Processes of thickening slurries such as from metal and non-metal based ore processes are disclosed. The processes include treating a feed slurry in a thickener apparatus with an indifferent salt in sufficient quantity to increase efficiency of solids-liquid separation as compared to a feed slurry in the thickener apparatus without the added indifferent salt.

This sampling device for a coagulation treatment device (1) comprises at least: a sealed-type coagulation reaction tank to which is introduced water to be treated to which a flocculant has been added; and a solid-liquid separation tank to which is introduced the water to be treated that has been drawn from the coagulation reaction tank, the sampling device comprising a sampling tank, a coagulation sensor installed inside the sampling tank, and a water sending pipe (43) which sends, from the coagulation reaction tank of the coagulation treatment device to the sampling tank, a part of the water to be treated inside the coagulation reaction tank.

An arrangement and a method for controlling a dewatering process including measuring values representing operating parameters of the gravitational sedimentation device and using the values as input values for a predictive multivariable model for predicting an operating state of the gravitational sedimentation device. The disclosure further relates to obtaining reference values for the operating parameters, determining at least one predicted output for an operating parameter of the gravitational sedimentation device, and comparing the predicted output to at the reference values to determine control values that will affect changes in operation of the gravitational sedimentation device.

An arrangement and a method for controlling a dewatering process including measuring values representing operating parameters of the gravitational sedimentation device and using the values as input values for a predictive multivariable model for predicting an operating state of the gravitational sedimentation device. The disclosure further relates to obtaining reference values for the operating parameters, determining at least one predicted output for an operating parameter of the gravitational sedimentation device, and comparing the predicted output to at the reference values to determine control values that will affect changes in operation of the gravitational sedimentation device.

The invention relates to a tailings settling-dewatering-solidifying device and an experimental method thereof, which falls into the technical field of mine engineering and mine geotechnical engineering, comprising a tailings settling device including a water tank, charging barrels I and II, and a reaction tank made of a transparent material, a dewatering device including an intelligent type controller, a circular base, a gas cylinder, a permeable stone, a piston, a metal rod and a water return barrel, a solidifying device including a charging barrel III and a tailings barrel, a stirring system including a stirrer, a rotary shaft and an electric motor, a dynamic real-time monitoring system including a high-definition electronic camera and a computer, and a three-layer framework. Through integration of tailings settling-dewatering-solidifying, the device can effectively improve tailings treatment efficiency, facilitate data collection and analysis, adjust medicament concentration in real time, meet enterprises' requirements, and reduce enterprise cost.

The invention relates to a tailings settling-dewatering-solidifying device and an experimental method thereof, which falls into the technical field of mine engineering and mine geotechnical engineering, comprising a tailings settling device including a water tank, charging barrels I and II, and a reaction tank made of a transparent material, a dewatering device including an intelligent type controller, a circular base, a gas cylinder, a permeable stone, a piston, a metal rod and a water return barrel, a solidifying device including a charging barrel III and a tailings barrel, a stirring system including a stirrer, a rotary shaft and an electric motor, a dynamic real-time monitoring system including a high-definition electronic camera and a computer, and a three-layer framework. Through integration of tailings settling-dewatering-solidifying, the device can effectively improve tailings treatment efficiency, facilitate data collection and analysis, adjust medicament concentration in real time, meet enterprises' requirements, and reduce enterprise cost.

The invention relates to a water treatment plant comprising: means for supplying water for treatment, wherein said water has been coagulated previously, a flocculation-decantation device having means for dispensing at least one flocculant reagent, means for dispensing at least one ballast, means for extracting decantation sludge, means for discharging the treated water, means for separating said ballast contained in the ballasted sludge, and means for recycling the ballast that has been cleaned in this manner back into the flocculation-decantation device, characterised in that: said flocculation-decantation device has a single tank in the lower portion of which a stirring mechanism is arranged; wherein said single tank comprises slats in its upper portion; and said slats are separated from the stirring mechanism by a distance “d” which is between approximately 0.5 metres and approximately 3 metres. The invention also relates to a method using said plant.

The invention relates to a water treatment plant comprising: means for supplying water for treatment, wherein said water has been coagulated previously, a flocculation-decantation device having means for dispensing at least one flocculant reagent, means for dispensing at least one ballast, means for extracting decantation sludge, means for discharging the treated water, means for separating said ballast contained in the ballasted sludge, and means for recycling the ballast that has been cleaned in this manner back into the flocculation-decantation device, characterised in that: said flocculation-decantation device has a single tank in the lower portion of which a stirring mechanism is arranged; wherein said single tank comprises slats in its upper portion; and said slats are separated from the stirring mechanism by a distance “d” which is between approximately 0.5 metres and approximately 3 metres. The invention also relates to a method using said plant.

A flocculation and sedimentation apparatus has: sedimentation tank that causes flocs in raw water to be sedimented and separated; sludge concentration tank that is surrounded by sedimentation tank and that collects and concentrates the flocs; and raw water supply mechanism having center line that passes through sludge concentration tank, wherein raw water supply mechanism rotates about center line and supplies the raw water to sedimentation tank. Raw water supply mechanism includes: raw water introducing portion that is located on center line and to which the raw water is introduced, raw water supply port that is open at a lower portion of an inner space of sedimentation tank and that supplies the raw water to sedimentation tank, and pipe portion that communicates both with raw water introducing portion and with raw water supply port and that extends above sludge concentration tank in a direction away from center line.

A flocculation and sedimentation apparatus has: sedimentation tank that causes flocs in raw water to be sedimented and separated; sludge concentration tank that is surrounded by sedimentation tank and that collects and concentrates the flocs; and raw water supply mechanism having center line that passes through sludge concentration tank, wherein raw water supply mechanism rotates about center line and supplies the raw water to sedimentation tank. Raw water supply mechanism includes: raw water introducing portion that is located on center line and to which the raw water is introduced, raw water supply port that is open at a lower portion of an inner space of sedimentation tank and that supplies the raw water to sedimentation tank, and pipe portion that communicates both with raw water introducing portion and with raw water supply port and that extends above sludge concentration tank in a direction away from center line.