Abstract

ORUPOLD, T; STARR, D  and  KENEFICK, T. The Lamella High Shear Rate REFLUX™ Classifier. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2014, vol.114, n.7, pp.511-518. ISSN 2411-9717.

This paper covers the commercial development of gravity separation of fine particles using a Lamella High Shear Rate REFLUX™ Classifier (REFLUX™ Classifier), focusing primarily on coal applications. The REFLUX™ Classifier is a fluidized bed device that incorporates a system of closely spaced parallel inclined channels located above the fluidized bed. These channels make it possible to achieve a significant suppression of the effects of particle size, resulting in a highly effective separation on the basis of density. The improved gravity separation performance is shown to be remarkably high, with a significant reduction in the variation of separation density with particle size, and a significant reduction in the change in Ecart probable error (Ep) with size. The first full commercial-sized units of the REFLUX™ Classifier were field-tested in late 2009 in coal applications. More recently, the technology has been applied in fine particle separation in minerals applications and there are a number of full-sized units operating in chrome applications in South Africa. Initially, pilot-scaled units (typically the RC™300) were trialled in iron ore, mineral sands, and manganese plants amongst other minerals, typically after other technologies failed to achieve the desired results. Currently a number of laboratories globally are carrying out more testing in minerals applications. More than 50 RC™ units are now operating in coal and minerals applications. This paper introduces the REFLUX™ Classifier technology, identifies commercial applications, and gives some commercial results.

Keywords : gravity separation; classification; fluidized bed.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )