Mining Institute, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia:

V. F. Skorokhodov, Leading Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, skorohodov@goi.kolasc.net.ru
M. S. Khokhulya, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
A. V. Fomin, Junior Researcher
R. M. Nikitin, Researcher

The article discusses a new approach to modernization of the current gravity concentration of the rougher magnetic separation tailings at Olkon company using computer modeling of spiral separation. The proposed approach made it possible to shorten the research time and to improve efficiency. Using the computational hydrodynamics methods, it was proved to be expedient to replace jigging machines by spiral separators for the effective dressing of the rougher magnetic separation tailings. The use of the proposed approach in the computational experiment with a model of heterogeneous medium of flotation enables formulation of the one-validness conditions with regard to physical and physicochemical properties of the solid components in flotation feed. An important advantage of the method is its ability to take into account processes at interfaces of phases of all separation fractions with different inertia and surface properties. Verification of the computational experiment results showed high correlation between the model parameters and the process data of flotation carried out on a laboratory scale or in industry. The use of the proposed approach in the studies into the distribution of minerals in flotation products with CED model gives an insight into the hydrodynamics of a system, reveals regular patterns in distribution of concentrations and velocities of the flotation pup components and simplifies assessment of flotation performance. Furthermore, the experiment makes it possible to predict the output of the integrated separation of minerals in flotation feed with regard to accretions if present. The computational experimentation with ANSYS Fluent produces the integro-differential estimate of physical and statistical parameters of phases in any region of a tests system, at any time and both in graphical and numerical form. The flotation analysis using this computational experiment allows eliminating installation of gauges and sensors inside the working volume of flotation machine while the data on the process are nevertheless obtained, with minimized material resources and timing budget required for a similar physical test.

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