The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for fractionating
gypsum slurry which can surely control the density of the gypsum slurry
fractionated from the mixer (fractionated slurry), which can restrict
change of the flow rate of the fractionated slurry, and which can reduce
the consumption of foam or foaming agent. The fractionation apparatus
(30) fractionates the gypsum slurry from a mixer (4) for mixing calcined
gypsum and water. The mixer has a hollow connector section (50), which
allows the gypsum slurry to flow from a mixing area inside of the mixer
into a chute section (5), and the chute section (5) discharging the
inflow of gypsum slurry through its slurry discharge port onto a gypsum
board liner paper. The fractionation apparatus has a slurry fractionation
port (33) opening to the chute section or the hollow connector section,
and causes a part of the gypsum slurry in the chute or hollow connector
section to be delivered to a slurry delivery conduit (11,13,19).