ISSN 2594-357X
22nd Mining Symposium — Vol. 22, Num. 22 (2023)
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Abstract
The new Cavex® 2 (CVD) hydrocyclone was proposed to optimize the desliming stage performance at Vargem Grande 2 Plant (VGR2), located in the Iron Quadrangle, where the average iron ore slimes losses correspond to approximately 18% by weight of the total iron ore mined, totaling 1.9 million tons of iron lost every year. To further explore the desliming performance of the Cavex® 2 (CVD) cyclones compared to the original Cavex® (CVX) one applied to low-grade itabirite ores, the effects of the apex and vortex were examined by combining static simulation and industrial tests. Results showed that the combination of the LIG+(TM) inlet and new chamber design in the CVD hydrocyclone reduces pulp turbulence and promotes an increased volumetric capacity of approximately 30%. Furthermore, the new hydrocyclone presents a finer granulometric cut for the same cyclone diameter and apex/vortex configurations when compared to CVX, in addition to the greater mass separation to the underflow and consequent 9 p.p gain in mass recovery. Finally, adjustments to the geometric configurations of CVX cyclones were not enough to achieve the same separation performance as CVD, with the latter model achieving the best separation efficiency with approximately 6 p.p improvement.
The new Cavex® 2 (CVD) hydrocyclone was proposed to optimize the desliming stage performance at Vargem Grande 2 Plant (VGR2), located in the Iron Quadrangle, where the average iron ore slimes losses correspond to approximately 18% by weight of the total iron ore mined, totaling 1.9 million tons of iron lost every year. To further explore the desliming performance of the Cavex® 2 (CVD) cyclones compared to the original Cavex® (CVX) one applied to low-grade itabirite ores, the effects of the apex and vortex were examined by combining static simulation and industrial tests. Results showed that the combination of the LIG+(TM) inlet and new chamber design in the CVD hydrocyclone reduces pulp turbulence and promotes an increased volumetric capacity of approximately 30%. Furthermore, the new hydrocyclone presents a finer granulometric cut for the same cyclone diameter and apex/vortex configurations when compared to CVX, in addition to the greater mass separation to the underflow and consequent 9 p.p gain in mass recovery. Finally, adjustments to the geometric configurations of CVX cyclones were not enough to achieve the same separation performance as CVD, with the latter model achieving the best separation efficiency with approximately 6 p.p improvement.
Keywords
Cavex® 2; Desliming; Hydrocyclone; Iron Ore
Cavex® 2; Desliming; Hydrocyclone; Iron Ore
How to cite
Lima, Jéssica Lemos; Roberto, José Benedito; Leite, Israel Aguiar; Débora Vilela de Sá; Antunes, Thiago Pazzi Marques; Matos, Vanderlei Fonseca; Oliveira, Graciana de Souza.
INCREASED MASS RECOVERY FROM DESLIMING AT VARGEM GRANDE 2 USING THE NEW MODEL CAVEX® 2 (CVD) HYDROCYCLONE,
p. 142-151.
In: 22nd Mining Symposium,
São Paulo,
2023.
ISSN: 2594-357X, DOI 10.5151/2594-357X-39698
