2060
Understanding the Segregation of Multi-Component Particles in
a Spiral Concentrator
Prudhvinath Reddy Ankireddy, Purushotham Sudikondala, Narasimha Mangadoddy
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Sunil Kumar Tripathy
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
Rama Murthy Yanamandra
R&D Division, Iron and Ferroalloys Research Group, Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur, India
ABSTRACT: In gravity separation systems, the interaction of multi-component particles is essential and
important to understand the separation mechanism, especially in spiral concentrators. Feed to the spiral
concentrator is comprised of a mixture of different sizes and density particles having various degrees of freedom.
In this study, an artificial mixture of silica and magnetite with different proportions is used for multi-component
separation experiments in a high-gravity spiral concentrator. The spiral trough at the 5th turn is divided into five
streams to obtain a detailed distribution of the bicomponent particle segregation. The samples are collected at
the respective streams in different turns with the in-house sample collector and segregation of the components
is analysed. The recovery calculations for the collected product outlets are performed for each component with
respect to the feed. The recovered sample mixtures of magnetite and silica are separated through a magnetic
separator followed by measurement of particle size distributions of the individual components is made using
a laser size analyzer. The observed pattern reveals the segregation of the heavier coarse component (magnetite)
within the concentrate, while the lighter fine component (silica) is gathered in the tailings. The middlings
predominantly comprise of the heavier fine particles and lighter coarse particles. The zone-wise results reveals
that there is a significant fraction of segregation occurs in inner and middle zones. Finer magnetite and silica
particles predominantly accumulate in outer zones with the smallest fraction of segregation. An interaction is
observed between the high-dense and low-dense particles during the separation leading to an increased lighter
particle fraction and mass recoveries in the concentrate product.
Keywords: High gravity spiral concentrator, Multi-component particles, Segregation, Gravity Separation
INTRODUCTION
Raw mineral ores lack the properties desired by industries,
necessitating beneficiation to enhance their value. The
selection of beneficiation methods depends on factors such
as the liberation degree of minerals and the characteristics
of both the ore and gangue minerals. Gravity concentra-
tion methods, including jigs, spirals, shaking tables, and
multi-gravity methods, are commonly adopted for ore
beneficiation. These methods utilize differences in mineral
density to separate them in a fluid medium, often water.
Understanding the Segregation of Multi-Component Particles in
a Spiral Concentrator
Prudhvinath Reddy Ankireddy, Purushotham Sudikondala, Narasimha Mangadoddy
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Sunil Kumar Tripathy
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
Rama Murthy Yanamandra
R&D Division, Iron and Ferroalloys Research Group, Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur, India
ABSTRACT: In gravity separation systems, the interaction of multi-component particles is essential and
important to understand the separation mechanism, especially in spiral concentrators. Feed to the spiral
concentrator is comprised of a mixture of different sizes and density particles having various degrees of freedom.
In this study, an artificial mixture of silica and magnetite with different proportions is used for multi-component
separation experiments in a high-gravity spiral concentrator. The spiral trough at the 5th turn is divided into five
streams to obtain a detailed distribution of the bicomponent particle segregation. The samples are collected at
the respective streams in different turns with the in-house sample collector and segregation of the components
is analysed. The recovery calculations for the collected product outlets are performed for each component with
respect to the feed. The recovered sample mixtures of magnetite and silica are separated through a magnetic
separator followed by measurement of particle size distributions of the individual components is made using
a laser size analyzer. The observed pattern reveals the segregation of the heavier coarse component (magnetite)
within the concentrate, while the lighter fine component (silica) is gathered in the tailings. The middlings
predominantly comprise of the heavier fine particles and lighter coarse particles. The zone-wise results reveals
that there is a significant fraction of segregation occurs in inner and middle zones. Finer magnetite and silica
particles predominantly accumulate in outer zones with the smallest fraction of segregation. An interaction is
observed between the high-dense and low-dense particles during the separation leading to an increased lighter
particle fraction and mass recoveries in the concentrate product.
Keywords: High gravity spiral concentrator, Multi-component particles, Segregation, Gravity Separation
INTRODUCTION
Raw mineral ores lack the properties desired by industries,
necessitating beneficiation to enhance their value. The
selection of beneficiation methods depends on factors such
as the liberation degree of minerals and the characteristics
of both the ore and gangue minerals. Gravity concentra-
tion methods, including jigs, spirals, shaking tables, and
multi-gravity methods, are commonly adopted for ore
beneficiation. These methods utilize differences in mineral
density to separate them in a fluid medium, often water.