Spiral separator

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Drawing of a spiral separator

The term spiral separator can refer to either a device for separating
slurry components by density (wet spiral separators), or for a device
for sorting particles by shape (dry spiral separators).

Wet Spiral Separators

Spiral separators of the wet type, also called spiral concentrators, are
devices to separate solid components in a slurry, based upon a
combination of the solid particle density as well as the particle's
hydrodynamic properties (e.g. drag). The device consists of a tower,
around which is wound a sluice, from which slots or channels are
placed in the base of the sluice to extract solid particles that have
come out of suspension.
As larger and heavier particles sink to the bottom of the sluice faster

and experience more drag from the bottom, they travel slower, and so
move towards the center of the spiral. Conversely, light particles stay
towards the outside of the spiral, with the water, and quickly reach the
bottom. At the bottom, a "cut" is made with a set of adjustable bars,
channels, or slots, separating the low and high density parts. Many
things can be done to improve the separation eciency, including:
changing the rate of material feed
changing the grain size of the material
changing the slurry mass percentage[1]
adjusting the cutter bar positions
running the output of one spiral separator (often, a third,
intermediate, cut) through a second.
adding washwater inlets along the length of the spiral, to aid in
separating light minerals
adding multiple outlets along the length, to improve the ability of the
spiral to remove heavy contaminants
adding ridges on the sluice at an angle to the direction of ow. [2]
Typical spiral concentrators will use a slurry from about 20%-40%
solids by weight, with a particle size somewhere between 1.5-.075 mm
(17-340 mesh), though somewhat larger particle sizes are sometimes
used. For good separation, the density dierence between the heavy
minerals and the light minerals in the feedstock should be at least 1
g/cm3;[3] and because the separation is dependent upon size and
density, spiral separators are most eective at purifying ore if its
particles are of uniform size and shape. A spiral separator may process
a couple tons per hour of ore, per ight, and multiple ights may be
stacked in the same space as one, to improve capacity.[4]

Dry Spiral Separators

Dry spiral separators, capable of distinguishing round particles from
nonrounds, are used to sort the feed by shape. The device consists of a
tower, around which is wound an inwardly inclined ight. A catchment

funnel is placed around this inner ight. Round particles roll at a higher
speed than other objects, and so are ung o the inner ight and into
the collection funnel. Shapes which are not round enough are collected
at the bottom of the ight.
Separators of this type may be used for removing weed seeds from the
intended harvest, or to remove deformed lead shot.

See also
Screw conveyor
Cyclone (separator)
Sieve
Mineral processing
Mechanical screening

References and Further Reading

1. ^ "Fine Anthracite Coal Washing Using Spirals" . May 2001.
2. ^ "alicoco mineral technology co, ltd" . Retrieved Dec 14, 2010.
3. ^ "Shanchuan Heavy Industry Co, Ltd" . Retrieved Dec 14, 2010.
4. ^ "Outotec separator selection guide" . Retrieved Dec 14, 2010.
US Design of a take-o point for the extraction of dense material
separated from a helical spiral separator. 922804 , Wright, Douglas,
"Spiral Separators", published 7. Jul. 1978, issued 19. Feb. 1980
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Last edited 12 months ago by Daniele Pugliesi

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