Hydrocyclones
The Black Hills used to be famous for the mining done here. Specifically, the Black hills were popular during the gold rush. One thing that has been forgotten however, is that mining is still one a big industry here in the western part of the state. One of the major goals of mining is classifying valuable material and separating it from the valueless material. One of the most common ways to do this here is using a device called a hydrocyclone.
A hydrocyclone is a classification device used in the mining and mineral processing industry, where a slurry feed (water and raw ore) is fed into the device. By way of using water and pressured air, particles are separated based on size density. This is the most common way to classify slurry in the industry due to its low running costs and precision in separating the material.
Etymology
The word hydrocyclone can be broken down into two words both of Greek origin. The first one hydro comes from the Greek word hýdōr meaning water. The second cyclone comes from the Greek word kyklôn which means revolving.
Description
The basic description of hydrocyclones is a funnel like device with a circular feed tube that is tangential to the rest of the device. At the top of the hydrocyclone there is another tube meant for the overflow, which is considered the less dense particles. At the bottom of the funnel there is a hole which allows solid discharge of denser particles which can then be feed into a secondary cyclone or re-circulated through the first two steps of mineral processing.
When the raw material is feed into the hydrocyclone, the pressurized air and water creates a centrifuge of material, thus allowing the denser material to fall to the bottom while allowing the less dense material to be caught in the vortex and sent to the top tube and can be sent for further refining
Particle Sizes
The final particle size of the valuable material can range from 40 microns to 400 microns. Hydrocyclones are the most common classification device, its size and shape can vary slightly. A large hydrocyclone will not classify material as well as a smaller hydrocyclone but can get more work done by allow thousands of tons per day more through. The smaller hydrocyclones are much better for separating and classifying fine material but they have a very limited capacity and not all material can be fed through.
Uses in the Black Hills
Hydrocyclones can be used in various applications. Some popular uses in the Black Hills is in the processing of mica and schist. They may also be used to separate gold from ore. Lastly, it is used in garnet separation here in the Hills.
Sources:
Han, Kenneth, and Jon J. Kellar. Mineral Processing and Resource Recovery. 1st ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: n.p., 2008. Print. Ser. 1.
“Hydrocyclone Frequently Asked Questions.” Hydrocyclone Frequently Asked Questions, Chemindustrial Systems Inc., hydrocyclone.com/faq.htm. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.
“Hydrocyclones & Separators™.” Hydrocyclones & Separators™ : McLanahan, Mclanahan, mclanahan.com/products/hydrocyclones-separators/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.
“Hydrocyclone Working Principle.” Mineral Processing / Metallurgy, 911 Metallurgist , 23 Oct. 2016, www.911metallurgist.com/blog/hydrocyclone-workingprinciple. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.
The Black Hills used to be famous for the mining done here. Specifically, the Black hills were popular during the gold rush. One thing that has been forgotten however, is that mining is still one a big industry here in the western part of the state. One of the major goals of mining is classifying valuable material and separating it from the valueless material. One of the most common ways to do this here is using a device called a hydrocyclone.
A hydrocyclone is a classification device used in the mining and mineral processing industry, where a slurry feed (water and raw ore) is fed into the device. By way of using water and pressured air, particles are separated based on size density. This is the most common way to classify slurry in the industry due to its low running costs and precision in separating the material.
Etymology
The word hydrocyclone can be broken down into two words both of Greek origin. The first one hydro comes from the Greek word hýdōr meaning water. The second cyclone comes from the Greek word kyklôn which means revolving.
Description
The basic description of hydrocyclones is a funnel like device with a circular feed tube that is tangential to the rest of the device. At the top of the hydrocyclone there is another tube meant for the overflow, which is considered the less dense particles. At the bottom of the funnel there is a hole which allows solid discharge of denser particles which can then be feed into a secondary cyclone or re-circulated through the first two steps of mineral processing.
When the raw material is feed into the hydrocyclone, the pressurized air and water creates a centrifuge of material, thus allowing the denser material to fall to the bottom while allowing the less dense material to be caught in the vortex and sent to the top tube and can be sent for further refining
Particle Sizes
The final particle size of the valuable material can range from 40 microns to 400 microns. Hydrocyclones are the most common classification device, its size and shape can vary slightly. A large hydrocyclone will not classify material as well as a smaller hydrocyclone but can get more work done by allow thousands of tons per day more through. The smaller hydrocyclones are much better for separating and classifying fine material but they have a very limited capacity and not all material can be fed through.
Uses in the Black Hills
Hydrocyclones can be used in various applications. Some popular uses in the Black Hills is in the processing of mica and schist. They may also be used to separate gold from ore. Lastly, it is used in garnet separation here in the Hills.
Sources:
Han, Kenneth, and Jon J. Kellar. Mineral Processing and Resource Recovery. 1st ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: n.p., 2008. Print. Ser. 1.
“Hydrocyclone Frequently Asked Questions.” Hydrocyclone Frequently Asked Questions, Chemindustrial Systems Inc., hydrocyclone.com/faq.htm. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.
“Hydrocyclones & Separators™.” Hydrocyclones & Separators™ : McLanahan, Mclanahan, mclanahan.com/products/hydrocyclones-separators/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.
“Hydrocyclone Working Principle.” Mineral Processing / Metallurgy, 911 Metallurgist , 23 Oct. 2016, www.911metallurgist.com/blog/hydrocyclone-workingprinciple. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.