CLARIFIER / THICKENER

20 meter diameter ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifier/Thickener, Hunter Valley, Australia

CLARIFIER/THICKENER
CONTENTS CONTACT US
Patent Listing…………......................... CB-1
Advantages……………........................ CB-2
Principle…………….............................. CB-4
Operation….......................................... CC-1
Selection................................................ CC-2 152 Cregar Road
Separation Rates................................... CC-3 High Bridge, NJ 08829 USA
Control Systems Phone: 908.638.5507
Equipment Flow Diagrams................... CF-2 Fax: 908.638.4636
Legend for Symbols.............................. CF-3 email: [email protected]
Control Systems.................................... CF-4
Shipping Plans All information contained herein is approximate,
subject to change without notice, and not intended
3 Ft. to 26 Ft. Units............................... CG-2 to be used for construction. Enviro-Clear is a regis-
28 Ft. to 65 Ft. Units............................. CG-4 tered trademark. ©2005 Enviro-Clear Company, Inc.

The Enviro-Clear Clarifier/Thickener is covered by the following patents:

Argentina - 181.052; Australia - 438,566; 45031/79; Austria - 304,387; 874,846; Belgium - 742.129; Brazil - 6,914,496; Canada - 893.398; 1,133,398; Colombia -
3,669; Denmark - 132.648; Dominican Republic - 1.740; Egypt - 10.265; France - 69.40628; Germany - 19 59 212; Great Britain - 1.267.106; Holland - 165,659;
India - 4350; Iran - 8842; Ireland - 33.654; Italy - 878.480; Indonesia - 3198; Mexico - 115.507; Pakistan - 122.375; 127.183; Peru - 11.544; Phillippines - 6813;
Portugal - 53.755; South Africa - 69/7981; Spain - 379.992; 486.543; Sweden - 359.451; Switzerland - 506.313; Taiwan - 3998; United States of America -
3,523,889; 4,278,541; 4,314,985; 4,265,770; Venezuela - 26.076; Zaire - 80/2403; Zambia - 22/79. Additional patent applications pending.
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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

ADVANTAGES
The ENVIRO-CLEAR
1. FASTER SEPARATION ENVIRO-CLEAR
Clarifier/Thickener units operate at rates from two to thirty times
faster than conventional clarifiers and thickeners.
represents a
2. ACHIEVES SUPERIOR CLARITY EFFLUENT
significant advance in AND HIGH SOLIDS UNDERFLOW IN
ONE OPERATION
the technology of Conventional systems emphasize either
clarification or thickening. The ENVIRO-CLEAR
solids/liquid separation. system is a superior clarifier and, at the same
time, a highly efficient thickener.

3. BETTER CLARIFICATION
Effluent clarity is improved significantly. 20 ppm
solids are achieved in many ENVIRO-CLEAR
installations processing slurries of 40% initial
solids concentration.

4. HIGHER SOLIDS CONCENTRATION

Solids concentration in underflow is increased.
60% is obtained by ENVIRO-CLEAR units
processing feeds of 15% initial solids
concentration.

5. SPACE REQUIREMENT REDUCED

DOWN TO 1/10TH
Both height and area are reduced so that
ENVIRO-CLEAR units often require less than
one tenth of the space occupied by conven-
tional installations. This reduces the area of
the site and shortens interconnecting pipelines
resulting in a compact, easily maintained
installation. In hilly terrains, where level space
is at a premium, the small area required by
ENVIRO-CLEAR units is of added significance.
28 ft. diameter ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifier/Thickener operating
in series with 120 ft. diameter conventional thickeners. 6. REDUCED SIZE FACILITATES
New Mexico, USA. INDOOR INSTALLATION
The small size is important when units are to be
located indoors or where adverse climatic and
environmental conditions prevail.

