Modelagem matemática da distribuição do tamanho de partículas empregando peneiramento e cyclosizer em processos minerais.

Abstract

The particle size distribution is one of the most important variables in mineral processing, and there are several direct and indirect methods for its determination. However, the results generated by different methods necessarily diverge when compared or when there is a crossing of data. In this work, particle size distributions, obtained using the cyclosizer and conventional sieving, were measured in order to define an empirical distribution function, capable of determining the particle size distribution by sieving using measurements made in the cyclosizer, using the sieving hybrid between the techniques used. A hybrid sieving was carried out which allowed the correlation of two diameters obtained by different techniques using the empirical GaudinSchuhmann distribution function and the Fuorier series. The evaluation of the adequacy of the models to the series was carried out using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Rsquare (R2) error measures. For all investigated databases, the adjustment by the Fourier model was better compared to the one obtained by the GaudinSchuhmann model. Given the comparison, it was possible to observe that between the ranges from 75 to 14 μm there was a better fit between the techniques used, the empirical distribution of GaudinSchuhmann represented very well the finer particle size ranges, whereas the Fuorier series presented good adequacy both in thin band as well as thicker band. It is noteworthy that the method is general and can be applied to irregularly shaped particles.