Salter Cyclones - Hydrocyclone Systems, Enhanced Gravity Separation and Lab Mineral Separation

Salter Cyclones is based in Cheltenham, bringing together over 100 years of collective worldwide expertise in the minerals processing industry. Salter Cyclones specialises in the removal of fine solids utilising hydrocyclones and multi-gravity separation.

The equipment and technologies are all based on achieving significantly more powerful separations in practical, operator-friendly and economic systems.

Hydrocyclones and hydrocyclone assemblies

Salter Cyclones new hydrocyclone designs, from 1in to 10in, accommodate a wide range of flow rates and provide precise control of cut points and other performance criteria. These hydrocyclones are available with different sizes of vortex finders and spigot and are manufactured of high wear resistant polyurethane. Typical applications are any wet processing where classification (separating particles of different size/nature), desanding, desliming (removal of fines) or clarification (removal of solids), thickening or dewatering is required.

The hydrocyclones can be packaged in a range of highly compact, lightweight and cost effective assemblies. The added advantage of these to the operator is the ease of access from maintenance.

Enhanced gravity separation

Salter Cyclones multi-gravity separators recover and upgrade heavy minerals otherwise lost to tailings. These separators are peerless for sub 100 micron fine materials.

This technology is unique in that it enables recovery and selective concentration of ultra-fine minerals at multiple g forces, unlike centrifuges, jigs or spirals. Its operating principle can be likened to powerful, compact, shaking tables. However in this instance, the normally horizontal separating surface of a shaking table is wrapped in a conical drum, which when rapidly rotated develops an enhanced gravitational field, pushing down the lower size limit for economic separations of the finest mineral particles.

Laboratory mineral separator

A laboratory mineral separator is part of the range of laboratory test equipment available through Salter Cyclones. It allows users to establish, in minutes, the quantity, quality and degree of liberation of valuable material contained in low grade, very fine samples (typically ore samples or tailings and middlings streams from mineral processing plants).

This separator is selective at very small specific gravity differences, producing a match for full heavy liquid analysis without the health hazards and requirement for skilled personnel associated with that technique. The lab mineral separator extends this capability down to particle sizes too small for heavy liquid work. It is available with a 'V' profile tray with end-knock and a flat tray. The 'V' profile is used for higher S.G. ranges and larger particle sizes, whereas the flat tray is capable of making very efficient separations of samples finer than 100 microns.

Mineral separation testing

Salter Cyclones is also able to offer test work in the UK or alternatively hire out test rigs for testing on a client's site either by client or by one of Salter Cyclones engineers.

Hydrocyclone spares and service

Salter Cyclones operates an active and supportive spares and service function and is committed to the provision of a full spares service throughout the design life of a process package. Their hydrocyclones have a long wear life and assemblies have been specifically designed to need maintenance only during annual shutdowns.

The spare parts can be retrofitted into existing installations including Mozley installations. Although equipment is easy to install, engineers are available to supervise installation and carry out commissioning.