Patent ID: 8702996

Claim:
A feedwell for a thickener/clarifier, said feedwell comprising: a feedwell body ( 40 ); a sidewall ( 42 ) defining a radially-outermost fluid boundary surface of the feedwell, the sidewall ( 42 ) comprising at least one of a volute surface, a helical surface, a coil surface, a compound curve surface, a spline curve surface, or a spiral surface; a feedwell inlet ( 41 ) for directing an influent stream ( 60 ) to the feedwell along the sidewall ( 42 ); a discharge opening ( 48 ) for passing fluids and solids from the feedwell to a settling tank ( 20 ); a shelf ( 49 ) extending radially-inwardly from the sidewall ( 42 ) from an outer edge ( 45 ) to an inner edge ( 52 ) which is adjacent the discharge opening ( 48 ); wherein a width of the shelf ( 49 ) changes as the shelf ( 49 ) extends along the sidewall ( 42 ); and, a spill lip ( 44 ) extending radially-inwardly from the inner edge ( 52 ) of the shelf ( 49 ), and further surrounding and effectively reducing the size of the discharge opening ( 48 ).