Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
MINERALS ENGINEERING, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The research aimed at comparing the performances of two common centrifugal type classifiers, air classifier and hydrocyclone, operated dry and wet respectively. The reason for starting the study is the possible shifting to dry processing in the future as the water has limited availability. Such comprehensive research has not been undertaken in the literature although individual assessments were completed. Within the scope, copper ore, gold ore and magnetite-calcite blends were chosen as these applications are common globally. The research commenced with the experimental tests via laboratory scale air classifier and hydrocyclone. Afterwards, size analyses and component measurements (via XRF, MLA, fire assay) were undertaken. The data was initially used in mass balancing of the experimental data to adjust the flow rates alongside with assays then Tromp curves were plotted to determine cut size, sharpness of cut, bypass parameters. Comparison of the two classifiers were completed for the same overflow target sizes. Throughout the assessments, the magnitudes of the Tromp curve parameters for the overall classification and component-based results were compared. As a result, air classifier may be alternative to hydrocyclone classification since less bypass, higher sharpness values were obtained. This study provides insights on choosing the dry or wet classification.