The effective method for hydrovortex classification of finely dispersed technogenic mineral waste in the mining and metals industry

• Main Authors: Nikolay P. Kosarev, Vladimir N. Makarov, Aleksandr V. Ugolnikov, Nikolay V. Makarov, Aleksandr V. Lifanov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Perm National Research Polytechnic University 2019-12-01
• Series: Perm Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering
• Subjects: recycling; classification; hydrovortex heterocoagulation; venturi pipe; reynolds and euler criteria; supra-stokes motion
• Online Access: http://vestnik.pstu.ru/get/_res/fs/file2.pdf/9107/The+effective+method+for+hydrovortex+classification+of+finely+dispersed+technogenic+mineral+waste+in+the+mining+and+metals+industryfile2.pdf

The paper describes the development of an effective method and technology for hydrovortex classification of technogenic mineral formation (TMF) nanoparticles in a fluidized bed. In addition, it deals with designing a mathematical apparatus to calculate the geometry and energy characteristics necessary to implement the method. Numerous studies have shown that effective recycling of technogenic mineral formations is limited by stringent requirements to fractional composition, median size and dispersity of TMF particles. Insufficiently advanced equipment, technology and TMF classification restrain the ability to use the TMF. The rigid requirements to the TMF classification by median size dispersion necessitate searching for the methods and technical aids, which would allow for meeting these requirements in the conditions of probabilistic distribution of physical and mechanical, geometrical, and kinematic parameters of the microparticles. The mathematical model for the hydrovortex classification of TMF micro and nanoparticles has been built using the Boussinesq hydrodynamic equations and dimension theory. The motion equations for a ‘liquid drop – TMF microparticle’ dispersed system have been obtained in the conditions of unsteady hydrodynamic inertial supra-Stokes motion during the classification, as a function of the Euler and Reynolds criteria. It has been confirmed that the diameter of the completely absorbed particles comprising free-flowing TMF components depends on the liquid drop rotation rate in the hydrovortex classification. It has been established that, in the hydrovortex classification, the relaxation time of liquid drops with integrated TMF micro and nanoparticles depends on the particle median size. Based on the required performance and energy characteristics of a hydrovortex aerator, we obtained an equation for calculating geometric parameters of a Venturi classifier. Feasibility of separating TMF microparticles in the range of (0.5–5.0)10–6 with a dispersion of maximum 20 % was confirmed by testing a pilot industrial model of the Venturi GKV-200 hydrovortex classifier in a certification procedure.