Patent ID: 8308958

Claim:
A method for concentrating and removing solids from a slurry stream, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing two or more settling compartments for sequential passage of fluid; each settling compartment defined by at least three substantially vertical compartment walls and a pyramidal base formed of at least three panels extending from a lower edge of each compartment wall and converging about a single, central solids outlet, for gravimetrically discharging solids from the pyramidal base, wherein the settling compartments are formed within a settling tank divided into said compartments by placement of one or more weir walls within the tank such that the at least three walls of each compartment comprise at least one tank outer wall and at least one weir wall, each weir wall extending across the tank and reduced in height from the tank outer walls so as to direct fluid over the weir wall and into a successive compartment, and further wherein one of the settling compartments comprises a baffle extending between opposing vertical compartment walls of said at least three vertical compartment walls, and said baffle being positioned adjacent a preceding weir wall to minimize turbulence of fluid entering the compartment, said baffle having a lower edge terminating above the lower edges of the opposing vertical compartment walls; (b) directing a slurry stream into a first settling compartment, wherein each of the three panels define an inclined surface extending from each compartment wall towards the solids outlet; (c) directing clarified overflow fluid out of the first settling compartment over a weir wall of the first settling compartment into a second settling compartment; and (d) periodically removing solids from the first settling compartment through the solids outlet based on the rate of accumulation of concentrated solids over the solids outlet.