Gravity sedimentation
Gravity sedimentation or thickening is the most widely applied dewatering technique in mineral processing, and it is a relatively cheap, high-capacity process. The thickener is used to increase the concentration of the suspension by sedimentation, accompanied by the formation of a clear liquid (supernatant). The principal type of thickener consists of a cylindrical, largely open tank from which the clear liquid is taken off at the top (thickener “overflow”), and the suspension is transported by rotating rakes to discharge at the bottom (“underflow”).
- Thickener with central transmission
- Thickener with peripheral transmission
- High-efficiency thickener