The general objectives for thickeners and clarifiers are to produce clean overflow and maximum solids concentration in the underflow. Flocculants are typically used to agglomerate the solids to increase the settling rate and improve overflow clarity. Thickener control involves a number of complexities and variables such as varying feed characteristics, changes in feed concentration, solids specific gravity, particle size distribution, pH, temperature and reaction to flocculant which can all contribute to variations in performance.
INNOVATION X has developed and demonstrated control schemes that manage the solids settling rate and solids inventory in real-time while managing the known constraints within the equipment and associated processes.
