Outotec Research Oy

P. Lamberg, Senior Research Metallurgist, pertti.lamberg@outotec.com

When evaluating the preparation plants performance, analysis of the mineral liberation extent based on the data on the particles composition of beneficiation process flows is widely used. Special analyzers (MLA JKTech, QEMSCAN, SmartLib) determine size, shape and mineral composition of each particle. This information can be organized and presented in a form convenient for study by the data processing programs (MLAViewer, HSC Geo). Unfortunately, many simulation programs of beneficiation processes, operating with data on minerals or chemical elements flows, not fully use information about the extent of mineral liberation. This gap is filled by process simulation programs, including HSC Chemistry software package with HSC Sim simulation module for hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical and beneficiation processes calculation. This software allows, in particular, to recognize and group data according to the extent of minerals release, as well as to use in simulation experimental data. The article describes both architecture of the HSC Sim module and its abilities to simulate processes in which particles are crushed (crushing) or divided by their physical properties (classification, flotation, magnetic separation). As an example, the process of the lead-zinc concentrate flotation is considered.

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