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.

A method of separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising directing the plurality of particles (14) into a microchannel (12). A first portion (16) of particles (14) is focused into an equilibrium position in the microchannel (12). The focused first portion (16) is directed into a first outlet (18) aligned with the equilibrium position. A portion of the fluid is directed into one or more outlets (20, 22). A microfluidic device (10) for separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising a microchannel (12) having a first aspect ratio and a length L, thereby focusing the particles (14) directed therein into an equilibrium position in the microchannel, wherein at least a first portion (16) of the particles (14) focuses at distance X from a beginning of the microchannel (12). A first outlet (18) disposed after distance X and aligned with the equilibrium position to receive at least the first portion (16) of the particles (14) after the first portion (16) focuses into an equilibrium position in the microchannel (12). At least a second outlet (20) for receiving a second portion of the particles (14) before the second portion focuses into an equilibrium position.

A method of separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising directing the plurality of particles (14) into a microchannel (12). A first portion (16) of particles (14) is focused into an equilibrium position in the microchannel (12). The focused first portion (16) is directed into a first outlet (18) aligned with the equilibrium position. A portion of the fluid is directed into one or more outlets (20, 22). A microfluidic device (10) for separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising a microchannel (12) having a first aspect ratio and a length L, thereby focusing the particles (14) directed therein into an equilibrium position in the microchannel, wherein at least a first portion (16) of the particles (14) focuses at distance X from a beginning of the microchannel (12). A first outlet (18) disposed after distance X and aligned with the equilibrium position to receive at least the first portion (16) of the particles (14) after the first portion (16) focuses into an equilibrium position in the microchannel (12). At least a second outlet (20) for receiving a second portion of the particles (14) before the second portion focuses into an equilibrium position.

A method includes introducing at least one of a whole product or a milled product (e.g., corn) to an airflow (e.g., using a gravity hopper), directing the airflow into one or more accelerators, separating a first fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product from a second fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product in the one or more accelerators. For example, corn germ, starch, and bran components can be separated from one another.

A separator for separating granular material, such as seed, fertilizer or pesticide, from a material-laden airflow (FI) includes a separator zone (Z) having an inlet (11) for a material-laden airflow, a material outlet (13) and an air outlet (12, 12), and at least two separator parts (15, 15), which extend only substantially along a material flow (FM) in the separator zone (Z) and between which is formed a separator gap (12, 12), which is sufficiently narrow to allow air, but not the granular material, to pass through it. At the material outlet (13), the separator gap (12, 12) is at least partially open, viewed in a direction which is substantially parallel with the material flow (FM), so that material which gets stuck in the separator gap (12, 12) is allowed to leave this by means of displacement principally along the material flow (FM).

A separator for separating granular material, such as seed, fertilizer or pesticide, from a material-laden airflow (FI) includes a separator zone (Z) having an inlet (11) for a material-laden airflow, a material outlet (13) and an air outlet (12, 12), and at least two separator parts (15, 15), which extend only substantially along a material flow (FM) in the separator zone (Z) and between which is formed a separator gap (12, 12), which is sufficiently narrow to allow air, but not the granular material, to pass through it. At the material outlet (13), the separator gap (12, 12) is at least partially open, viewed in a direction which is substantially parallel with the material flow (FM), so that material which gets stuck in the separator gap (12, 12) is allowed to leave this by means of displacement principally along the material flow (FM).

A process for reforming the fly ash by heating a raw fly ash powder that contains the unburned carbon and thereby decreasing the content of the unburned carbon, characterized in that (a) as means for heating the raw fly ash powder, use is made of a heating unit that heats the raw fly ash powder by passing it through a heated medium-fluidized bed, (b) a high-temperature gas stream is passed through the heating unit to form the heated medium-fluidized bed and to fluidize and convey the raw fly ash powder that is thrown into the medium-fluidized bed, (c) the flow rate of the high-temperature gas stream is so set that the raw fly ash powder thrown into the heating unit is all heated in the medium-fluidized bed and is taken out from a take-out port provided at an upper part of the heating unit but that the particulate medium forming the medium-fluidized bed is not discharged from the take-out port, (d) the fly ash powder after heated and discharged from the take-out port of the heating unit is introduced into an air classifier where it is separated into a fine powder and a coarse powder, (e) the fine powder separated by the air classifier is recovered as the reformed fly ash, and (f) the coarse powder separated by the air classifier is measured for its content of the unburned carbon and when the measured value is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the coarse powder is introduced again into the heating unit so as to be heated again and when the measured value is smaller than the threshold value, the powder is recovered as the reformed fly ash.

A process for reforming the fly ash by heating a raw fly ash powder that contains the unburned carbon and thereby decreasing the content of the unburned carbon, characterized in that (a) as means for heating the raw fly ash powder, use is made of a heating unit that heats the raw fly ash powder by passing it through a heated medium-fluidized bed, (b) a high-temperature gas stream is passed through the heating unit to form the heated medium-fluidized bed and to fluidize and convey the raw fly ash powder that is thrown into the medium-fluidized bed, (c) the flow rate of the high-temperature gas stream is so set that the raw fly ash powder thrown into the heating unit is all heated in the medium-fluidized bed and is taken out from a take-out port provided at an upper part of the heating unit but that the particulate medium forming the medium-fluidized bed is not discharged from the take-out port, (d) the fly ash powder after heated and discharged from the take-out port of the heating unit is introduced into an air classifier where it is separated into a fine powder and a coarse powder, (e) the fine powder separated by the air classifier is recovered as the reformed fly ash, and (f) the coarse powder separated by the air classifier is measured for its content of the unburned carbon and when the measured value is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the coarse powder is introduced again into the heating unit so as to be heated again and when the measured value is smaller than the threshold value, the powder is recovered as the reformed fly ash.

A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.

A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.