Evaluating the influence of lifter face angle on the trajectory of particles in a tumbling mill using PEPT

The work performed in this thesis was aimed at evaluating the influence of lifter face angle on the charge kinematics for a laboratory scale mill. The study involved tracking a single particle representing the ensemble using the Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) to obtain the location of the particle with time. The particle was radiated with a radionuclide; ⁶⁸8Ga, which has a half-life of 68 minutes. The objectives of the study involved tests with different lifter face angles at different mill speeds and volumetric mill filling. After performing the tests the data was analysed to obtain probability density distributions for each test conditions from key charge descriptors. Charge descriptors such as the Centre of Circulation (CoC), shoulder angle, toe angle, the free surface and also kinematic information such as the velocity profile along a carefully chosen radial line from the centre of the mill that passes through the CoC were obtained. The time averaged velocity data was used when assessing the influence of the lifter face angle on the velocity profile. The results showed notable effects of lifter face angle on charge characteristics. No real definitive trend was observed for the CoC as the lifter face angle was altered at all mill speed and filling conditions. However, the CoC showed an outward shift toward the mill shell with an increase in mill speed but an inward shift toward the mill centre with increase in charge filling degrees. Mill speed is expected to cause a load expansion as the charge approaches centrifugation.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Chemical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Takalimane, Motena

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Mainza, Aubrey
• Govender, Indresan

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13374

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13374