ElutriationElutriation

Applications

By
Ashma Singh
Minerals Processing Division – Physical Separation

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 WhatIntroduction
is Elutriation/Elutriators ????
 Elutriation
 Process which enables the separation of fine
material (-3 mm) on the basis of size or density
with the help of upward current of water..

Elutriators/TBS
 Gravity separation units which have been
developed since 1934 from the “hydrosizer”
concept. Utilizes an upward current of water to
aid in separation.

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 ElutriationFundamentals
Elutriation Fundamentals

 Process involves the

separation of particles on the
basis of size and density by
means of an upward current
of fluid.
 Generally, finer and lower
density particles report to the
overflow whereas coarser
and denser particles report
to the underflow.

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Elutriation Principles
 Separation process:
Fluid  Influenced by rising water (teeter water)
and fluidized bed of particles.

 Settling velocity of feed particles (vsf) vs teeter

water velocity (vtw):
Particle Fluid  vsf < vtw …particles report to overflow
Buoyancy  vsf > vtw …particles report to underflow
weight Drag

 Density and size of particles:

 If two particles have the same density, the larger
one will have a greater terminal velocity.
 If two particles have the same diameter, the
denser one will have a higher terminal velocity.

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Elutriation Applications

 Elutriators are being used industrially with regards to

beneficiation of fine material:

Coal Fines
Iron Ore
Ferrochrome/ Ferromanganese from slag
Heavy Mineral Industry

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Operating Parameters
 Pulp Density
 Maintained at approximately 50-60% solids.

 Bed Height Setpoint

 Can be varied via a control system.
 Teeter Water Flowrate
Increase in teeter water increase in upward drag force

of
water on particle upward movement of particle.
Optimum separation occurs at a setpoint which produces a

product at a minimum teeter water flowrate.

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and
metallurgical technology
 Mintek Expertise
 Skilled staff (engineers, operators and technicians).
 Widespread knowledge with regards to behaviour of
various ore types.
 Laboratory as well as pilot scale facilities.

Minteks’ Minteks’
Laboratory Pilot Scale
Unit Unit

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Obtainable Results - Coal Testwork

Size Classification: -2+1mm

Elutriation testwork: variation of teeter water flowrate

at a low bed-height setpoint of 1.6.

Feed Size (mm) TW (L/min) Bed height setpoint
Conditions
-2+1for optimum
30 separation:1.6

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Partition Curve for -2+1mm Coal Illustrating Efficiency at
Developments in Mining Technology
100
low bed-height setpoints of 1.6

% Feed Reporting to
80

Overflow
60

40

20

0
1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4

Relative Density
T W=30 T W=40 T W=50

TW Ep D50 Ash % Mass Yield %

30 0.070 1.52 8.3 89.0
40 0.135 1.67 17.1 72.8
50 0.095 1.77 18.2 86.5

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Effects of Elutriator Design
 Feed Inlet
Feed O/F
Feed O/F

Tangential Flow Directly Above

* Less dense material * Denser material
U/F U/F

 Wall Effects
Results in an inconsistency of velocity across the column
The larger the column diameter the more efficient the separation

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology
 Potential Advantages / Disadvantages
Associated with Elutriation
Advantages
 Fully automatic with adjustable control system.

 Minimum operator supervision.

 Capable of handling variation in feed.
 Compact unit which requires less space for plant set-up.
 Disadvantages
Problems associated with scale-up
Wall effects
Channeling and rat-holing
Elutriation Specialists in mineral and
metallurgical technology
 Ashma Singh
Chemical Engineer
Tel: (011) 7094359
Fax: (011) 7094427
Cell: 0721857220
E-mail: ashmas@mintek.co.za

Minerals Processing Division

………………………………………………………………………………………….

200 Hans Strijdom

Private Bag X3015
Randburg
2125
Website: http://www.mintek.co.za

Elutriation Specialists in mineral and

metallurgical technology