화학공학소재연구정보센터
Particulate Science and Technology, Vol.38, No.5, 636-640, 2020
Effect of operational conditions on Falcon concentrator performance with different particle size fractions
The present study investigates the effects of particle size distribution on Falcon concentrator efficiency with both narrow particle size fractions and a whole particle size distribution under different operational conditions. Eight narrow particle size fractions and a whole distribution composed of 10% of each particle size were tested with an L-40 Falcon concentrator at different washing water pressures and varying artificial gravity forces, generated by a centrifugal force, using samples composed of 2% magnetite (Fe3O4) and 98% calcite (CaCO3) by weight. The experimental conditions were tested and the performance of the Falcon concentrator was investigated and compared not only for each fraction but also for the whole particle size distribution together. The total recovery for the narrow particle size fractions was calculated at 53.37%, which is 79.11% greater than whole distribution recovery for the same grade. The results show that the performance of the concentrator increased with the narrow size fractions, and there are huge recovery differences between the optimum conditions for the whole distribution and narrow distributions. The operating conditions vary for each size. The falcon concentrator thus has specific working conditions, and must be operated under optimum conditions for the different particle sizes to achieve better recoveries.