Advances in Mineral Resources Management and 1

Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece

Use of a new model to represent hydrocyclone corrected-efficiency curves

K.G. Tsakalakis
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

ABSTRACT form, consists of two units, the mill and the

This work presents a new two-parameter
empirical model, which can be used for the
representation of the hydrocyclone corrected-
efficiency curves. With the help of this model it
is possible to represent the distribution of the
various size fractions, in the overflow and
underflow products during classification
processes (corrected and actual efficiency).
Experimental actual efficiencies for various size
fractions from earlier classification tests were
correlated with the new equation.
The interesting features of the new model
are: (a) it is a simple physical model (b) the
accuracy of its parameters, computed applying
linear regression is comparable to that obtained
from the already known (Lynch, Plitt-Reid and
Harris) models, and (c) the proposed model can
also be graphically represented, from which all
of its parameters are easily predicted.
Comparisons with the other models showed a
good agreement, not only for the prediction of
the hydrocyclone corrected and actual
efficiencies, but for the characteristic separation
sizes of the classification procedure as well.
1. INTRODUCTION
For quite some time now, the use of
mathematical models, depicting the
performance of mineral processing operations,
has become important.
Significant attempts have been made in the
field of wet grinding to express mathematically
the effectiveness of the classifier. The proposed
models can be used later for the simulation of
the grinding circuits.
A wet closed grinding circuit, in its simplest
mill- product classifier (hydrocyclone or spiral
classifier). The classifier controls through the
maximum size of the product the recirculating
load to the mill.
It is evident that the use of reliable models,
expressing the classifier efficiency, is essential
for the effective control and the simulation of
the wet closed grinding circuits.
The classifier, fed with the mill product,
divides it into two products; the coarse fraction,
which represents the recirculating load fed back
to the mill, and the fine product with particles of
the appropriate size for the next stages of the
circuit.
Due to short-circuiting of fines caused by the
coarse product liquid, the actual classifier
efficiency, instead of being Ec, becomes Ea. The
relationship between the observed classification
efficiency Ea and the corresponding Ec
(corrected) is shown in Figure 1 and is given by:
Ea − R f
Ec = (1)
1− Rf
where:
Ec: is the mass fraction of particles of a
given size referred to the coarse product
(underflow) of the classifier, due to the
classifying action
Ea: is the mass fraction of the given size
(same as above), which actually appears
in the underflow and
Rf : is the fraction of the feed liquid, which is
distributed in the underflow.
The actual separation size (50% of the size-
fraction in the underflow and 50% in the
overflow) is referred to as d50 (cut size or cut
2 Advances in Mineral Resources Management and
Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece

m r
1.0
Sharpness of
[
E c = 1 − 1 − ( d / d max ) ] (4)
Fraction to underflow

separation where m, r are shape parameters and dmax the

particle size at which Ec = 1.
Ea Plitt's or Reid's model offers a number of
considerable advantages: first, it can be
Cut size- d50 EC represented as a straight line on a Rosin-
Rammler graph paper from which the d50c and m
0.5 values can be easily derived and secondly it is
Bypass based on a physical model.
Equation (4), due to its greater number of
parameters, presents a better goodness of fit to
the data. It also provides corrected efficiency Ec
Rf = 1 at a finite size dmax, but the calculation of its
parameters is much more tedious.
A “fish hook” phenomenon at the fine end of
0 the hydroclone performance curve, with
d50C Particle size sufficient frequency to warrant attention, was
Figure 1: Typical actual and corrected classification reported from Finch (1983). This behavior of
curves. the hydroclone performance curve was modeled
by introducing an entrainment component to
point) and the corresponding corrected one as recovery to the underflow which is a function of
d50c. From the relative position of the two curves particle size. Roldan-Villasana et al. (1993)
in Fig. 1, it comes out that d50c is greater than realized also this phenomenon, which is a dip of
d50. Their difference obviously depends on the the “S” shape function in regions of the finer
value of Rf (Eq. 1). particle sizes (typically less than 20 µm) and it
Many equations, expressing the corrected was thought to be of considerable industrial
classifier efficiency Ec as a function of the significance. They made a critical assessment of
particle size d, were extensively presented in an previous modeling work and a theory to account
earlier paper (Luckie and Austin, 1974). for the phenomenon and a new empirical model
From those the most widely used are: were proposed and tested.
Nageswararao (1999) examined the Plitt-
e[
a ( d / d 50 c ) ]
−1
Ec = (2) Reid and Lynch (simple and that modified by
e[
a ( d / d 50 c )]
+ ea − 2 Whiten) models and concluded that, both the
Plitt-Reid and Whiten functions are satisfactory
and: in describing most efficiency curves observed in
 −0.6931( d / d )m 
 
