Method for removing bubbles from slurry and device therefor

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for removing bubbles from a slurry and a device therefor capable of efficiently optimizing the removal of bubbles from a slurry and the viscosity of the slurry as well as dramatically reducing the bubble removing time. The device for removing bubbles from a slurry comprises a hopper 1 for charging a predetermined amount of slurry 2 including liquid and a high concentration of solid material agitated and dispersed in the liquid with the slurry containing bubbles to be removed therein; a bubble removing unit 20 disposed downstream of the hopper 1 and having a bubble removing plate 10 disposed downstream of the hopper 1 for discharging the slurry 2 containing bubbles to be removed therein in the form of and noncontact filaments or noodles; a slurry tank 3 connected downstream of the bubble removing unit 20; a vacuum unit 30 for evacuating the slurry tank 3 when the bubble removing unit 20 is used; and an air introduction unit 40 for introducing air for pressure-delivering the slurry 6 which is contained in the slurry tank 3 from the bubble removing unit 20 with bubbles removed to the outside.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an example of a device for removing bubbles according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of another example of a device for removing bubbles according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view shown in the direction of arrow A- in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4( a) is a front view of an exemplary bubble removing plate used in the present invention;

FIG. 4( b) is a cross sectional view, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 4(a);

FIG. 5 is a front view of another exemplary bubble removing plate used in the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a bubble diameter distribution with respect to the amount of bubbles in the slurry in Example and Comparative Example.

Claims

1. A method for removing bubbles from a slurry comprising liquid and a high concentration of solid material agitated and dispersed in the liquid with the slurry containing bubbles to be removed therein, the method comprising the step of dropping the slurry into a slurry tank under vacuum, while discharging the slurry containing bubbles to be removed therein in the form of a number of and noncontact filaments or noodles, this step being performed at least once.

2. The method for removing bubbles from a slurry according to claim 1, wherein the degree of vacuum in the slurry tank is 0.013 to 6.7 kPa.

3. The method for removing bubbles from a slurry according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the slurry is 50 to 500 dPa's.

4. A device for removing bubbles from a slurry, comprising: a hopper for charging a predetermined amount of slurry comprising liquid and a high concentration of solid material agitated and dispersed in the liquid with the slurry containing bubbles to be removed therein;a bubble removing unit disposed downstream of the hopper and having a bubble removing plate disposed downstream of the hopper for discharging the slurry containing bubbles to be removed therein in the form of a number of and noncontact filaments or noodles;a slurry tank connected downstream of the bubble removing unit;a vacuum unit for evacuating the slurry tank when the bubble removing unit is used; andan air introduction unit for introducing air for pressure-delivering the slurry with bubbles removed which is contained in the slurry tank from the bubble removing unit to the outside.

5. The device for removing bubbles from a slurry according to claim 4, wherein the size of discharge holes made in the bubble removing plate is 0.5 to 20 mm in a conversion of diameter.

6. The device for removing bubbles from a slurry according to claim 4, wherein a further bubble removing unit having a similar feature to the bubble removing unit is provided in the slurry tank.

7. The device for removing bubbles from a slurry according to claim 4, wherein the bubble removing plate disposed in the bubble removing unit comprises a plurality of plates disposed in a plurality of stages, the number of stages of the bubble removing plates being 2 to 20.