In-situ monitoring of particle velocities and solids concentration variations in wet low-intensity magnetic separators

In previous work, we have shown how an ultrasound pulse-echo setup can be used to simultaneously measure particle velocity profiles and local solids concentration variations in solid/liquid particle suspensions. In this paper, we demonstrate a real-world case where the system is installed in a wet low-intensity magnetic separator, a process in which magnetic material is separated from gangue. The method was evaluated at LKAB's R&D facilities in Malmberget, Sweden, on one of their pilot scale separators. The results show that it is possible to detect changes in the flow velocity patterns and the local solids concentration, as the operational conditions of the separator are varied.