practice. The latter seemed to be more accurate
Ec = 1 − e
50 c
(3) while the former is simpler to use.
Chen et al. (2000), using experimental data,
The first model (Eq. 2) was proposed by Lynch compared 7 different (empirical, theoretical and
(1965) and the second (Eq. 3), which followed a semi-theoretical) models and they found that
few years later, simultaneously but there has not been so far a single model, which
independently by Plitt (1971) and Reid (1971). can simulate most hydrocyclone operations.
The above equations have two parameters. The They stated that, it is impossible to have one
d50c gives the particle size in which the separation model performing a good simulation of the
was expected to happen and the other (a or m) pressure drop, cut size, grade efficiency and the
characterizes the sharpness of separation. flow split. However, these models can be
Another model has been also proposed realized as a good tool for estimating
(Harris, 1972), which is a three-parameter hydrocyclone performance when applied in the
equation: right domain.
Pasquier and Cilliers (2000) observed that
Advances in Mineral Resources Management and
Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece
small diameter (10 mm) hydrocyclones, used in
sub-sieve classification, exhibit a fish-hook
partition curve and a high bypass fraction,
which results in high particle recovery to the
underflow and a high concentration ratio. The
fish-hook partition curve observed can be
accurately described by a general classification
model proposed.
"Nageswararao (2000) claims that the
infrequently reported fish-hook effect, in
hydrocyclone classifications, seems to be of
partial acceptance. The fundamental models to
date do not predict a "fish-hook" phenomenon.
Current theories to explain it, based on the size
dependent bypass mechanism, are mere
mathematical transformations and it is still a
long way before it could be universally accepted
as a scientifically significant physical effect."
Kraipech et al. (2002), based on
experimental data, attempted to model the fish-
hook phenomenon by proposing two different
approaches (the classification approach A and
the bypass Approach B). For each of these
approaches a different model was derived.
2. DERIVATION OF THE NEW MODEL
It is known (Daniel and Wood, 1980) that the
following model
b
E = ae
− 
l
where α, b are parameters > 0, has a plot shown
in Fig. 2 (curve for n=1).
100
a n = 0.7
Cumulative undersize recovery E, %
n=1
50
n=2
0 N, D50C AND DMAX
Screen length l, cm
Figure 2: Graphical representation of the cumulative
undersize recovery as a function of the screen length.
3
Equation (5) was extensively tested before
(Tsakalakis, 1988) in order to be used as a
screen size-separation model. Finally, the
following model, incorporating one more
parameter n, was proved to have a better fitting
capability than Eq. (5) to screening data and was
used as a screening function, i.e.
b
− n 
E = ae l  (6)
where E was the cumulative undersize recovery
of the screen, l was the screen length in cm and
α, b parameters > 0.
It was noted that, when the value of n varies
between 0.5 and 2.0 (0.5 < n < 2.0), the form of
the curves changes slightly as is shown in Fig. 2
(curves for n=0.7 or 2.0). This fact, in some
cases, leads to better goodness of fit to the data.
It is evident that the curves in Fig. 2 resemble in
shape the curve Ec shown in Fig. 1, which
represents the corrected efficiency of a classifier.
By reason of this observation, Eq. (6) was
suitably recast and then subjected to
mathematical analysis in order to verify its fitting
capability when used as a classifier corrected-
efficiency function.
From Eq. (6), substituting (e/2 = 1.359) for a,
(d50c)n for b and d for l , we get
n
−( d50 c / d )
(5) Ec = 1.359e (7)
where:
Ec: assigned as the fraction of the corrected
efficiency
d: is the particle size in µm (geometric
mean)
d50c: as assigned before and
n: is a power-law parameter.
Equation (7) is a two-parameter (d50c, n)
function and it presents the basic characteristics
of a classifier corrected-efficiency function
(e.g., when d = d50c, then Ec = 1.359 x 0.3679 =
0.5 or 50%). Applying simple linear regression
to this equation, the two parameters can be
easily computed.
3. CALCULATION OF THE PARAMETERS
Table 1 presents the experimental data referred
in the classification test (Finch and Plitt, 1975)
4 Advances in Mineral Resources Management and
Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece

