A new partition curve model of dense-medium cyclone based on process parameters

ABSTRACT

The partition curve of gravity separation has been widely investigated, but few studies have established the models directly based on the operating conditions. A new model was proposed to predict the distribution rates of anthracite in a coal preparation plant with a compound input of density and process parameters. These included the density of dense-medium suspension d, the content of magnetic substance c, the inlet pressure of dense-medium suspension p and the coal feed rate r. The model took the following form: $f(x,[d,c,p,r])=\frac{100}{1+e^{(-1/f_2(d,c,p,r)\cdot (x-f_1(d,c,p,r_s)))}}$, where $f_1(d,c,p,r)$, $f_2(d,c,p,r)$ indicate functions of the separation density δ_p and probable error E_p, respectively. The effects of each process parameter on the model were discussed, and their behaviors were in accordance with the knowledge of the dense-medium cyclone. It was proved that the proposed model performed better around the cut point of the curve compared with the previous method by means of solving the coefficients of partition curve equations. It was also more instructional and easier to use for field operators as it met their operating habits. It provided a foundation of real-time predictive control for dense-medium cyclones in coal preparation plants.

KEYWORDS:

• Partition curve
• coal preparation
• process parameters
• dense-medium cyclone

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2018QNA23) and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.