An enhanced gravity separation device rotates a plurality of rectangular section vessels about a central drive shaft. Each vessel has an array of closely spaced plates positioned with the vessel between outer regions and inner regions. A feed of mixed dense and less dense fluid matter is fed to the outer regions via a pipe and conduits, through the plate arrays and into the inner regions. Overflow of less dense matter reports to the inner regions and underflow of denser matter reports to the outer region. The vessels may be fluidized by liquid supplied into the outer regions via annulus and conduits.

A micro-fluidic device includes at least one inlet and a curvilinear microchannel having a trapezoidal cross section defined by a radially inner side, a radially outer side, a bottom side, and a top side, the cross section having a) the radially inner side and the radially outer side unequal in height, or b) the radially inner side equal in height to the radially outer side, and wherein the top side has at least two continuous straight sections, each unequal in width to the bottom side.

A micro-fluidic device includes at least one inlet and a curvilinear microchannel having a trapezoidal cross section defined by a radially inner side, a radially outer side, a bottom side, and a top side, the cross section having a) the radially inner side and the radially outer side unequal in height, or b) the radially inner side equal in height to the radially outer side, and wherein the top side has at least two continuous straight sections, each unequal in width to the bottom side.

A bucket for collection of particulate material in a flowing body of water includes a tubular wall with a closed rear end and an open mouth at a forward end connected to an elongate tether allowing the bucket body to be deposited when empty into a channel in the flowing body of water and to be retrieved from the body of water when filled with particulate material from the channel. A weight bar is mounted internally along the lower face causing the bucket to lie in the channel with the lower face downward. A pipe has an open end adjacent the closed rear end and communicates water to an opening in the upper face for escape allowing more to enter. A movable grate at the open mouth catches stones and can be actuated to discharge the stones.

A classifier cleaning and optimization device is provided. The device includes a chamber that is adapted to contain a fluidized bed, an array of two or more adjacently arranged inclined plates positioned above the fluidized bed wherein an inclined channel is formed between each pair of adjacent inclined plates, and a means for introducing a process liquid into the chamber between the fluidized bed and the array of inclined plates such that in use, the process fluid travels through at least one of the inclined channels. A method of cleaning the separation section of a classifier is also disclosed herein.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for removing an underflow stream and in particular to an apparatus and method for removing an underflow stream from a separator. The invention has been developed primarily for use with a mineral particle separator.

One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for removing an underflow stream from a separator, said separator having a discharge outlet for discharging said underflow stream, said apparatus comprising: a source of pressurised fluid; a first conduit for fluidly connecting said pressurised fluid source to said discharge outlet such that said pressurised fluid is directed to impede the flow of said underflow stream in said first conduit, thereby creating a fluidisation zone, and a second conduit fluidly connected to said first conduit so that material from said fluidisation zone flows into said second conduit for removal from said apparatus.

A water treatment system including an enclosure for water to be treated, a multiplicity of biomass carriers located within the enclosure, at least one airlift in the enclosure for raising the water and the biomass carriers and at least one mechanical biomass carrier accumulated residue removal apparatus operative to remove accumulated residue from the biomass carriers.

A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as “a three-dimensional separation”.

Field flow fractionation device includes a channel switching unit for switching the connection of a second carrier fluid supply unit to any one of the second inlet port of an upper separation cell, the first inlet port of a lower separation cell, or the second inlet port of a lower separation cell. Furthermore, the second carrier fluid supply unit is connected to the second inlet port of an upper separation cell during the process of focusing to generate flow of carrier fluid counter to the flow of carrier fluid from the first inlet port within the upper separation cell, whereas the second carrier fluid supply unit is connected to the first inlet port or the second inlet port of a lower separation cell after conclusion of focusing in the upper separation cell.

Field flow fractionation device includes a channel switching unit for switching the connection of a second carrier fluid supply unit to any one of the second inlet port of an upper separation cell, the first inlet port of a lower separation cell, or the second inlet port of a lower separation cell. Furthermore, the second carrier fluid supply unit is connected to the second inlet port of an upper separation cell during the process of focusing to generate flow of carrier fluid counter to the flow of carrier fluid from the first inlet port within the upper separation cell, whereas the second carrier fluid supply unit is connected to the first inlet port or the second inlet port of a lower separation cell after conclusion of focusing in the upper separation cell.