Abstract:
The High Gradient Magnetic Separator (HGMS) with a horizontal magnetic field has many characteristics, including resistance to corrosion of the magnetic system and a low propensity for the magnetic medium to become blocked. Consequently, the HGMS has a significant effect on the rough separation of ilmenite. However, the limited spacing of the magnetic system, the narrow width of the sorting ring, and the small volume of the magnetic medium result in low processing capacity and high energy consumption. Therefore, equipment improvements are necessary to enhance the processing capacity and reduce energy consumption. Based on the SSS−II−2750 horizontal magnetic field HGMS, the separation ring system was enhanced. The thickness of the separation ring was increased in the height direction of the magnetic system, and the inner and outer double rings were divided. The medium box equipped with a coarse medium rod in the inner ring adsorbed coarse grain and strong magnetic target minerals, while the medium box with a fine medium rod in the outer ring adsorbed fine grain and micro−fine grain with weak magnetic target minerals, achieving cascade sorting. At the same time, both inner and outer rings were equipped with ore unloading devices to realize layered ore unloading, effectively improving the ore unloading rate of the target minerals. The effect of the first stage roughing process of ilmenite in a titanium separation plant in the Panxi area was investigated. The improved HGMS with a horizontal magnetic field yielded titanium crude concentrates with a TiO
2 grade of 18.55% and a recovery of 85.78%, under conditions of a magnetic field strength of 0.45 T, vertical ring speed of 6.2 r/min, stroke length of 10 mm, stroke frequency of 120 r/min, ore feed rate of 160 t/h, and raw ore TiO
2 grade of 10.42%. Compared with the pre−improvement and vertical magnetic field, the improved HGMS achieved a similar titanium crude concentrate grade but increased the recovery rate by 8.43 and 13.63 percentage points, respectively. The improved HGMS with a horizontal magnetic field demonstrated a good sorting effect, and the lowest excitation energy consumption among the three devices (0.49 kWh/t). The research indicated that the improved equipment has a large processing capacity and low energy consumption, achieving the objective of equipment enhancement.