CiDRA Minerals Processing

CiDRA Minerals Processing is a world-class measurement company that has developed a technology platform that poised for high-value niches within the minerals processing industry.

Particle size tracking systems for the mining sector

The CYCLONEtrac™ Particle Size Tracking (PST) system is a novel system that provides real-time feedback of grind circuit and individual hydro cyclone performance. It can track the particle size of the complete overflow stream from a hydro cyclone battery based on the contribution from each individual hydro cyclone. This enables real-time closed-circuit grind control strategies targeting improved mineral recovery, increased grind efficiency, while maintaining or increasing plant throughput.

The system provides individual cyclone monitoring, and enables real-time closed grind circuit control and improved recovery without loss of throughput.

System features include:

• Tracking key parameters of grind performance (passing or retained on screen, e.g. %+150um)
• Remote monitoring capability
• Minimal hydro cyclone downtime for installation and maintenance
• One-time calibration

The CYCLONEtrac PST system comprises junction boxes, individual sensor assemblies fixed to hydro cyclone overflow pipes, and a control room computer. The sensor assembly is made up of a ruggedised probe that is in contact with the overflow stream and an integrated electronics package that is protected by a sealed metal enclosure. The sensor assembly is wired to the junction boxes located near the hydro cyclone battery. The junction box receives 100V-240V AC power and supplies both 24V DC power and MODbus communications to the sensor assemblies. The junction box also communicates with the CYCLONEtrac computer in the Control Room using industrial ethernet.

The computer is connected to the internet to provide remote monitoring and support from the CiDRA Global Data Center, where technicians monitor and optimise the PST system performance and provide up-to-date information regarding the health of the PST system hardware.

Sonar-enabled flow and gas volume fraction monitoring systems

CiDRA’s SONARtrac® systems create a great value proposition for the minerals processing and mining industries, by providing multi-variable measurements, such as volumetric flow and entrained air, in a wide variety of slurry applications where flow meter wear is commonplace.

Incorporating passive sonar techniques, SONARtrac flowmeters are a durable, full-bore clamp-on solution that is scalable to large pipe diameters. CiDRA’s volumetric flow and entrained gas products have gained worldwide acceptance and the quick adoption rate is attributed to the product’s quick installation time, low maintenance cost, high-reliability, and robust performance. Since introduced, these products have had great success in a wide variety of applications involving slurry or where pipe wall scaling is commonplace. SONARtrac systems hold a great value proposition in these types of applications.

The SONARtrac system is a permanent clamp-on volumetric flow meter that measures the strain in the pipe wall induced by the turbulent pressure field within the process fluid. It uses underwater acoustic sonar processing techniques developed over the past 40 years by the US Navy to determine the rate at which the fluid is moving.

SONARtrac systems are not affected by pipe wall scaling or the same problems that affect the performance of an ultrasonic device. The flow turbulence is measured dynamically; therefore there is no mechanism for drift. There is no need for a serial number-based calibration. All meters sizes have been calibrated to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable standards and will remain in specification for the lifetime of the unit.

About CiDRA

CiDRA is the leader in process optimisation and enhanced recovery solutions and services to many of the world’s largest industrial markets.

Our technical depth and application domain knowledge allows us to partner with customers to address their challenges and complex problems. We have a demonstrated track record of delivering robust, innovative solutions to critical industrial applications.

Every day, in six continents and more than 47 countries worldwide, our customers depend on CiDRA solutions and services to manage and optimise their processes and their profits.