Improvement in the performance of hydrocyclones in a chrome ore beneficiation plant

Abstract

Studies were carried out to improve the performance of hydrocyclones at Tata Steel’s chrome ore beneficiation plant in Sukinda, India. The optimal cut point of the hydrocyclones was determined in the laboratory using a stub cyclone. In the tests, the operating and design variables, including spigot diameter, density of feed slurry and inlet pressure, were varied. Subsequently, plant trials were carried out, and attempts were made to develop a model of the hydrocyclone using the Rao, Lynch and Plitt model. The cyclone efficiency was represented by the partition curve, and the performance was evaluated mathematically from a reduced efficiency curve, represented by the equation: $$Y\, = \,100\{ 1 - \exp ( - a{x^b})$$ where x is d/d50(c)’ Y is the corrected efficiency (%) and a and bare constants.