MODIFICATIAN OF THE CONVENTIONAL THICKENER BY INSTALATION OF LAMELLA
MODULS
Viktor Stoilov, Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
R&D Engineer, v.stoilov@aurubis.com
Evgeni Visariev, Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
Senior Production Manager Slag Flotation, e.visariev@aurubis.com
Ivan Bonchev, Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
Technlogies Manager, i.bonchev@aurubis.com
Ivan Stanoev Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
Senior engineer mechanical maintenance, i.bonchev@aurubis.com
Ivan Gradinarov, Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
Hydro Construction Engineer, i.gradinarov@aurubis.com
Vanya Stoyanova, Aurubis Bulgaria, Industrial zone, Pirdop, 2070, Bulgaria,
Manager Research & Development, v.stoyanova@aurubis.com
ABSTRACT
Aurubis is the leading integrated copper group and the world’s largest copper recycler.
In Copper smelter Aurubis Bulgaria (Pirdop), the residual copper in the slags from Flash furnace and
Converters is recovered by flotation. The slag processing comprises: pit cooling, crushing, two stages
grinding (autogenous and ball) and flotation. The copper concentrate is thickened and is then filtrate by
vacuum disk filter. The thickener overflow is sent to settler for additional clarification.
A resent throughput increase resulted in higher solid content in the thickener overflow due to not sufficient
thickener area.
Different scenarios to overcome the issue were evaluated (new thickener, reagents and reconstruction).
An increase of the thickening area by installation of lamella modules was chosen as the most promising
option.
Three lamella modules (1 m3 each) were installed in conventional thickener for the test. Number of
sampling campaigns was done to evaluate the effect on solid content on overflow. Parameters of the
dewatering cycle were collected during sampling campaign. The products grain size distribution was
defined - thickener feed, thickener overflow with and without lamella.
The thickener overflow with lamella modules has 2.2 g/l less solid content. The decrease was 75.77 % see
figures 1 and 2.
According to the tests results the whole conventional thickener was reconstructed with lamella modules.
The thickener area was increased with more than 400 m2.
g/l
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Conventional thickener
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Sampling campaign
Thickener with lamellas
Figure 1 – Solid content in the thickeners overflow
%
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0
55.0
50.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Sampling campaign
Figure 2 – Decreasing of the solid content in the thickener overflow, when lamella modules were used
KEYWORDS
Conventional thickener, reconstruction, lamella modules,