Systems and methods for extracting particulate from raw slurry material

Abstract

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separation system for feed material into portions, the separation system comprising:
 a housing defining a collection chamber, where feed material within the collection chamber defines a liquid level;   a drum assembly comprising:
 a drum member defining a perforated cylindrical wall and an exit end, and 
 at least one screw flight within the drum member, wherein the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level; and
 a drive assembly for rotating the drum assembly relative to the housing such that a first portion of the feed material exits the drum assembly through the perforations, and 
 the screw flight displaces a second portion of the feed material such that the second portion of the feed material exits the collection chamber through the exit end of the drum member. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the housing defines a weir edge that defines the liquid level. 
     
     
         3 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which a longitudinal axis of the drum member is angled with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the drum assembly further comprises at least one lifting surface for lifting the second portion of the feed material out of the collection chamber through the exit end. 
     
     
         5 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary separator for removing a third portion of the feed material from the first portion of the feed material. 
     
     
         6 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary separator for generating the feed material from a slurry of waste material. 
     
     
         7 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the feed material is a slurry of waste material. 
     
     
         8 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the first portion primarily comprises sand and liquids; and   the second portion primarily comprises floating solids.   
     
     
         9 . A separation system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the first portion primarily comprises sand and liquids;   the second portion primarily comprises floating solids; and   the third portion primarily comprises sand.   
     
     
         10 . A method of separating feed material into portions comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing defining a collection chamber;   providing a drum assembly comprising:
 a drum member defining a perforated cylindrical wall and an exit end; and 
 at least one screw flight within the drum member; 
   arranging feed material within the collection chamber to define a liquid level;   supporting the drum assembly within the collection chamber such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level; and   rotating the drum assembly relative to the housing such that:
 the first portion of the feed material exits the drum assembly through the perforations, and 
 the screw flight displaces the second portion of the feed material such that the second portion of the feed material exits the drum assembly through the exit end. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of angling a longitudinal axis of the drum member with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , in which the step of providing the drum assembly further comprises the step of providing at least one lifting surface, the method further comprising the step of causing the at least one lifting surface to lift the second portion of the feed material out of the collection chamber through the exit end. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of removing a third portion of the feed material from the first portion of the feed material. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of generating the feed material by separating the feed material from a slurry of waste material. 
     
     
         15 . A separation system for feed material comprising liquids, sand, and floating solids, the separation system comprising:
 a housing defining a collection chamber, where feed material within the collection chamber defines a liquid level;   a drum assembly comprising   a drum member defining a perforated cylindrical wall and an exit end, and   at least one screw flight within the drum member, wherein:
 the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level; and 
 a drive assembly for rotating the drum assembly relative to the housing such that:
 a first portion of the feed material primarily comprising liquids and sand exits the drum assembly through the perforations, and 
 the screw flight displaces a second portion of the feed material primarily comprising floating solids such that the second portion of the feed material exits the collection chamber through the exit end of the drum member. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . A separation system as recited in  claim 15 , in which the housing defines a weir edge that defines the liquid level. 
     
     
         17 . A separation system as recited in  claim 15 , in which a longitudinal axis of the drum member is angled with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         18 . A separation system as recited in  claim 15 , in which the drum assembly further comprises at least one lifting surface for lifting the second portion of the feed material out of the collection chamber through the exit end. 
     
     
         19 . A separation system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising an auxiliary separator for removing a third portion of the feed material primarily comprising sand from the first portion of the feed material. 
     
     
         20 . A separation system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising an auxiliary separator for generating the feed material from a slurry of waste material.