A case study for quantifying process shear action on a shear sensitive slurry

摘要

Pilot plant operation is required to best approximate the process being simulated. Many process parameters are easily simulated, for example concentration, volumes and slurry variability. When dealing with shear sensitive slurry, another effect of the process is important to consider: process shear. This paper discusses a method for quantifying the process shear that slurries are exposed to in mining and beneficiation processes. Specifically, this paper considers a thickener trial pilot plant, operated by Ticor South Africa, to simulate the mining and beneficiation of the shear sensitive heavy mineral ore deposit found on the Kwa-Zulu Natal North Coast.