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

7. SMALL SIZE REDUCES COST OF 11. ACCOMMODATES LARGE VARIATIONS

FULLY ENCLOSED UNITS OF PULP FEED AND OF SOLIDS
For volatile liquids and for streams at CONCENTRATION
elevated temperatures, the ENVIRO-CLEAR ENVIRO-CLEAR units do not require constant
Clarifier/Thickener is available as a fully feed or steady solids concentration. Some
enclosed unit. Here, the small size reduces units operate with fluctuations from -75%
expenditures in terms of capital investment to +50% of average feed. Feed solids
and plant operation. concentration may vary as much as 700%.

8. QUICK RESPONSE ASSURES 12. NOT SENSITIVE TO

TIGHT CONTROL TEMPERATURE CHANGE
Because of its radically reduced size, the The effects of temperature variations are
ENVIRO-CLEAR unit retains the material almost eliminated because of the unique
being processed for a very short period of design principle of the ENVIRO-CLEAR
time. This short retention time results in systems.
almost immediate response to control action.
Plant upsets are recognized quickly and 13. START-UPS AND SHUTDOWNS
corrected promptly. Maximum separating ARE FASTER
efficiencies are maintained at all times, The smaller size and the unique principle of
overcoming the sluggish control experienced ENVIRO-CLEAR units allow faster start-up
with many conventional units. and shutdown. Effluent clarity and underflow
concentration are established quickly and easily.
9. SHORT RETENTION TIME LIMITS
SECONDARY REACTIONS 14. BACKED BY WORLD-WIDE
In some processes. a prolonged retention OPERATING EXPERIENCE
of the solids or the liquids in the separator Over the past fifteen years, hundreds of
causes undesired secondary reactions. The ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifiers/Thickeners were
ENVIRO-CLEAR design reduces retention installed all over the world. New installations
time and thereby minimizes the extent of draw on this experience.
such reactions.
15. ENVIRO-CLEAR IS A CONTINUOUS
10. HANDLES WIDE RANGE OF SOLIDS/LIQUID SEPARATING SYSTEM.
PARTICLE SIZES
The unique design principle of the ENVIRO-
CLEAR system minimizes the effect of particle
size on its operation. Fine, coarse, and a
combination of fine and coarse particles
are separated successfully.

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

PRINCIPLE

The ENVIRO-CLEAR system of solids/liquid separation

efficiently utilizes chemical pre-treatment of the feed
with control of the reaction times. The ENVIRO-
CLEAR Clarifier/thickener is designed so that the
pre-treated feed is introduced at a controlled velocity
in a horizontal direction into an active setting zone.
This eliminates the free settling zone. Particles move
at random through the settling zone promoting addi-
tional agglomeration with resulting acceleration of
settling. The rakes aid in compaction of the solids
while moving them to the discharge boot. With this
system, the interface between the settling zone and
the clarified liquid zone is very sharp. The clearly
defined interface is used for basic control of the system.

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

OPERATION

PRE-TREATMENT
The pre-treatment depends on the chemical Mechanical or hydraulic rake drives are used for
characteristics, the solid concentration, the particle fixed or variable rake speeds. Rake lifting mecha-
size and the particle characteristics of the feed. nisms are available.
The requirements for pre-treatment are based
on operating records of production units already PROCESS CONTROL
in use or on test results developed by ENVIRO- The ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifier/Thickener can be
CLEAR laboratory and pilot plant systems. designed for manual and/or for automatic control.
In most applications, the pre-treatment consists It can be incorporated into a computerized plant
of simply adding an agglomerating agent to the control system. The position of the interface is
feed. Deaeration, pH adjustment, secondary the primary indicator; it is used to control the rate
agglomerating agent addition and variation of of underflow discharge.
reaction times are additional tools which are Ratio control of agglomerating and other chemical
available for pre-treatment of the feed. agents can be employed to fully automate this
unit-operation.
SEPARATION
Separation takes place in the ENVIRO-CLEAR
Clarifier/Thickener. The feed slurry is introduced
into the center of the unit. The vertical feed pipe
extends into the unit and is faced by a baffle
plate forcing the incoming feed into a horizontal
direction. The gap between the baffle plate
and the end of the feed pipe determines the
velocity with which the feed is introduced into
the settling zone.
Bottom inlet units introduce the feed through a
pipe located in the center of the underflow boot.
Side inlet units feed from above through a center
well surrounding the rake drive shaft.
The concentrated solids collect in the bottom of
the unit, where rotating rakes move the solids to
the centrally located mud boot from which they
are discharged. The discharge can be by gravity
flow or by pump suction. The clarified liquid is
discharged at the top over circumferential and
radial overflow weirs.

