Abstract
The literature contains many cases where the shape of hydrocyclone efficiency curves vary from the ideal “S” shape. These often appear as changes in slope, or inflections. These inflections can be divided into two categories: “coarse” inflections, which are caused by differences in the density of the minerals being separated, and “fine” inflections, for which there are a number of competing hypotheses concerning their cause. The existing literature addresses either the fine inflection or the coarse inflection, but no studies have reported both types of inflection occurring at once in a single hydrocyclone test. This paper presents hydrocyclone results from both in-plant studies and laboratory experiments that show both coarse and fine inflections. The industrial significance of both types of inflections is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References
Banishi, S., Laplante, A.R., and Marois, J., 1991, ‘The behavior of gold in Hemlo Mines Ltd. grinding circuit,’ CIM Bulletin, Vol. 84, No. 955, pp. 72–78.
Coelho, M.A.Z., and Medronho, R.A., 2001, ‘A model for performance prediction of hydrocyclones,’ Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 84, No. 1, pp. 7–14.
Del Villar, R., and Finch, J.A., 1992, ‘Modelling the cyclone performance with a size dependent entrainment factor,’ Minerals Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 661–669.
Dueck, J.G.; Min’Kov, L.L., and Pikushchak, E.V., 2007, ‘Modeling of the ‘fish-hook’ effect in a classifier,’ Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics, Vol. 80, No. 1, pp. 64–73.
Finch, J.A., 1983, ‘Modelling a fish-hook in hydrocyclone selectivity curves,’ Powder Technology, Vol. 36, pp. 127–129.
Heiskanen, K., 1993, Particle Classification, 1st ed., Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 59–60, 87, 264–272.
Jeltema, C.H.N., 2007, Mathematical Modeling of Taconite Circuits, Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 414 pp.
Kelly, E.G., 1991, ‘The significance of bypass in mineral separators,’ Minerals Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1–7.
Kraipech, W., Chen, W., Parma, F.J., and Dyakowski, T., 2002, ‘Modelling the fish-hook effect of the flow within hydrocyclones,’ International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 66, pp. 49–65.
Kraipech, W., Nowakowski, A., Dyakowski, T., and Suksangpanomrung, A., 2005, ‘An investigation of the effect of the particle-fluid and particle-particle interactions on the flow within a hydrocyclone,’ Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 111, pp. 189–197.
Laplante, A.R., Finch, J.A., 1984, ‘The origin of unusual cyclone performance curves,’ Int. J. Min. Proc., Vol. 13, pp. 1–11.
Luckie, P.T., and Austin, L.G., 1975, ‘Mathematical analysis of mechanical air separator selectivity curves,’ Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C, Vol. 84, pp. C253–C255.
Lynch, A.J., and Rao, T.C., 1968, ‘The operating characteristics of hydrocyclone classifiers,’ Ind. J. of Technology, Vol. 6, p. 106.
Majumder, A.K., Yerriswamy, P., and Barnwal, J.P., 2003, ‘The ‘fish-hook’ phenomenon in centrifugal separation of fine particles,’ Minerals Engineering, Vol. 16, pp. 1005–1007.
Nageswararao, K., 2000, ‘A critical analysis of the fish hook effect in hydrocyclone classifiers,’ Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 80, pp. 251–256.
Napier-Munn, T.J., Morrell, S., Morrison, R.D., and Kojovic, T., 1996, ‘Mineral comminution circuits: their operation and optimisation,’ JKMRC — University of Queensland, pp. 326–327.
Neesse, T., Dueck, J., and Minkov, L., 2004, ‘Separation of finest particles in hydrocyclones,’ Minerals Engineering, Vol. 17, pp. 689–696.
Pasquier, S., and Cilliers, J.J., 2000, ‘Submicron particle dewatering using hydrocyclones,’ Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 80, No. 1–3, pp. 283–288.
Plitt, A.J., 1976, ‘Mathematical model of the hydrocyclone classifier,’ CIM Bull. Vol. 69, No. 776, pp. 115–123.
Rouse, B.D., Clayton, J.S., and Brookes, G.F., 1987, ‘Confirmation of modelling techniques for small diameter cyclones,’ Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Hydrocyclones, P. Wood, ed., Oxford, BHRA, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 7–20.
Wang, B. and Yu, A.B., 2010, ‘Computational investigation of the mechanisms of particle separation and ‘fish-hook’ phenomena in hydrocyclones,’ AIChE Journal, Vol. 56, No. 7, pp. 1703–1715.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper number MMP-12-062.
Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to August 31, 2013.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eisele, T.C., Jeltema, C.H.N., Walqui, H. et al. Coarse and fine “fish hook” inflections in hydrocyclone efficiency curves. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 30, 137–144 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402259
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402259
Key words
- Hydrocyclones
- Classification
- Fish hook effect
- Efficiency curves