Air Classifier (Altun)
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Description
This article describes the Altun and Benzer (2014) model for air classification.[1]
Model theory
Excel
The Altun air classifier model may be invoked from the Excel formula bar with the following function call:
=mdUnit_AirClassifier_Altun(Parameters as Range, Size as Range, Feed as Range, OreSG Range)
Invoking the function with no arguments will print Help text associated with the model, including a link to this page.
Inputs
The required inputs are defined below in matrix notation with elements corresponding to cells in Excel row ([math]\displaystyle{ i }[/math]) x column ([math]\displaystyle{ j }[/math]) format:
- [math]\displaystyle{ Parameters= \begin{bmatrix} D\text{ (m)}\\ \mathit{AF}\text{ (m}^3\text{/h)}\\ \mathit{RS}\text{ (m/s)}\\ k_{\alpha}\\ n_{\alpha}\\ k_{d_{50}}\\ n_{d_{50}}\\ k_{C}\\ n_{C}\\ k_{\beta}\\ n_{\beta}\\ c_{\beta}\\ (Q_{\rm M,F})_{\rm L}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \end{bmatrix},\;\;\;\;\;\; Size = \begin{bmatrix} d_{1}\text{ (mm)}\\ \vdots\\ d_p\text{ (mm)}\\ \end{bmatrix},\;\;\;\;\;\; Feed= \begin{bmatrix} (Q_{\rm M,F})_{11}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,F})_{1m}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots\\ (Q_{\rm M,F})_{n1}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,F})_{nm}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \end{bmatrix},\;\;\;\;\;\; OreSG= \begin{bmatrix} (\rho_{\rm S})_{1}\text{ (t/m}^\text{3}\text{)} & \dots & (\rho_{\rm S})_m\text{ (t/m}^\text{3}\text{)}\\ \end{bmatrix} }[/math]
where:
- [math]\displaystyle{ D }[/math] is the classifier chamber diameter (m)
- [math]\displaystyle{ \mathit{AF} }[/math] is the air flow rate (m3/h)
- [math]\displaystyle{ \mathit{RS} }[/math] is rotor speed (m/s)
- [math]\displaystyle{ k }[/math] is an equation coefficient
- [math]\displaystyle{ n }[/math] is an equation exponent
- [math]\displaystyle{ c }[/math] is an equation constant
- [math]\displaystyle{ (Q_{\rm M,F})_{\rm L} }[/math] is the mass flow rate of liquids in the feed (t/h)'
- [math]\displaystyle{ p }[/math] is the number of size intervals
- [math]\displaystyle{ m }[/math] is the number of ore types
- [math]\displaystyle{ d_i }[/math] is the size of the square mesh interval that mass is retained on (mm)
- [math]\displaystyle{ d_{i+1}\lt d_i\lt d_{i-1} }[/math], i.e. descending size order from top size ([math]\displaystyle{ d_{1} }[/math]) to sub mesh ([math]\displaystyle{ d_{p}=0 }[/math] mm)
- [math]\displaystyle{ \rho_{\rm S} }[/math] is the density of solids (t/m3)
Results
The results are displayed in Excel as an array corresponding to the matrix notation below:
- [math]\displaystyle{ \mathit{mdUnit\_AirClassifier\_Altun} = \begin{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} \mathit{DL}\text{ (kg/m}^3\text{)}\\ F\text{ (t/h)}\\ \alpha\\ d_{\rm 50c}\text{ (mm)}\\ C\text{ (frac)}\\ \beta\\ \beta^*\\ (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{\rm L}\text{ (t/h)}\\ (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{\rm L}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{array}{cccccc} \begin{bmatrix} \bar d_1\text{ (mm)}\\ \vdots\\ \bar d_n\text{ (mm)} \end{bmatrix} & \begin{bmatrix} (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{11}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{1m}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots\\ (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{n1}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{nm}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \end{bmatrix} & \begin{bmatrix} (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{11}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{1m}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots\\ (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{n1}\text{ (t/h)} & \dots & (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{nm}\text{ (t/h)}\\ \end{bmatrix} & \begin{bmatrix} (P_{\rm OF})_1\text{ (frac)}\\ \vdots\\ (P_{\rm OF})_n\text{ (frac)} \end{bmatrix} \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \end{array} \end{bmatrix} }[/math]
where:
- [math]\displaystyle{ \mathit{DL} }[/math] is the dust loading (kg/m3)
- [math]\displaystyle{ F }[/math] is the flow rate of -36+3 µm size particles in the feed (t/h)
- [math]\displaystyle{ \alpha }[/math] is the sharpness parameter of the Whiten-Beta efficiency curve
- [math]\displaystyle{ d_{\rm 50c} }[/math] is the cut size parameter of the Whiten-Beta efficiency curve (mm)
- [math]\displaystyle{ C }[/math] is the bypass parameter of the Whiten-Beta efficiency curve (frac)
- [math]\displaystyle{ \beta }[/math] is a fish-hook parameter of the Whiten-Beta efficiency curve
- [math]\displaystyle{ \beta^* }[/math] is a fish-hook parameter of the Whiten-Beta efficiency curve
- [math]\displaystyle{ (Q_{\rm M,OF})_{\rm L} }[/math] is the mass flow rate of liquids to the overflow stream (t/h)
- [math]\displaystyle{ (Q_{\rm M,UF})_{\rm L} }[/math] is the mass flow rate of liquids to the underflow stream (t/h)
- [math]\displaystyle{ P_{\rm OF} }[/math] is the partition fraction to overflow (frac)
Example
The images below show the selection of input arrays and output results in the Excel interface.
SysCAD
References
- ↑ Altun, O. and Benzer, H., 2014. Selection and mathematical modelling of high efficiency air classifiers. Powder Technology, 264, pp.1-8.