OTHER FEATURES
The shell portion of the ENVIRO-CLEAR
Clarifier/Thickener contains a vertical sightglass
for visual inspection of the operation and for
observation of the interface. Sensors are
Views of installation using eight 35 ft. diameter ENVIRO-
employed to either indicate or automatically CLEAR thickeners for counter-current washing of acid
control the interface level. leached uranium ore. New Mexico, USA.

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

EQUIPMENT SELECTION

The separation rate of a particular solids/liquid It should be noted that the separation rate of
mixture is the key to sizing the ENVIRO-CLEAR ENVIRO-CLEAR systems often exceeds that of
Clarifier/Thickener; it is defined as the quantity conventional systems by a factor of 30. The
of feed in gallons per minute processed using table printed below lists the flow capacity
one square foot of plan area (GPM/Sq. Ft.). (GPM) of the standard series of ENVIRO-CLEAR
The table on the next page lists some of the Clarifier/Thickeners as a function of various
separation rates obtained by ENVIRO-CLEAR separation rates. This table was developed by
systems. Because the separation rate is affected multiplying the plan area with the particular
by many factors, it is advisable for certain separation rate.
applications to carry out tests for the determi-
nation of optimum conditions.

UNIT SIZE SEPARATION RATE IN GPM/SQ. FT.

Diameter Area 1 2 3 4 5 6
FLOW FT. IN. SQ. FT. CAPACITY IN GALLONS PER MINUTE FEED, FLOW
3’-0” 7 7 14 21 28 35 42
CAPACITY 5’-0” 20 20 39 59 79 98 118
OF 7’-0” 38 38 77 115 154 192 231
9’-0” 64 64 127 191 254 318 382
ENVIRO-CLEAR 11’-0” 95 95 190 285 380 475 570
CLARIFIER/ 12’-6”
15’-0”
123
177
123
177
245
353
368
530
491
707
614
884
736
1060
THICKENERS 17’-0” 227 227 454 681 908 1135 1362
942 1257 1571 1885
Standard Series
20’-0” 314 314 628
23’-0” 415 415 831 1246 1662 2077 2493
(All figures rounded to 26’-0” 531 531 1062 1593 2124 2655 3186
nearest whole number.) 28’-0” 616 616 1232 1847 2463 3079 3695
30’-0” 707 707 1414 2121 2827 3534 4241
35’-0” 962 962 1924 2886 3848 4811 5773
40’-0” 1257 1257 2513 3770 5027 6283 7540
45’-0” 1590 1590 3181 4771 6362 7952 9543
50’-0” 1963 1963 3927 5890 7854 9817 11781
55’-0” 2376 2376 4752 7127 9503 11879 14255
60’-0” 2827 2827 5655 8482 11310 14137 16965
65’-0” 3318 3318 6637 9955 13273 16592 19910
70’-0” 3848 3848 7697 11545 15394 19242 23091
75’-0” 4418 4418 8836 13254 17671 22089 26507
80’-0” 5027 5027 10053 15080 20106 25133 30159
85’-0” 5675 5675 11349 17024 22698 28373 34047
90’-0” 6362 6362 12723 19085 25447 31809 38170
95’-0” 7088 7088 14176 21265 28353 35441 42529
100’-0” 7854 7854 15708 23562 31416 39270 47124
110’-0” 9503 9503 19007 28510 38013 47517 57020
120’-0” 11310 11310 22619 33929 45239 56549 67858

