A method and apparatus for washing sheets of plastic material originating from industrial and agricultural waste, for subsequent reuse thereof as a raw material. The sheets of plastic material, precut into soiled pieces of large dimensions, and a water flow are supplied to a washing tank containing a water bath; a screw stirrer generates intense stirring of the water bath and recirculation, inside the tank, of the soiled plastic pieces that causes the contaminating material to be detached and separated by sedimentation from the plastic pieces. The cleaned pieces of plastic material of large dimensions, devoid of contaminant, which float in the water bath are removed by dragging, in a floating condition, along a discharging channel by the combined action of a dragging device and of a water flow that exits the washing tank; the dragging device, consisting of an endless belt, extends from one side of the washing tank along the discharging channel, supported in a freely tiltable manner.

A particle separation device comprises a first flow path including a flow inlet, a second flow path connected to the first flow path, and a plurality of branch flow paths. Each of the plurality of branch flow paths is connected to the second flow path, and includes a flow outlet. The first flow path includes a bending unit, a first unit, and a second unit. In the bending unit, a direction in which a flow path extends is bent in a planar view. The first unit is located adjacent to the bending unit and closer to a flow inlet than the bending unit. The second unit is located adjacent to the bending unit and closer to a second flow path than the bending unit. A width of the second unit in the first flow path is smaller than a width of the first unit in the first flow path.

A particle separation device comprises a first flow path including a flow inlet, a second flow path connected to the first flow path, and a plurality of branch flow paths. Each of the plurality of branch flow paths is connected to the second flow path, and includes a flow outlet. The first flow path includes a bending unit, a first unit, and a second unit. In the bending unit, a direction in which a flow path extends is bent in a planar view. The first unit is located adjacent to the bending unit and closer to a flow inlet than the bending unit. The second unit is located adjacent to the bending unit and closer to a second flow path than the bending unit. A width of the second unit in the first flow path is smaller than a width of the first unit in the first flow path.

A reduced velocity tailings distributor is provided that has been designed to create a sheet flow of tailings, thereby allowing for greater sedimentation and fines capture closer to the discharge points of the distributor.

Systems and methods for treating aggregated material to separate out components thereof, using jetted water and/or screening apparatus, particularly to recover sand reusable in a fracking operation.

Systems and methods for treating aggregated material to separate out components thereof, using jetted water and/or screening apparatus, particularly to recover sand reusable in a fracking operation.

The separator according to the invention comprises: a tank (1) for receiving waste material and containing fluid to separate waste material by density into floating and settled material; automatic feed means (18, 37), for example, a double screen (18) to feed waste material to the tank (1); motorised conveyor belts (3, 4) divided into a floating waste material conveyor (3) and a settled waste material conveyor (4) to extract floating or settled waste material from the tank (1): and a blower-type sorting device (21) comprising: a turbine (22) that provides an airflow; and a branched duct (23) divided into: a riser duct (26) to transport part of the airflow to a diffuser (39) beneath the automatic feed means (18, 37) to raise light-weight waste material; and a discharge duct (27) to transport and horizontally expel another part of the airflow in order to remove previously raised waste material. The separator according to the invention may incorporate bubble-making means, with injectors (2) to facilitate floatability and remove floating waste material.

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.