Method of manufacturing a separation fence and separation fence

Abstract

In a method for fabricating a separation fence (1) to be used in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, the fence is manufactured of polymer resin. The fence (1) is manufactured as a shell-like integral piece by rotational molding. The fence (1) is a rotationally molded shell-like integral piece.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a separation fence capable of being used in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, in which method the fence is manufactured of a polymer resin material and has a front wall and a rear wall, at least one of the front wall and rear wall defining outwardly directed bulges extending horizontally along the a respective width of the fence, to form complementary recesses on at least one respective inner surface of the fence, characterized in that the fence is manufactured as a shell-like integral piece by rotational molding.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises fabricating a mold composed of two mold halves, comprising a first mold half and second mold half, said mold halves having walls, the inner surface of which corresponds to the outline of the fence, supporting the mold to be rotational about two perpendicular axes, pouring a charge of a polymer resin material powder inside the first mold half, installing the second mold half on the first mold half to close the mold, rotating the mold around the two perpendicular axes, heating the mold while it is rotating around the two perpendicular axes to melt the polymer resin material and to disperse and stick it to the walls of the mold halves as a layer having a substantially even thickness and forming the fence, stopping the heating of the mold, cooling the mold, and opening the mold by separating the mold halves and removing the fence from the mould.

3. The method according to claim 2, including the step of performing finishing operations on the fence.

4. A separation fence capable of use in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, which fence is made of a polymer resin material, characterized in that the fence is a rotationally molded shell-like integral piece and has a front wall and a rear wall, at least one of the front wall and rear wall defining outwardly directed bulges extending horizontally along a respective width of the fence, to form complementary recesses on at least one inner surface of the fence.

5. The fence according to claim 4, characterized in that the fence has a general shape of a flat rectangular casing having a hollow inner space.

6. The fence according to claim 5, further comprising two vertical side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall.

7. The fence according to claim 6, further comprising an inlet opening located at the lower part of the front wall, said inlet opening being, in operation, adapted to receive a flow of dispersion to enter an inner space between the front wall and the rear wall, and an outlet opening located at the rear wall at an elevated level in relation to the inlet opening so that, in operation, the dispersion is forced to flow vertically in the inner space between the front wall and the rear wall and out through said outlet opening.

8. The fence according to claim 7, characterized in that the fence comprises trough-channels extending through the fence at the upper part of the fence at a level above the outlet opening.

9. The fence according to claim 7, characterized in that the polymer resin material comprises carbon fibers.

10. The fence according to claim 8, characterized in that the polymer resin material comprises carbon fibers.

11. The fence according to claim 4, characterized in that the polymer resin material comprises carbon fibers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate steps of the rotational moulding of the separation fence in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 6 shows an axonometric view of a separation fence according to one embodiment of the invention seen from the front side and obliquely from above,

(4) FIG. 7 shows an axonometric view of the separation fence of FIG. 6, seen from the rear side and obliquely from above, and

(5) FIG. 8 is a cross-section VIII-VIII of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In the method for fabricating a separation fence 1 to be used in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, the fence 1 is manufactured as a shell-like integral piece by rotational moulding.

(7) A mould 2 composed of two mould halves 2.sup.1, 2.sup.2 comprising a first mould half 2.sup.1 and second mould half 2.sup.2 is manufactured. The mould halves 2.sup.1, 2.sup.2 have walls, the inner surface of which corresponds to the outline of the fence 1. Preferably, the mould halves 2.sup.1, 2.sup.2 are made of sheet metal, and thus they have a thin metal wall with a good thermal conductivity.

(8) As shown in FIG. 1, the mould 2 is supported in a rotation moulding machine so that the mould is rotational about two perpendicular axes. A charge of a polymer resin material powder 3 is poured inside the first mould half 2.sup.1. The polymer resin material powder 3 may include suitable additives, such as carbon fibers.

(9) As shown in FIG. 1, the second mould half 2.sup.2 is installed on the first mould half 2.sup.1 to close the mould 2.

(10) As shown in FIG. 3, the mould 2 is placed into an oven wherein the mould 2 is heated while it is rotating around the two perpendicular axes. The heat melts the polymer resin material. Due to the rotational movement, the melted polymer resin material disperses and sticks to the wall of the mould 2 as a layer having a substantially even thickness and forming the fence 1.

(11) As shown in FIG. 4, after heating, the mould 2 is placed into a cooling station wherein the mould 2 is cooled by spraying a cooling fluid.

(12) As shown in FIG. 5, after cooling, the mould 2 is opened by separating the mould halves 2.sup.1, 2.sup.2 from each other. The fence 1 is removed from the mould.

(13) If needed, finally, finishing operations, such as machining, may be performed on the fence 1.

(14) FIGS. 6 to 8 show a separation fence 1 to be used in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, which fence is made of a polymer resin material.

(15) The fence 1 is a rotationally moulded shell-like integral piece that has a general shape of a flat rectangular casing having a hollow inner space 4. The fence 1 comprises a vertical front wall 5, a vertical rear wall 6, two vertical side walls 7, 8, a top wall 9 and a bottom wall 10.

(16) The front wall 5 comprises an inlet opening 11. The inlet opening 11 is located at the lower part of the front wall 5. In operation, the inlet opening 11 receives the flow of the dispersion which enters the inner space 4 between the front wall 5 and the rear wall 6 and is forced to flow upwards to an outlet opening 12 which is located at the rear wall 6 at an elevated level in relation to the inlet opening 11. In operation, the dispersion is discharged from the inner space trough said outlet opening 12.

(17) At the upper part of the fence 1, at a level above the outlet opening 12, the fence 1 comprises through-channels 13 extending through the fence.

(18) The front wall 5 and the rear wall 6 both comprise outwardly directed bulges 14 extending horizontally along the width of the fence 1. The bulges 14 form complementary recesses 15 at the inner surfaces of the fence facing the inner space 4. In operation, these recesses 15 enhance coalescence of the dispersion.

(19) It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the advancement of technology, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above; instead, they may vary within the scope of the claims.