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TYPICAL SEPARATION RATES AND PERFORMANCE DATA

ENVIRO-CLEAR
COMPARATIVE
Application Volumetric Area Conventional
Separation Loading Thickener/
Feed Underflow Rate Rate Clarifier Rate
% solids % solids GPM/Sq.Ft. Sq. Ft./TPD
Alumina Red Mud Washing 10–15 30–40 0.5–1.0 1.5 10–40 Sq. Ft./TPD
Beet Sugar Flume Water 3–8 20–35 2–5 – –
Blast Furnace Scrubber Water 1–2 30–50 4–5 – 0.4–1.5 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Borate Tailings 5 35–45 1–2 2 –
Brine Purification 0.01–0.03 10–30 1.6–1.9 – 0.2–0.5 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Cane Sugar Wash Water 0.5–1.5 3–20 1–3 – –
Cement, Wet Process 10–15 40–50 2–3 0.3–0.8 –
Clean Coal Fines 1–7 25–40 2.5–4 0.6–2.8 0.4–0.5 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Coal Refuse 1–8 25–50 4–5 0.4–5.0 0.3–0.5 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Copper Concentrate 15–30 60–75 1.5–4.2 0.2–0.4 2.6 Sq. Ft./TPD
Copper, Leach Residue 5–15 45–55 1–3 0.3–1.5 –
Copper Ore, Ground 15–35 45–65 1–3 0.1–0.6 –
Copper Tailings 10–35 50–65 1–4.2 0.2–0.6 4–10 Sq. Ft./TPD
Diamond Tailings 10 45 3–4 0.45 –
Gold Ore, Cyanide Leached 10–33 40–60 1–4 0.3–0.8 5–13 Sq. Ft./TPD
Kaolin Slurry 1–6 20–30 2.5–3 – –
Lead Concentrate 20–40 60–80 3–9 0.1 2–6 Sq. Ft./TPD
Limed & Carbonated Beet Sugar Juice 1–5 15–23 3–5 – –
Limed Raw Cane Sugar Juice 0.5–1.5 3–9 1–3 – –
Lime Neutralized Pond Water (Phosphates)
- Partially Neutralized 2.7 30–40 2.4 2.5 –
- 2nd Stage Neutralized 2.5 13–20 1.7 3.9 –
Magnesium Hydroxide from Brine 9 25–50 3 0.5 60–100 Sq. Ft./TPD
Magnesium Hydroxide from Sea Water 2–6 10–25 0.7–4 1–10 100–250 Sq. Ft./TPD
Magnetite (Heavy Media) 12–18 60–70 4–7 0.1–0.2 3 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Metal Electro-Polishing Waste 0.1–0.2 1–1.6 0.5–1 – –
Mine Water Clarification – – 1–4 – –
Molybdenum Tailings 20–30 50–70 2–4 0.1–0.3 –
Paper De-Inking Waste 0.005–0.010 1–5 0.8–1.2 – 0.4–0.5 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Paper Mill Waste 0.05–0.40 0.3–9 0.8–3 – 0.5–0.9 GPM/Sq. Ft.
Paper White Liquor Clarification 8–10 30–40 0.6–1.5 1.5–3 8–10 Sq. Ft./TPD
Phosphate Slimes 2–8 12–18 2.8–3.3 0.6–1.2 –
Phosphoric Acid (30%) 0.5–8 16–50 0.5–2 – –
Potash (Clay-Salt Slurry) 0.5–1.2 6–10 1 – –
Sand Tailings 2–10 30–40 4–6 – –
Scrubber Water (FGD) 5–15 20–50 0.5–5 0.2–2 5–6 Sq. Ft./TPD
Silver Ore, Cyanide Leached 10–33 40–60 1–4 0.3–0.8 5–13 Sq. Ft./TPD
Soda Ash, Primary Feed 1–3 8–20 2–4 1–8 –
Steffen-Heated Cold Filtrate (Beet Sugar) 1 10 2–4 – –
Taconite Tailings 10–15 55–65 5–9 0.1–0.2 –
Tar Sand Tailings (Cyclone Overflow) 6–7 30–50 1–3 – –
Uranium Acid Leached Ore 10–30 45–65 1–5 0.1–0.6 1.5–6 Sq. Ft./TPD
Uranium Precipitate (Yellow Cake) 1–10 15–40 0.5–3 1–10 50–125 Sq. Ft./TPD
Zinc Concentrate 15–40 60–75 1.5–3.6 0.09–0.24 3–7 Sq. Ft./TPD
Zinc Middlings 5–10 60–70 2–4 0.3–0.8 –
Zinc Tailings 20–35 50–70 1–4 0.1–0.6 –
Zirconium (Extraction Liquor) 0.12 5–10 2 – –

