Peneiramento industrial: metodologia para dimensionamento e simulação

Abstract

Screening of ores is still a process marked by a small volume of information and little research developed. Most of the models and the relationships between known variables and parameters arose from empirical laboratory tests or based on trial and error in industrial experience. Based on this, this work proposes to develop and adjust the traditional model of industrial screen sizing, based on the screening kinetic parameter of the material, determined in a standard laboratory test. To that end, 37 samples of various materials (itabirite, hematite, limestone, gneiss, granite, bauxite, among others), which represent a large part of the global mineral production, were provided by several Brazilian mining companies. Initially, the specific mass of solids and apparent, moisture, shape index and particle size distribution were characterized. Subsequently, a standard laboratory test was developed with the objective of measuring the degree of screenability of the samples, defined in this work as "screening kinetics". Some of these samples were collected in the screen machine feed flow. Data from these equipment, operational variables and the material were used for sizing calculations using classical screening models. One such method is that of Peter King (PKM), which had its results compared to the size of industrial screen machine themselves. By using the screening kinetics values of each sample into sizing method, it was possible to develop adjustments in the PKM, minimizing the difference between the results of the model and the actual industrial conditions. This has increased the accuracy of the screening method and its reliability in application to projects and control of existing operations.