time for settlement of the solid phase at the bottom

3. Decantation of the supernatant from the upper part of the vessel.

4. Collecting the settled underflow from the bottom of the thickner.

The above four cycles are repeated sequencely in batchwise manner.

However, in case of Continuous thickner, the total downward solid parts are divided into two parts,

1. The flux of solids which was carried by downflowing liquids

2.Settling of solids through liquid.

In continuous thickners the depth of the layers are usually constant unlike the batch process.