Investigating the method of improving technological parameters of centrifugal separation with pneumatic turbulization

Abstract

Research aim and subject. In the last few decades centrifugal separators have been widely used to extract gold. Large water consumption essential in the course of operation is the basic drawback of the method, which in its turn results in increased capital and operational expenditure. As soon as water is becoming increasingly more important resource, the study of centrifugal separation with air turbulization is of great practical significance. The aim of the present research is to study the method of improving technological parameters of centrifugal separation with the use of circulation concentration. Methodology. The proposed method of centrifugal separation has been realized in laboratory conditions at artificial quartz with grain size range of 0.1…+0.01 mm and tungsten powder with grain size range of 0.023…+0.02. Centrifugal separation has been carried out in a laboratory turbulization separator K-200VL equipped with a pneumatic mixing baffle for near-wall layer turbulization with compressed air streams delivered from inside the cone. On completion of each test, concentrate and tailings output has been determined as well as the mass fraction of tungsten within them; tungsten extraction to concentrate has been calculated. Summary. The obtained data prove high effectiveness of centrifugal separation in the mode of light fraction circulation. Centrifugal separation with the use of circulation concentration makes it possible to increase extraction of high-density particles to heavy fraction and increase the quality of heavy fraction, while the use of pneumatic turbulization leads to specific water consumption reduction.