Research Information System
ARCHIVES OF MINING SCIENCES, vol.68, no.3, pp.495-505, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
The present study modelled the effects of operational parameters on the performance of the Falcon
concentrator. For this purpose, the Falcon L40 concentrator was tested in narrow particle-size fractions
(−600 + 425 µm, −425 + 300 µm, −300 + 212 µm, −212 + 150 µm, −150 + 106 µm, and −106 + 75 µm)
at different washing water pressures and artificial gravity forces generated by a spinning bowl. The test
samples were prepared artificially, comprising 2% magnetite (Fe3O4) and 98% calcite (CaCO3) by weight.
The recovery and grade values of the 60 experimental conditions were investigated and compared for different operational parameters, including particle-size distributions, water pressures, and artificial gravity
forces. Two empirical models were developed using non-linear regression analysis to indicate the effects
of the operating parameter of the Falcon concentrator on its recovery and grade values. The operational
parameters were found to impact the separation performance considerably. Therefore, the Falcon concentrator should operate under optimum conditions, which can be easily predicted using these models, to
achieve improved recovery and grade values.