SEPA RA TION TECHNOLOGIES
Knelson CVD64 gravity concentrators at a mine in northern Canada
gravity-recoverable gold to a saleable product, but also prevent overgrinding, which can render gold unrecoverable in downstream processes. Typically, Knelson concentrators are installed either in primary grinding circuits to recover coarse gold or in regrind circuits to recover ultra- fine gold using a patented cone technology, which offers the industry ' s best ultra-fine gold recovery.
With the shift of gold installations in large
copper mines and the gold industry’ s move
toward high-tonnage, low-grade operations, FLS says the Knelson QS70 concentrator has experienced record demand. It is the largest available concentrator in the industry boasting 2.5 times the capacity of the next largest unit- it provides significant operational advantages, including a smaller installation footprint and reduced need for extensive upstream and downstream infrastructure for the same tonnage treated.
Improving concentrator performance has been a key focus of developments at FLS. Recent design improvements enhance uptime and simplify maintenance. Intensive development of wear resistant components and superior part manufacturing uring techniques have resulted in longer service life and improved performance. The QS Series, a simplified deign with a low centre of gravity with and fewer components further reduces maintenance needs while maximising availability
. Additionally, the development of new GX cone
technology has improved gold recoveries while delivering environmental benefits, such as reduced water consumption and longer wear part life. The Knelson concentrator rs utilise a fully fluidised bed that upgrades minerals uniformly across the entire cone surface
, ensuring maximum efficiency and consistent recovery. Surveys have shown that under-fluidised cones and dry run-up zones, significantly reduce performance across multiple size fractions. Therefore, maintaining a fully fluidised cone FLS says is essential for optimised performance. FLS also provides application specific cones for coarse, fine and ultra-fine gold recovery. FLS has advanced this technology with the new GX cone, which provides greater control over fluidisation water. This advancement enables more balanced fluidisation water flows, reduces overall water consumption, and allows for customised cones designed to target specific particle sizes.
As part of FLS ' s efforts to assist with plant optimisation, FLS regularly works closely with plant operators to conduct detailed metallurgical surveys. The results of these surveys are then
used as input for the FLS Proprietary Gravity Model( KC * ModPro), which predicts expected performance changes when plant or equipment modifications are made. This extensive dataset of operating plant audits, combined with tried-andprovide tested results, enables FLS to
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28 International Mining | APRIL 2025