Computer method for simulating relative density distribution analysis with application to gravity separations

Abstract

A computer-based technique has been developed for the determination of specific gravity distribution profiles. It has been designed to overcome many of the practical and technical problems that are often encountered in conventional methods of determining specific gravity profiles, such as heavy-liquid analysis. The new technique relies on a minimum of easily obtainable input data (assays and particulate specific gravity measurements of bulk products) to predict the weights and associated assays of the fractionated products. Details of the method are given with practical examples. Results that were calculated by use of the model are compared with data collected from heavy-liquid analyses, enabling its scope and limitations to be assessed, and its applications are discussed.