Separation of Gold through Centrifuge

Humphrey’s spiral. The separation of gold through centrifuge force, consists of the spiral in a separating mechanism which has a canal which rolls up in a spiral and within an vertical axis, and it transversal section is concave form with the intention that the water and solid which enter flow in the external part of the spiral in the form of a thick lamina and diminishes the thickness progressively in the sense of the external border of the spire.

Every half turn of the spiral, there exists a regulating opening, situated in the lower part which a deflector possesses, which guides the heavy material to the outlet which downloads in a central tube.

The poor minerals, which have not been separated, are dragged by the water until the final download.

Because of the condition of the rapid separation it is necessary to process the treated material at least 5 to 6 times until you get the optimization of the recuperation.

Normally, the treated pulp has 75% of proportion of water and 25% of solids.

There are simple spirals and double spirals, being the feeding through a distribution box, where one can control the adequate relation of the pulp, by which a strict supervision of the process is required.

Principles:

• Inclination of the spiral 5° degrees
• Water speed 1.5 to 3.0 m./second
• Relation: centrifuge acceleration vs. Gravity
• V2/rg = 0.57 to 2.3
• Centrifuge force: Cf = mV2/r

It is important to consider for the processes of centrifuge Humphrey’s the use of clean waters, due to the fact that the dirty water of recycling affect the recuperation, for which they supply with the traditional Jig and tables of concentration sensibly.