Scale-Up of Decanter Centrifuges for the Particle Separation and Mechanical Dewatering in the Minerals Processing Industry by Means of a Numerical Process Model

Decanter centrifuges are frequently used for thickening, dewatering, classification, or degritting in the mining industry and various other sectors. Their use an industrial process chain requires a sufficiently accurate prediction of product machine behaviour. For this purpose, experiments on smaller pilot-scale carried out scale-up decanter centrifuge, which is usually major challenge. Predicting behaviour from laboratory tests rather difficult. Basically, there two common ways scale-up: First, via analytical methods law similarity, often enormous experimental effort. Second, using numerical models, demands mathematically physically precise description multiple processes running simultaneously such machines. This article provides overview both centrifuge. The concept previous developed approach introduced. Pros cons compared further discussed. Experiments lab-scale, pilot-scale, industrial-scale with different finely dispersed calcium carbonate water suspensions were simulations done to investigate prove capability transferability approach.