Quartz sand is one of the important non-metallic minerals. For a quartz sand beneficiation plant, daily management has a significant impact on product quality, economic returns, and various other aspects. Daily management of a beneficiation plant involves numerous factors, primarily including ore processing techniques, beneficiation equipment, technical parameters, product standards, and waste management. This article will systematically explain how these aspects affect the operation of a quartz sand beneficiation plant.
A quartz sand beneficiation plant should select the appropriate beneficiation and purification process and equipment based on factors like raw material properties, product quality requirements, market demand, and investment budget. Techniques such as washing, grading, scrubbing, magnetic separation, flotation, and acid leaching should be chosen. Additionally, the beneficiation plant should be prepared to adjust the process flow in response to product conditions as part of its daily management.
A quartz sand beneficiation plant should strengthen the maintenance and inspection of beneficiation equipment to ensure their normal operation and efficient utilization, thereby reducing energy consumption and costs while improving product quality and yield. Maintenance and inspection should be conducted for various beneficiation equipment, including:
Ball Mill: An essential equipment for crushing ores. Regularly check the temperature of motors and bearings, add lubricating oil in time to prevent overheating and wear. Inspect the wear and tear of the drum and lining plates, replace damaged components promptly, maintain the cleanliness of the interior to prevent foreign materials from affecting operational efficiency.
Magnetic Separator: Equipment used for mineral separation based on magnetic properties. Periodically check the performance of the magnetic system, ensuring the stability of magnetic field strength and gradient to prevent gaps between magnetic poles from becoming too large or too small, which may affect the separation efficiency. Additionally, inspect the operation of components like conveyors, drums, and scrapers and make timely adjustments or replacements as necessary.
Flotation Machine: Employed for separating minerals using foam. Regularly inspect the working condition of components such as agitators, aerators, and scrapers to maintain effective agitation and aeration, preventing excessive or insufficient foam generation, which may affect separation efficiency. Check the connections and displays of circuits and instruments, troubleshooting promptly as needed.
Filter Press: Equipment used for dewatering. Periodically check the cleanliness of filter cloths, filter screens, and filter cakes, cleaning or replacing them promptly to prevent clogging and leakage. Inspect the parameters like pressure, temperature, and flow to ensure they are within normal ranges and make adjustments or repairs as necessary.
A quartz sand beneficiation plant should enhance process monitoring and optimization to control technical parameters in various stages. Parameters include water volume, concentration, temperature, time, and reagent dosage. Monitoring and controlling these parameters can help improve beneficiation efficiency and recovery rate. Key parameters to be monitored include:
Particle Size and Fineness for Crushing and Grinding: These parameters affect mineral liberation and separation efficiency. Typically, the crushed particle size is required to be less than 10mm.
Water Volume, Concentration, and Time for Washing, Grading, and Desliming: These parameters influence impurity removal and product quality. Typically, washing requires a concentration between 50%-60%, grading particle size is between 0.1-0.3mm, and desliming time should be within 10-20 minutes.
Concentration, Time, and Agitation Intensity for Scrubbing: These parameters impact the removal of surface iron and adhesive impurities. It is generally required to maintain a concentration between 50%-60%, scrubbing time between 15-30 minutes, and agitation intensity between 200-300 revolutions per minute.
Magnetic Field Strength, Drum Speed, Feed Rate, and Separation Frequency for Magnetic Separation: These parameters affect the separation of magnetic impurities. Generally, a magnetic field strength of 10,000-13,000 Gauss, drum speed between 60-320 revolutions per minute is required.
Reagent Type, Dosage, and Concentration for Flotation: These parameters influence the flotation of non-metallic impurities like feldspar and mica. Typically, reagent types include high-grade fatty amine salts and sodium petroleum sulfonate mixed collectors, with dosages between 0.5-1.5kg per ton and concentrations between 1%-5%.
Acid Type, Dosage, and Concentration for Acid Leaching: These parameters affect the dissolution of metal impurities and gas-liquid phase impurities. Generally, acid types include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc., with dosages between 2-5kg per ton and concentrations between 5%-10%.
A quartz sand beneficiation plant should intensify product testing and analysis to ensure compliance with quality standards and requirements. Adjusting production plans and process parameters promptly to adapt to market changes is an essential aspect of daily management.
A quartz sand beneficiation plant should strengthen the treatment and recycling of pollutants like wastewater and waste residues, reducing environmental impact and harm, and fulfilling its social responsibility.
These are some of the key aspects of managing a quartz sand beneficiation plant. Management of such a facility is a comprehensive endeavor that requires consideration and optimization from various perspectives and levels to improve product quality, efficiency, meet market demands, and protect environmental resources. As a beneficiation plant manager, you should possess knowledge and skills in these five areas, continually learning and innovating.
