Dense Medium Cyclone Separation of Fine Particles Part 1. The Effect of Medium Split Ratio on Dense Medium Cyclone Performance

Abstract

Among dense medium cyclone operating variables, the medium split ratio is identified as the fundamental operating variable. It is most directly related to dense medium cyclone performance; other operating variables influence the dense medium cyclone performance by changing the medium split ratio. At medium split ratios below one, the separation efficiency deteriorates drastically due to the short-circuiting of the feed. Increasing the medium split ratio improves the separation efficiency. At medium split ratios above 4.0, the improvement in dense medium cyclone performance is insignificant, while the adverse effects of plugging and roping become more pronounced. The cutpoint shift also increases with the medium split ratio. It is recommended that the medium split ratio be close to the overflow to underflow product ratio.

Keywords:

• dense medium cyclone
• dense medium rheology
• dense medium stability
• dense medium
• Gravity separation
• magnetite dense medium
• medium split ratio
• panicle size distribution
• separation efficiency

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. S. LASKOWSKI

Author for communication.