Start-up method for draft tube mixing

1. A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a longitudinal axis, a mixing vessel, a draft tube having vertical slots extending a vertical slot distance at least partially between a first end and a second end of the draft tube, wherein the draft tube is disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within said draft tube, comprising:

filling the mixing vessel so that a solid suspension level is located at a height on the vertical slot distance of the suspension slots;

rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time, wherein said rotating of the impeller in the first rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a first axial direction along the longitudinal axis; and

rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction for a second period of time, wherein said rotating of the impeller in the second rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a second axial direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first axial direction.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rotating the impeller in the first rotational direction for the first period of time causes an up-pumping flow orientation within the draft tube.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of rotating the impeller in the second rotational direction for the second period of time causes a down pumping flow orientation within the draft tube.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the step of rotating the impeller in the first rotational direction occurs during start up of the mixing assembly and wherein the first period of time is a time period is sufficient enough to suspend the settled solids to uncover the suspension slots.

5. A method for a suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a longitudinal axis and a mixing vessel for containing liquid and solid materials, comprising:

disposing a draft tube within in the mixing vessel, wherein the draft tube has a side wall that further comprises a plurality of vertical slots each having tops and bottoms, wherein the vertical slots extend from adjacent the first end of the draft tube at least partially all the way to the second end of the draft tube, thereby extending a vertical slot distance and wherein the vertical slots are each tapered to have a bottom width that is greater than a top width thereof;

disposing an impeller within the draft tube;

filling the mixing vessel so that a solid suspension level is located at a height on the vertical slot distance of the suspension slots;

rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction; and

rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said rotating of the impeller in the first rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a first axial direction along the longitudinal axis.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said rotating of the impeller in the second rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a second axial direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first axial direction.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of rotating the impeller in the first rotational direction for the first period of time causes an up-pumping flow orientation within the draft tube.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of rotating the impeller in the second rotational direction for the second period of time causes a down pumping flow orientation within the draft tube.

10. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the draft tube comprises:

a first end;

a second end that opposes said first end; and

a curved side wall that extends between said first end and said second end.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a means for rotating the impeller.

12. The method according claim 10 , further comprising generally vertical flow control vanes arranged within the draft tube near the second end of the draft tube.

13. The method according claim 5 , wherein the vertical slots extend above the level of settled solids.

14. A mixing apparatus for mixing a liquid mixture or the like having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a mixing vessel;

a draft tube disposed within said mixing vessel, wherein the draft tube has a side wall that further comprises a plurality of vertical slots each having tops and bottoms, wherein the vertical slots extend from adjacent the first end of the draft tube at least partially all the way to the second end of the draft tube, thereby extending a vertical slot distance and wherein the vertical slots are each tapered to have a bottom width that is greater than a top width thereof;

an impeller disposed within said draft tube;

a shaft to drive said impeller;

a motor to drive said shaft; and

a controller to operate the motor to drive the shaft in a first direction and a second direction.

15. The mixing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein operation of said shaft in said first direction forces the liquid mixture to flow in a first axial direction along the longitudinal axis.

16. The mixing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein operation of said shaft in said second direction forces the liquid mixture to flow in a second axial direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first axial direction.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein operation of said shaft in the second direction for the causes a down pumping flow orientation within said draft tube.

18. The mixing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the operation of said shaft in the first direction causes an up-pumping flow orientation within said draft tube.

19. A mixing assembly for suspending settled solids in a liquid or the like, having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a mixing vessel;

a draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and having a side wall, wherein the side wall further comprises a plurality of vertical slots each having tops and bottoms, wherein the vertical slots extend from adjacent the first end of the draft tube at least partially all the way to the second end of the draft tube, thereby extending a vertical slot distance and wherein the vertical slots are each tapered to have a bottom width that is greater than a top width thereof; and

an impeller disposed within said draft tube, comprising:

means for rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time, wherein said rotating of the impeller in the first rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a first axial direction along the longitudinal axis; and

means for rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction for a second period of time, wherein said rotating of the impeller in the second rotational direction causes the liquid to flow in a second axial direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first axial direction.