Experimental investigation of cement blain and operational parameters for optimal efficiency of circular vibrating screen

Abstract

The effect of blain and the operational parameters (i.e. amplitude of vibration, screen deck angle and cement blain) on the efficiency of screen is determined experimentally. A feed rate of 33,333 grams per second (g/s) and mesh size of 0.1 cm × 0.1 cm are kept constant while amplitude of vibration, screen deck angle and value of blain are varied with the aim to determine the optimum efficiency of the vibrating screen. A screen efficiency of 94.3% is obtained at a blain value of 2900 cm²/g for a screen with mesh size of 0.1 cm × 0.1 cm, vibration amplitude of 5.89 cm/s, screen deck angle of 6° and feed rate of 33,333 g/s. The optimum value for amplitude of vibration (6.89 cm/s) is obtained for a cement blain of 3000 cm²/g. The screen efficiency obtained at this amplitude of vibration is 96.3%. This value is obtained when the screen is positioned at a slope of 6° with feed rate of 33,333 g/s. Optimum value of screen slope (9°) is obtained for a cement blain of 3000 cm²/g when the screen vibrates at 6.89 cm/s and feed rate of 33,333 g/s. The optimum screen efficiency of 97% is obtained at the screen angle of 9o, vibration amplitude of 6.89 cm/s, a blain value of 3000 cm²/g, screen mesh size of 0.1 cm × 0.1 cm and feed rate of 33,333 g/s. Furthermore, relationship between cement blain and density is determined. The annual operational cost is reduced from 14176$ to 7659$ for 320 working days per year which presents 46% reduction in cost.