Vector® Feedwell — Next-Generation Feedwell Technology for Mining Thickeners

The MINEXXT Vector® is a patented feedwell designed to solve the fundamental problems that plague conventional thickener feedwells. By combining advanced CFD-modeled flow dynamics with field-proven engineering, the Vector® feedwell technology delivers measurable improvements in overflow clarity, underflow density, and flocculant efficiency.

Why Conventional Feedwells Fail

Open-bottom feedwell designs are inherently inefficient. They suffer from short-circuiting, where the incoming feed stream bypasses the flocculation zone. This causes coarse material to settle unevenly on one side of the thickener floor while fine particles plume toward the surface, creating froth and dirty overflow. Even newer closed-bottom feedwell designs, once thought to solve this problem, have been shown through CFD modelling to also short-circuit. The result is excessive flocculant consumption, poor thickener performance, and failure to meet process targets for underflow density and overflow clarity.

How the Vector® Feedwell Technology Works 

The Vector® feedwell uses a proprietary internal geometry that converts the feed stream’s kinetic energy into controlled, uniform radial flow. Unlike conventional feedwells, every particle — from coarse sand to ultra-fine clay — receives optimal contact time with flocculant and dilution water. The design eliminates dead zones and segregation, ensuring the entire feedwell volume is used for effective flocculation.

Key Benefits of the MINEXXT Vector® Feedwell

• Eliminates short-circuiting in both open-bottom and closed-bottom feedwell configurations
• Reduces flocculant consumption through optimized mixing energy and residence time
• Improves overflow clarity by preventing fine particle carryover and froth formation
• Increases underflow density for improved water recovery and downstream processing
• Handles ultra-fine particles — effective flocculation of fines that conventional feedwells miss
• Retrofit-ready — can replace existing feedwells in any thickener during a scheduled shutdown

Applications

The Vector® feedwell technology is designed for all thickener types: conventional thickeners, high-rate thickeners, high-density thickeners, and paste thickeners. It is deployed in mining operations worldwide for tailings thickening, concentrate thickening, process water recovery, and CCD (counter-current decantation) circuits.

MINEXXT’s decades of thickener expertise, combined with advanced CFD and hydraulic modelling, ensure every installation is optimized for site-specific conditions.