Particle-laden flow in a spiral separator

ORAL

Abstract

Spiral concentrators are used in the mining industry to separate particles of different size or density. The existing modeling literature considers the flow as a background fluid carrying non-neutrally buoyant particles. However recent work on modeling of slurries on inclines shows that at relatively modest volume fractions of particles, the presence of the particles affects the flow and, moreover, interparticle interactions such as hindered settling and shear-induced migration can quantitatively explain the dynamics of the separation of particle mixtures under gravity. We incorporate this physics into a model for particle segregation in a spiral concentrator.

–

Authors

  • Sungyon Lee

    Dept. of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, UCLA, Department of Mathematics, UCLA

  • Yvonne Stokes

    School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia, The University of Adelaide

  • Andrea Bertozzi

    UCLA, Dept. of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Department of Mathematics, University of California Los Angeles