Modelling of size recovery curves for minerals in teeter bed separator for processing iron ore fines

Abstract

Teeter bed separator has gained significant importance and appeared as a viable option for beneficiation of high alumina and low iron content Indian iron ore fines. Modelling particle separation in a Teeter bed separator from the first principles of particle mechanics and fluid dynamics has been challenging due to the complex interactions of forces acting on particles in varying flow regimes. So, the size recovery curve is a viable option for assessing the separation performance of this separator. This investigation systematically examines the suitability of the Teeter bed separator in reducing the alumina content in Indian iron ore fines. Thorough experimentation and statistical analysis confirm the separator's suitability for beneficiation. Careful consideration was also exercised in choosing a suitable mathematical model to characterize mineral size recovery curves. In this research work Modified Hyperbolic Tangent model, Hyperbolic Tangent model, Weibull model, Rosin-Rammler type model, Erasmus model, and Power function model have better fitted for size recovery. Out of which the Modified Hyperbolic Tangent models for all the data sets indicated the better ability to fit the size recovery data than other models. This innovative approach aligns with the principles of circular economy, aiming to optimize resource utilization and minimize waste throughout the production process. Furthermore, a suitable mathematical model is selected to represent the size recovery curves for minerals by adopting the statistical analysis approach to describe the process. The results may pave the way for the Indian iron ore beneficiation process to increase production yield and improve product quality for low-grade iron ore utilisation.