Table 1: Experimental data of the classification test

Corrected efficiency (%) calculated from size analysis

100
(Finch and Plitt, 1975). Rf = 0.479 or 47.9%
Experimental Corrected 90
Particle
Geometric actual efficiency
size, 80
mean efficiency Ea, Ec % from
Mesh 70
size d, µm % to Eq.1,
Tyler
underflow (Rf=47.9%) 60
+ 10 - 100.0 100.0
50
-10+20 1173 100.0 100.0
-20+28 701 100.0 100.0 40
-28+35 496 99.6 99.2
30
-35+48 351 99.2 98.5 New model (K.T.)
-48+65 247 92.7 86.0 20 Lynch
Harris
-65+100 175 79.2 60.1 10 Plitt-Reid
-100+150 124 75.9 53.8
-150+200 88 70.1 42.6 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
-200+325 57 57.2 17.9
Corrected efficiencies predicted from various models (%)
-325 22* 48.9 0.2
*
Arithmetic mean Figure 3: Comparison of the corrected efficiency Ec,
calculated from the experimental actual efficiency Ea,
and the hydrocyclone corrected-efficiency with the corrected efficiencies predicted from the various
values Ec calculated from Eq. (1). For the test models. Solid line corresponds to y=x.
under consideration all the parameters were corresponding d50 and dmax sizes computed from
predicted, not only those of the proposed model, the models and Eq. (1).
but also those for the already known models as Table 3 shows that the already known models
well. (Lynch, Plitt-Reid, Harris) give a better fitting
For the Lynch and Harris models, the various capability for coarse particle sizes, while the
parameters were predicted using Mathcad and proposed model for the fine particles.
applying a non-linear regression procedure to The calculated d50 separation sizes differ
the pairs (Ec, d) of Table 1, whereas for the slightly between the already known models
other two models (Plitt-Reid and the new (from 11.83 to 16.7 µm), but that predicted from
model) their parameters were computed using a the proposed model (28.3 µm) is closer to the
simple linear regression to the linearized forms experimental one, which in any case must be
of the initial equations. Table 2 presents the greater than 22 µm as shown in Table 1.
values of the parameters calculated for the four Another significant characteristic of the
models. proposed model is that Ec = 1 at a finite particle
size dmax = 436.2 µm, i.e. very close to that
predicted from Harris’ model (dmax = 433.1 µm),
4. COMPARISON OF THE VARIOUS
overcoming the inherent disadvantage of the
MODELS other two models (Lynch, Plitt-Reid).
For purposes of comparison Table 3 was From the data calculated from the various
produced, using data from Table 2 and Eq. (1) models and Eq. (1) (corrected efficiencies) and
for Rf = 47.9 %. those given in Table 3 (actual efficiencies),
Table 3 contains the experimental data, the Figures 3 and 4 were constructed. From these
calculated actual-efficiency values and the figures it is seen that the calculated values from
Table 2. Values of the parameters for the various models and methods of prediction
Model Lynch Plitt-Reid Harris New model
d50c = 123 µm d50c = 122 µm dmax = 433.1 µm d50c = 116 µm
Values of the
a = 1.602 m = 1.42 m = 1.263 n = 0.8922
parameters
r = 2.878
Simple linear Non-linear regression Simple linear
Method of
Non-linear regression regression & & graphically (very regression &
prediction
graphically complicated) graphically
Advances in Mineral Resources Management and 5
Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece

