Optimisation and control of dense medium cyclone circuits

Abstract

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the University of Queensland’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKRMC) have conducted a number of Research projects focussed on the Dense Medium Cyclone (DMC) circuit in coal preparation plants. Research covered areas such as screen optimisation, drain rates of multi-sloped screens, medium quality and the effect of medium quality on the DMC operation. These projects have led to the development of instruments and techniques to measure the aperture and open area of screen decks, stroke and screen motion and the DMC overflow and underflow medium densities. This has provided researchers with a unique opportunity to investigate the factors that control the efficiency of DMC operation, and to determine control strategies to optimise the DMC process with particular emphasis on the underflow and overflow medium densities as an indicator of DMC and correct medium “health”.