Sedimentation and Thickening

This book presents a rigorous phenomenological theory of sedimentation processes as encountered in Solid--liquid separation vessels, known as thickeners, in the mineral industries. This theory leads to mathematical simulation models for batch and continuous sedimentation processes, which can be stated as initial-boundary value problems of hyperbolic conservation laws and so-called degenerate parabolic equations. Existence and uniqueness theories for these equations are presented, including very recent results, and the most important problems are solved exactly, where possible, or numerical examples are given. A study of thickener design procedures based on these simulation models is presented. The book closes with a review of alternative treatments of thickening, which may not fall within the scope of the mathematical model developed. Audience: This book is intended for students and researchers in applied mathematics and in engineering sciences (metallurgical, chemical, mechanical and civil engineering) and provides self-contained chapters directed to each audience.