Apex water injection for improved hydrocyclone classification efficiency

• Published in: Minerals engineering 2001-11, Vol.14 (11), p.1445-1457
• Main Authors: Honaker, R.Q., Ozsever, A.V., Singh, N., Parekh, B.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Classification; coal; Exact sciences and technology; fine particle processing; Flotation. Enrichment. Beneficiation; hydrocyclones; Metals. Metallurgy; modeling; Ores; Production of metals
• ISSN: 0892-6875; 1872-9444
• DOI: 10.1016/S0892-6875(01)00158-3

Classifying cyclones are a widely used device for achieving ultrafine particle size separations in industrial applications. However, inherent deficiencies include particle density effects in multi-component suspensions and ultrafine particle short-circuiting to the underflow stream due to hydraulic entrainment. A detailed in-plant test program has been conducted to evaluate the benefits of tangential water injection into the apex portion of a classification cyclone for the removal or minimization of the ultrafine by-pass. Based on models developed using the test results, ultrafine bypass can be reduced by 50% or more while maintaining the same corrected d 50 value through complex manipulation of operating and geometric parameters. In a subsequent test, the by-pass was reduced from 15% to about 7% while maintaining a d 50(c) value of 26 microns. However, the magnitude of the benefit in by-pass reduction is subject to the geometric parameters of the conventional classifying cyclone.