SEPARATION OF MINERALS BY SPECIFIC GRAVITY
A centrifuge for separating minerals by specific gravity is disclosed. The centrifuge rotates to circulate slurry across a collection region and to subject slurry in the collection region to centripetal forces that facilitate stratification within the collection region by the specific gravity of the constituent minerals of the slurry. Energy, such as acoustic energy, is coupled with the collection region and enhances the stratification by specific gravity within the collection region.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A device for separating a first material of a first specific gravity from at least a second material of a second specific gravity that is lower than the first specific gravity, the device comprising:
a centrifuge configured to rotate about an axis, the centrifuge comprising:
an inner chamber;
at least one collection region comprising a cavity in communication with the inner chamber subject to centripetal acceleration when the centrifuge rotates about the axis; and
at least one energy injection module configured to provide oscillating energy and to inject a fluid into the at least one collection region,
wherein the at least one collection region and energy injection module are configured to stratify the first and second materials.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the energy injection module is configured to provide acoustic energy into the at least one collection region.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the energy injection module is configured to provide acoustic energy at a plurality of frequencies simultaneously.
5 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the fluid injected into the at least one collection region by the energy injection module has a lower specific weight than the first material.
6 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the energy injection module is configured to provide oscillating energy into the at least one collection region such that the oscillating energy propagates into the at least one collection region along a direction substantially parallel to a direction of centripetal acceleration at the at least one collection region.
7 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to measure an amount of material present in the at least one collection region.
8 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a heating element configured to heat the centrifuge.
9 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a membrane positioned between the at least one collection region and the at least one energy injection module.
10 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the centrifuge is configured to receive the first material and the second material in a solid carrier medium.
11 . A system for separating a plurality of materials in a material stream, each material of the plurality of materials having a different specific gravity, the system comprising:
a first centrifuge configured to receive the material stream containing the plurality of materials, and
a first energy injection module configured to apply energy to the first centrifuge;
wherein a rotation of the first centrifuge and the energy of the first energy injection module separate a first materials from the material stream;
a second centrifuge in fluid communication with the first centrifuge and configured to receive at least a portion of the material stream after the first material is separated from the material stream by the first centrifuge, and
a second energy injection module configured to apply energy to the second centrifuge;
wherein a rotation of the second centrifuge and the energy of the second energy injection module separate a second material from the material stream; and
wherein the first centrifuge is configured to receive the material stream in a solid carrier medium.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a second specific gravity of the second material is lower than a first specific gravity of the first material.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second centrifuges are positioned inside a mobile processing unit.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the first energy injection module and the second energy injection module is configured to provide acoustic energy at a plurality of frequencies simultaneously.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the solid carrier medium is formed of balls.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second centrifuge is configured to receive the separated at least a portion of the material stream in a solid carrier medium formed of balls after the first material is separated from the material stream by the first centrifuge.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first centrifuge and the second centrifuge are connected in series.
18 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to measure an amount of material present in a collection region of each of the first centrifuge and the second centrifuge.
19 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one heating element configured to heat at least one of the first centrifuge and the second centrifuge.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first centrifuge further comprises a first collection region configured to collect at least a portion of the first material
the first energy injection module is coupled to the first collection region and configured to provide oscillating energy into the first collection region;
the second centrifuge further comprises a second collection region configured to collect at least a portion of the second material; and
the second energy injection module is coupled to the second collection region and configured to provide oscillating energy into the second collection region.
21 . A method for separating a first material of a first specific gravity from at least a second material of a second specific gravity that is different than the first specific gravity and a third material of a third specific gravity that is different than the second specific gravity, the method comprising:
obtaining a material stream containing the first material, the second material, and the third material;
separating the first material from the second and third materials by rotating a first centrifuge containing the material stream such that the material stream is circulated within the first centrifuge and applying energy waves to the first centrifuge using a first energy injection module;
obtaining a reject material stream from the first centrifuge containing the second material and the third material;
separating the second material from the third material by rotating a second centrifuge containing the reject material stream such that the reject material stream is circulated within the second centrifuge and applying energy waves to the second centrifuge using a second energy injection module;
wherein applying energy waves to the first centrifuge comprises generating and applying acoustic waves at a first frequency to a first collection region of the first centrifuge, and wherein applying energy waves to the second centrifuge comprises generating and applying acoustic waves at a second frequency to a second collection region of the second centrifuge.