Particle Size Analysis

Particle Size Analysis

The purpose of size analysis in the lab. :

1. To determine the quality of grinding ,

2. To establish the degree of liberation of valuable
mineral from the gangue at various particle sizes
3. To determine the optimum size of the feed for
maximum efficiency
4. To determine the size range at which any losses are
occuring in the plant

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Particle Size Analysis

The primary function of precision particle analysis is to

obtain quantitative data about the size and size
distribution of particles in the material
Particle Size and Shape
- For spherical particle : The size is defined by the diameter
- For a cube : Size is defined as the length along one edge
- For irregular particles : Equivalent diameter

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> Equivalent diameter refers to the diameter of a sphere that
would behave in the same manner as the particle when
submitted to some specified operation.

Several equivalent diameter :

- Stokes’ diameter - measured by sedimentation and elutriation
techniques
- Projected area diameter - measured microscopically
- Sieve aperture diameter – measured by sieving

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Shape Description Picture

Acicular Needle – shaped

Angular Sharp – edged or having

roughly polyhedral shape

Crystalline Freely developed in a fluid

medium of geometric
shape
Dendritic Having a branched
crystalline shape

Fibrous Plate like

Fibrous

Flaky Plate like

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Shape Description Picture
Granular : having approximately an
equidimensional irregular
shape
-
Irregular : Lacking any symmetry
-
Modular : Rounded , irregular shape
-
Spherical: Global shape

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Some Methods of Particle Size Analysis

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SIEVE ANALYSIS/ TEST SIEVING

Most widely used method of particle size analysis.

Standart test sieving can be accomplished down to
75 m
Particle finer than this size are often referred to as
being Sub Sieve Range , although modern sieving
allows sizing to be carried out down to about 5 m.

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 Sieving can be carried out in dry and wet condition. Near –Size (near
mesh) materials cause blinding which reduce the effective area of the
sieving medium . It is most serious with very small aperture size.

Sieving takes place into 2- stages:

1. Elimination of particles smaller than the screen apertures (rapid).
2. Separation of the near – size material.
The effectiveness of a sieving test depends on the amount of material
put on the sieve.
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 TEST SIEVES
Test sieves are designated by the nominal aperture size, which is the
nominal central separation of opposite sides of a square aperture or the
nominal diameter of a round aperture.
◦ German Standard , DIN 4188
◦ ASTM Standard
◦ American Tyler Series
◦ French (AFNOR) Series
◦ British Standard , BS Series

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 TEST SIEVES
mesh number – refers to the number of wires per inch, which is the
same as the number of square apertures per square inch.

nominal aperture size - is the nominal central separation of opposite

sides of a square aperture or the nominal diameter of a round aperture.

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Weaves of wire cloth: a.) plain weave b.) twilled weave

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Important:

In general, the sieve range should be chosen such

that no more than about 5% of the sample is
retained on the coarsest sieve, or passes the finest
sieve.

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Testing Method

1. Weigh each of the chosen sieves and record (W1).

2. Arrange the chosen sieves in a stack, or nest, with the coarsest sieve on the top and the finest at
the bottom.
3. Place a tight-fitting pan or receiver below the bottom sieve to receive the final undersize.
4. Put a known amount of material on a coarsest screen.
5. Place a lid on top of the coarsest sieve to prevent escape of the sample.
6. Vibrate the nest in a sieve shaker for a determined time.
7. Take apart the nest and weigh the sieve with the material retained and record (W2). The difference
in weight is the weight of your material.
8. Tabulate the results in cum. wt % retained and passing form.

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Presentation of Results of Sieving Test :

(1) The sieve size ranges used in the test.

(2) The weight of material in each size range.
(3) The weight of material in each size range expressed as a percentage of the total weight.
(4) The nominal aperture sizes of the sieves used in the test.
(5) The cumulative percentage of material passing through the sieves.
(6) The cumulative percentage of material retained on the sieves.
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 Representation of screen analysis results

Direct plot (Fractional curves )

Reflects the relative frequency of occurrence of the various sizes present
in the material. It shows the mode of the distribution , i.e. the most
commonly occuring size.

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The Use of Size Analysis in Mass
Balance
In the circuit shown in the Fig, the rod mill is fed at the rate of
20 t/h of dry solids (density 2,900 kg/m3). The cyclone feed
contains 35% solids by weight, and size analyses on the rod mill
discharge and cyclone feed gave:
Rod mill discharge: 26.9% +250um
Ball mill discharge: 4.9% +250um
Cyclone feed: 13.8% +250um
Calculate the volumetric flow rate of feed to the cyclone.

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The Use of Size Analysis in
Mass Balance
In the circuit shown in the Fig, the rod mill is fed
at the rate of 20 t/h of dry solids (density 2,900
kg/m3). The cyclone feed contains 35% solids by
weight, and size analyses on the rod mill
discharge and cyclone feed gave:
Rod mill discharge : 26.9% +250um
Ball mill discharge : 4.9% +250um
Cyclone feed : 13.8% +250um
Calculate the volumetric flow rate of feed to the
cyclone.

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 Solution
If we denote

R= mass flow rate of dry solids discharge from Rod Mill

B = mass flow rate of dry solids discharge from the Ball Mill
CF = mass flow rate of dry solids feed to the cyclone

A dry solid material balance on the cyclone feed junction give:

𝐶𝐹 = 𝑅 + 𝐵 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝐹 = 20 + 𝐵

𝐵 = 𝐶𝐹 − 20

A balance of the +250um material on the cyclone feed junction gives:

𝑥𝐶𝐹 𝐶𝐹 = 𝑥𝑅 𝑅 + 𝑥𝐵 𝐵
13.8𝐶𝐹 = 26.9 20 + 4.9𝐵 𝑜𝑟
49.4𝑡
13.8𝐶𝐹 = 26.9 20 + 4.9 𝐶𝐹 − 20 𝐶𝐹 =
ℎ
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 Solution

Then,
49.4𝑡 1000𝑘𝑔
𝑚ሶ 𝑋 .
Volumetric flowrate of solids, 𝑉ሶ = = ℎ 𝑡
= 17.0𝑚3 /ℎ
𝐷 2900𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

49.4𝑡 1000𝑘𝑔 65%𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑚ሶ 𝑥 𝑡 𝑥 35%𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠
Volumetric flowrate of water, 𝑉ሶ = =. ℎ
= 91.7𝑚3 /ℎ
𝐷 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

Total Volumetric flowrate of feed in the cyclone =𝑉𝑠ሶ + 𝑉𝑤ሶ = 108.7 m3/h

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