2015 Procemin • Real-Time Particle Size Tracking in Individual Hydrocyclones

Real-Time Particle Size Tracking in Individual Hydrocyclones: New Field Results

Date of Conference: 
October 21, 2015
Author(s): 
Dylan Cirulis, Américo J. Zuzunaga, Alejandro D. Jaque, Francisco Melo, and Leonardo Duarte, Robert J. Maron
Abstract / Introduction: 

The presence of unwanted coarse material in flotation feed streams has negative impacts on both recovery and throughput of concentrator plants. Detection of this coarse material is a long-standing problem in mineral processing that has been poorly addressed by existing instrumentation systems.

Two novel and robust technologies have been developed to address this challenge of unwanted coarse material in the individual hydrocyclone overflow streams that jointly become the flotation feed stream. This coarse material creates adverse effects in the flotation process and, sometimes, further downstream in the tailings thickening process. These technologies were developed and tested at a large North American copper concentrator where they continue to operate commercially for several years. Data from these installations has been previously presented.

Reference number: 
BI0566
Asset type: 
Technical Paper