Spirals are one of the most widely used beneficiation equipment in mineral processing industry. The prerequisite to improve spirals’ performance is to understand the forces that affect valuable and gangue minerals’ separation. This paper investigates how magnetic properties of particles can be used to achieve a sharper separation of magnetic and non-magnetic particles in spirals. To this end, separation behavior of a synthetic mixed magnetite and quartz particles in the presence and absence of magnetic field was investigated via analyzing variations in the forces that affect particles’ separation in a spiral. Changes in Zero force line were considered as the reference point in the studies. In this regard an innovative magnetic-spiral was designed and fabricated. A magnetic force was added to separation process of the selected spiral. This, increased fine particles grade and recovery up to 8.5% and 7.5% respectively.
BoucherD, DengZ, LeadbeaterT, LangloisR, RenaudM, WatersKE.2014. PEPT studies of heavy particle flow within a spiral concentrator. Miner Eng. 62:120–128. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2013.12.022
2.
BoucherD, DengZ, LeadbeaterT, LangloisR, WatersKE.2016a. Observation of iron ore beneficiation within a spiral concentrator by positron emission particle tracking of large (Ø = 1440μm) and small (Ø = 58μm) hematite and quartz tracers. Chem Eng Sci. 140:217–232. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2015.10.018
3.
BoucherD, DengZ, LeadbeaterT, LangloisR, WatersKE.2016b. Speed analysis of quartz and hematite particles in a spiral concentrator by PEPT. Miner Eng. 91:86–91. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2015.09.014
4.
ChenL, ZengJ, GuanC, ZhangH, YangR.2015. High gradient magnetic separation in centrifugal field. Miner Eng. 78:122–127.
5.
DasSK, GodiwallaKM, PandaL, BhattacharyaKK, SinghR, MehrotraSP.2007. Mathematical modeling of separation characteristics of a coal-washing spiral. Int J Miner Process. 84(1–4):118–132. doi:10.1016/j.minpro.2007.05.007
6.
DasSK, KumariP, BhattacharyaKK, SinghR.2010. A mathematical model to characterize separation behavior of a spiral for processing iron ore using a mechanistic approach. Proceedings of the XI International Seminar on Mineral Processing Technology (MPT-2010), Jamshedpur, India.
7.
GuichuanY, LiqiangM, AlberiniF, XuQ, GenH, YuexianY.2019. Numerical studies of the effects of design parameters on flow fields in spiral concentrators. Int J Coal Prep Util. 1–15. doi:10.1080/19392699.2019.1579200
8.
Holland-BattAB.1989. Spiral separation: theory and simulation. Trans Inst Min Metall (Sect C). 98:C46–C60.
9.
Holland-BattAB.1995. The dynamics of sluice and spiral separations. Miner Eng. 8(1–2):3–21. doi:10.1016/0892-6875(94)00098-W
10.
HolthamPN.1990. Flow visualisation of secondary currents on spiral separators. Miner Eng. 3(3/4):279–286.
11.
HolthamPN.1992. Particle transport in gravity concentrators and the Bagnold effect. Miner Eng. 5(2):205–221. doi:10.1016/0892-6875(92)90043-9
12.
HoweKJ, HandDW, CrittendenJC, TrussellRR, TchobanglousG.2012. Principles of water treatment. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons; p. 194–201. https://www. wiley.com/en us/Principles+of+Water+Treatment-p-978 0470405383
13.
JainPK, RayasamV.2017. An analytical approach to explain the generation of secondary circulation in spiral concentrators. Powder Technol. 308:165–177. doi:10.1016/j.powtec.2016.11.040
14.
KwonJ, KimH, LeeS, ChoH.2017. Simulation of particle-laden flow in a Humphrey spiral concentrator using dust-liquid smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Adv Powder Technol. 28(10):2694–2705. doi:10.1016/j.apt.2017.07.022
15.
LinIJ, Knish-BramM, RosenhouseG.1997. The benefication of minerals by magnetic jigging, part 1. theoretical aspects. Int J Miner Process. 50:143–159.
16.
LinIJ, Krush-BramM, RosenhouseG.1998. The beneficiation of minerals by magnetic jigging; part 2. identification of the parameters and verification of the mathematical model for the theoretical analysis of the mineral particles motion in the magnetic jig. Int J Miner Process. 54(1):29–44.
MishraBK, TripathyA.2010. A preliminary study of particle separation in spiral concentrators using DEM. Int J Miner Process. 94(3–4):192–195. doi:10.1016/j.minpro.2009.12.005
20.
PalmerM.2010. XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC New Developments in Spirals and Spiral Plant Operations Reference number : 442 (Impc).
21.
RanHY, LiangDY.2005. Producing high grade iron concentrate with magneto-flotation column.
22.
SvobodaJ.2001. “Magnetic methods of material treatment: technology at crossroads.” In ICMR 2001 AKITA: Fourth International Conference on Materials Engineering Resources. p. 131–136.
23.
XiongD.2003. SLon magnetic separator applied to upgrading the iron concentrate. Phys Sep Sci Eng. 12(2):63–69. doi:10.1080/14786470310001603487
