Online slurry particle density meter

Abstract

This paper reports on the long term operation of an Online Slurry Particle Density Meter (OSPDM) at the Bloomfield CHPP in New South Wales, Australia. This unit has been operating continuously for 36 months, providing real time process monitoring data to the operators. OSPDM outputs include slurry density, solids concentration on both mass and volumetric basis and average particle density. The operational reliability of the OSPDM was a major point of investigation. The installation of innovative backflush systems and other measures has allowed the unit to run for the 36 months without operator intervention. From a plant perspective, the OSPDM has been an invaluable instrument which has enabled irregularities in the flotation circuit performance to be identified which sampling had not and could not readily identify. This was achieved by close monitoring of real time tailings composition on a minute by minute basis. Variations in the tailings stream with respect to particle density and solids concentration were traced back to other issues in the plant. The OSPDM has allowed cell optimisation with respect to reagent dose rate in real time. The OSPDM with online feedback can also negate the need for large sampling campaigns and analysis during plant optimisation programs.