GPM = U.S. gallons per minute • TPD = Short tons per 24-hour day
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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

Two 35 Ft. ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifier/Thickeners processing gold ore. Montana, USA.

ENVIRO-CLEAR CONTROL SYSTEMS

CONTACT US

152 Cregar Road

High Bridge, NJ 08829 USA
Phone: 908.638.5507
Fax: 908.638.4636
email: [email protected]

All information contained herein is approximate, subject to change without notice, and not intended to be used for construction. Enviro-Clear is a
registered trademark. ©2005 Enviro-Clear Company, Inc.

CF-1
 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

FLOW DIAGRAMS

BASIC SYSTEM

GENERAL PIPING AND INSTRUMENT DIAGRAM (P. & I.D.)

_____________ INDICATES BASIC FLOWS

___ _ ___ _ ___ INDICATES ADDITIONAL CONTROLS AND/OR FLOW SYSTEMS AVAILABLE DEPENDING UPON OPERATING CONDITIONS

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CONTROL SYSTEMS

Manual adjustment of a few valves often meets the

need for satisfactory operation of an ENVIRO-CLEAR
system. The basic diagram for such simple control is
shown on the next page.
ENVIRO-CLEAR systems can be equipped with a wide
choice of automatic control functions. The degree of
automation depends on the preferences of the user
and on the requirements of each operation. ENVIRO-
CLEAR engineers can analyze these requirements so
that the proposed system is balanced in terms of
capital investment, operating efficiency, maintenance
expense, and labor input. Optimum economies are
then built into the installation from its conception.
The system flow and control diagrams, shown in this
section, illustrate the wide range of functions from
which components for a particular application can
be selected.

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

POLYMER ADDITION INTERFACE LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEMS

pH CONTROL

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

ENVIRO-CLEAR SHIPPING PLANS

CONTACT US

152 Cregar Road

High Bridge, NJ 08829 USA
Phone: 908.638.5507
Fax: 908.638.4636
email: [email protected]

All information contained herein is approximate, subject to change without notice, and not intended to be used for construction. Enviro-Clear is a
registered trademark. ©2005 Enviro-Clear Company, Inc.

CG-1
 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

ENVIRO-CLEAR
Shipping Plan
3’-0” through
26’-0” Units
Series C

One of six 26 ft. ENVIRO-CLEAR Clarifier/Thickeners in manufacturing

plant. After match-marking, unit will be taken apart for easy field erection.
Nevada, USA

TANK PLAN
3’- 0” Through 11’- 0” Diameter One Piece.
12’- 6” Through 26’- 0” Diameter 2 Segments.

DRIVE COMPONENTS AND

LEVEL SENSING EQUIPMENT SHIPPED
IN SEPARATE CONTAINERS
PIP
FEE E
D

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CLARIFIER / THICKENER

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 CLARIFIER / THICKENER

ENVIRO-CLEAR
Shipping Plan
28’-0” through
65’-0” Units
Series C

Sectional design and match-marking of this unit

reduced field erection time.

TANK BOTTOM PLAN

DIAMETER - FT. NUMBER OF SECTIONS
28 6
E
30, 35 8 PIP ED
FE
40, 45 12
50, 55 14
60, 65 16

GE
DRIVE COMPONENTS AND RID
B
LEVEL SENSING EQUIPMENT SHIPPED
IN SEPARATE CONTAINERS

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CLARIFIER / THICKENER

CG-5