Table 3: Comparison of the actual efficiencies Ea computed from the various models
Experimental actual Calculated actual efficiency (% to underflow) from the
Geometric mean size various models for Rf = 47.9%
efficiency Ea, % to
d, µm
underflow Lynch Plitt-Reid Harris New Model
1173 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
701 100.0 99.98 100.0 100.0 100.0
496 99.6 99.69 99.69 100.0 100.0
351 99.2 97.93 97.66 99.21 96.66
247 92.7 92.60 92.08 92.60 90.41
175 79.2 83.78 83.64 82.70 83.28
124 75.9 74.16 74.37 73.17 75.46
88 70.1 66.20 66.29 65.51 67.54
57 57.2 59.22 58.84 58.65 58.63
22* 48.9 51.92 50.97 51.27 48.76
Computed actual separation size d50, µm 11.83 16.7 15 28.3
dmax at Ec =1, in µm - - 433.1 436.2
the proposed model are relatively close to those corresponds to Ec=0.5 or 50%. Similarly, when
predicted from the others. Ec=1 or 100%, then A=0.7358 or 73.58 %.
Taking into account the above observations, the
ordinate (y-axis) of a Rosin-Rammler graph was
5. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE modified, putting in the points of 36.79% and
NEW MODEL 73.58% retained, the values 50% and 100% for
Equation (7) can be rearranged to give: Ec, respectively.
n
Equation (9) can be represented as a straight
− ( d50 c d )
Ec 1.359 = e (8) line on the new graph. The parameter n is
positive, but the slope of the line is negative, as
Substituting A for (Ec/1.359) gives: shown below:
− ( d50c d ) n
A=e (9) log ( log ( 1.359 E c )) = − n log d + n log d 50 c − log(2.303)
Equation (9) is a modified Rosin-Rammler (10)
equation. From Eq. (9) it is clear that, when
d=d50c then A=0.3679 or 36.79%, which Thus d50c can be easily obtained from the point
on the abscissa (x-axis) corresponding to the
corrected efficiency Ec=0.5 or 50%. Applying
Experimental actual efficiency Ea (% to underflow)

100
the same procedure, dmax can be calculated from
the graph as corresponding to Ec = 1.
90 Figure 5 shows the new graph, which
represents the pairs (Ec, d) from Table 1.
80

6. CONCLUSIONS
70
The present model is a powerful two-parameter
60
Actual Efficiency (Ea) model. All the parameters describing the
Lynch
Harris performance of a classifier can be
50
Plitt-Reid mathematically and graphically obtained with
New Model (K.T.)
accuracy comparable to that presented by the
50 60 70 80 90 100
already known models. It can be used as an
Actual efficiencies predicted from various models (%)
alternative or in parallel with the other already
Figure 4: Comparison of the actual efficiencies predicted applied models for the calculation of d50c, dmax
from various models to the actual efficiency (Ea) from and d50 (actual separation size).
size analysis. Solid line corresponds to y=x. It was pointed out that d50 is closer to the
6 Advances in Mineral Resources Management and
Environmental Geotechnology, Hania 2004, Greece
Figure 5: Hydrocyclone classification tests: modified Rosin-Rammler y-axis versus log plot.
experimental one than those predicted from the
other models. This is due probably to the
superior fitting capability of the proposed model
for the fine size fractions.
It can also be thought as an advantage of the
proposed model that Ec is predicted to be 1.359
or 135.9% at infinite particle size, whereas Ec =
1 or 100% at a finite particle size dmax, as it
actually happens in wet classification.
Actually, the proposed model is in most
cases reliable and adequate for the
representation of the classifier efficiency
(corrected and actual), but it needs further
testing for its applicability to other classification
tests. However, for the case examined here it
was found to be valid.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is indebted to Professors A.
Frangiskos and E. Mitsoulis for helpful
discussions and suggestions.
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