Abstract
Bauxite pisolites found in the Cape York region of Australia are typically near-spherical particles . Ore extracted from the Andoom (Weipa) deposit is processed through a beneficiation plant to remove the finer fraction; these finer particles will otherwise lead to material handling problems. A key component of the beneficiation flowsheet is a fluidized bed classifier, where fine particles are removed via an overflow system. The objective of this project was to study and understand the solid/liquid separation phenomena taking place in the fluidized bed, especially determining the role of the granular properties in controlling the separation mechanisms. Laboratory-scale experiments, using a transparent tank and glass beads of controlled grain size in place of bauxite, allowed an accurate observation of the fluidized bed behavior. Computer modeling, using multi-phase flow, was used to perform numerical simulations of the experimental setup and establish the relative effects of the parameters that control the separation processes in the fluidized bed.
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Abbreviations
- c:
-
Compaction modulus
- g:
-
Gravitational acceleration, m2 s−2
- G0:
-
Reference elasticity modulus, Pa
- G(αs):
-
Elasticity modulus, Pa
- I:
-
Identity matrix
- p:
-
Pressure, Pa
- Ps:
-
Solid pressure, Pa
- Pp.kin:
-
Velocity fluctuation pressure, Pa
- Pp.coll:
-
Particle interaction pressure, Pa
- Pl:
-
Continuous phase pressure, Pa
- Vq:
-
Phase velocity, m s−1
- Vl:
-
Liquid phase velocity, m s−1
- Vs:
-
Solid phase velocity, m s−1
- αq:
-
Phase volume fraction
- αs:
-
Solid phase volume fraction
- αs,m:
-
Maximum solid volume fraction
- λs:
-
Solid bulk viscosity, Pa s
- µl:
-
Liquid viscosity, Pa s
- µs:
-
Particulate viscosity, Pa s
- ρq:
-
Phase density, kg m−3
- ρl:
-
Liquid Phase density, kg m−3
- ρs:
-
Solid Phase density, kg m−3
- ω:
-
Solid viscosity augmentation
- τl:
-
Liquid phase stress tensor
- τs:
-
Solid phase stress tensor
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Mr. Eric Lemay and Mr. Pascal Vandal for their assistance in the laboratory. The authors are grateful to Matthew Lay (Principal Advisor Processing), Henry Provan and Emily Critchley (Process Engineer) for their support of this work. Thanks are also due to the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec for the granted MITACS scholarship. And, finally, thanks to Rio Tinto for financial support.
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Grillot, T., Simard, G., Chesnaux, R., Boudeville, D., Perrachon, L. (2020). Effects of the Granular Properties of Bauxite Pisolithes on the Solid/Liquid Separation in Liquid Fluidized Beds of Classifiers. In: Tomsett, A. (eds) Light Metals 2020. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36408-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36408-3_2
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