Efficiencies of KREBS15 and GMAX15 hydrocyclones used in desliming at Samarco Mining S/A

ABSTRACTThis study used mathematical models to compare the classification efficiency of two types of hydrocyclones – GMAX and KREBS – both of which have cylindrical sections with a diameter of 15″ (0.381 m). These devices were installed at the desliming stage and positioned on two parallel production lines at the Samarco Mining Industrial Facility. Samples were collected at the feed, underflow, and overflow streams. Lynch and Rao’s model was used to calibrate the partition curve. To determine the efficiencies of these classifiers, the total area under the curve until the d50point and above the curve beyond d50was calculated. Lynch and Rao’s alpha (α) parameter was also determined. Results show that GMAX15 performed better than KREBS15, with a lower area (−22.4%) and a finer cut point, d50c(0.0183 mm). The KREBS15 and GMAX15 hydrocyclones, operating under similar conditions, presented the same αvalue of 1.85.