Experience in the development of magnetic gravity separation at enterprises in Russia and CIS countries to improve the quality of iron ore raw materials

Abstract

The paper analyzes the tasks of producing high-quality iron ore concentrates suitable for nonblast-furnace metallurgy and the challenges of processing magnetite ores with the current technological level of dressing equipment and technologies. One of the best methods to improve the quality and the grade of iron ore raw materials is the use of magnetic gravity separation in the technological process, which allows selective separation of the liberated magnetite particles from their aggregates in processing of undersize products of fine vibrating screening. This trend is implemented in the innovative magnetite ore processing technology that uses the principle of the staged output of finished concentrate. The technology makes it possible to produce a high-quality concentrate after the first grinding stage. The magnetic gravity separation has undergone industrial validation, has proven its efficiency in practice, and has become widespread at mining and processing plants not only in Russia, but also in the CIS countries. Over 180 MGS-2.0 magnetic gravity separators produced by Russian manufacturers have already been or are being implemented at various Russian and CIS companies. Industrial separators are equipped with modern automation systems providing high technological separation performance, have no rotating parts and are simple in design. The authors continue R&D works on creation of automated control systems for the magnetic gravity separation process based on designing digital models adapted for introduction into the plant’s automated process control systems.