Claims:
1. A system for beneficiation of iron ore slime, said system comprising:
one or more hydro cyclones configured to receive the iron ore slime; and
a slow speed spiral classifier (SSSC) configured in a manner such that underflow of the received iron ore slime from said one or more hydro cyclones is fed to the SSSC in a manner such that, through gravitational separation, low density silica particles overflows as waste, and high density fine iron ore particles get settled at bottom of the SSSC.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein high density fine iron ore particles have around 62.5% Fe grade, and wherein the received iron ore slime has 53 - 58% Fe grade by adjusting the pulp density of classifier pool.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the high density fine iron ore particles are recovered at a rate ranging from 20-40 Tonnes per hour concentrate from a feed of 80-100 tph slime.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the said iron ore slime is tapped and pumped to the one or more hydro cyclones.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more hydro cyclones are configured in the form of a cluster of hydro cyclones.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein configuration of the SSSC with respect to the one or more hydro cyclones enables increased pulp density.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a slurry pump with motor and one or more control panels to control pumping of the iron ore slime to the one or more hydro cyclones.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have reduced alumina and silica.

, Description:
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to technical field of beneficiation of iron ore slime to recover high density fine iron ore particles.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Existing systems for beneficiation of iron ore slime include a Fluidized Bed Concentrator (FBC) followed by conventional hydro cyclone followed by a Slow Speed Spiral Classifier (SSSC) route where 50% of the generated slime from washing plant is getting beneficiated, while the remaining 50% of slime is being disposed off in tailing pond without metal recovery.
[0004] There is therefore a need in the art for an improved and more efficient system for undertaking beneficiation of iron ore slime.
[0005] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
[0006] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or dimensions of items, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
[0007] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0008] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0009] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[00010] It is an object of the present disclosure to enable beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to recover high density fine iron ore particles
[00011] It is an object of the present disclosure to enable beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain higher grade of Iron.
[00012] It is an object of the present disclosure to enable beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain reduced alumina.
[00013] It is an object of the present disclosure to enable beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain reduced silica.

SUMMARY
[00014] The present disclosure generally relates to technical field of beneficiation of iron ore slime to recover high density fine iron ore particles.
[00015] In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for beneficiation of iron ore slime, said system comprising: one or more hydro cyclones configured to receive the iron ore slime; anda slow speed spiral classifier (SSSC) configured in a manner such that underflow of the received iron ore slime from said one or more hydro cyclones is fed to the SSSC in a manner such that, through gravitational separation, low density silica particles overflows as waste, and high density fine iron ore particles get settled at bottom of the SSSC.
[00016] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have around 62.5% Fe grade, and wherein the received iron ore slime has around 55% Fe grade.
[00017] In another aspect, the high density fine iron ore particles are recovered at the speed of around 30 Tonnes per hour.
[00018] In another aspect, high density fine iron ore particles can have around 62.5% Fe grade, whereas the received iron ore slime has 53 - 58% Fe grade by adjusting the pulp density of classifier pool. In yet another aspect, the high density fine iron ore particles can be recovered at a rate ranging from 20-40 Tonnes per hour concentrate from a feed of 80-100 tph slime.
[00019] In yet another aspect, the iron ore slime can be tapped and pumped to the one or more hydro cyclones.
[00020] In an aspect, the one or more hydro cyclones can be configured in the form of a cluster of hydro cyclones.
[00021] In another aspect, configuration of the SSSC with respect to the one or more hydro cyclones enables increased pulp density.
[00022] In yet another aspect, the proposed system can further include a slurry pump with motor and one or more control panels to control pumping of the iron ore slime to the one or more hydro cyclones. In an aspect, the one or more control panels can be configured to control any or a combination of one or more gate valves, pressure gauges, and belt scrapers.
[00023] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have reduced alumina and silica.
[00024] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00025] The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus arenot a limitation of the present disclosure where:
[00026] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture block diagram of the proposed system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[00027] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary photographic representation of the proposed system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00028] The description hereinafter, of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify or adapt or perform both for various applications such specific embodiment without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
[00029] Various terms as used herein are defined below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[00030] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[00031] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[00032] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
[00033] In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for beneficiation of iron ore slime, said system comprising: one or more hydro cyclones configured to receive the iron ore slime; anda slow speed spiral classifier (SSSC) configured in a manner such that underflow of the received iron ore slime from said one or more hydro cyclones is fed to the SSSC in a manner such that, through gravitational separation, low density silica particles overflows as waste, and high density fine iron ore particles get settled at bottom of the SSSC.
[00034] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have around 62.5% Fe grade, and wherein the received iron ore slime has around 55% Fe grade.
[00035] In another aspect, the high density fine iron ore particles are recovered at the speed of around 30 Tonnes per hour.
[00036] In yet another aspect, the iron ore slime can be tapped and pumped to the one or more hydro cyclones.
[00037] In an aspect, the one or more hydro cyclones can be configured in the form of a cluster of hydro cyclones.
[00038] In another aspect, configuration of the SSSC with respect to the one or more hydro cyclones enables increased pulp density.
[00039] In yet another aspect, the proposed system can further include a slurry pump with motor and one or more control panels to control pumping of the iron ore slime to the one or more hydro cyclones. In an aspect, the one or more control panels can be configured to control any or a combination of one or more gate valves, pressure gauges, and belt scrapers.
[00040] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have reduced alumina and silica.
[00041] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture block diagram of the proposed system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system 100 for beneficiation of iron ore slime, wherein the system can include one or more hydro cyclones 200 configured to receive the iron ore slime; and a slow speed spiral classifier (SSSC) 300 configured in a manner such that underflow 350 of the received iron ore slime from said one or more hydro cyclones 200 is fed to the SSSC 300 in a manner such that, through gravitational separation, low density silica particles overflows as waste, and high density fine iron ore particles 400 get settled at bottom of the SSSC 300.
[00042] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have around 62.5% Fe grade, and wherein the received iron ore slime has around 55% Fe grade.
[00043] In another aspect, the high density fine iron ore particles are recovered at the speed of around 30 Tonnes per hour.
[00044] In yet another aspect, the iron ore slime can be tapped and pumped to the one or more hydro cyclones 200.
[00045] In an aspect, the one or more hydro cyclones can be configured in the form of a cluster of hydro cyclones.
[00046] In another aspect, configuration of the SSSC with respect to the one or more hydro cyclones enables increased pulp density.
[00047] In yet another aspect, the proposed system can further include a slurry pump 500with motor and one or more control panels to control pumping of the iron ore slime to the one or more hydro cyclones200. In an aspect, the one or more control panels can be configured to control any or a combination of one or more gate valves, pressure gauges, and belt scrapers.
[00048] In an aspect, the recovered high density fine iron ore particles have reduced alumina and silica.
[00049] In an exemplary implementation, the present invention enables recovery of iron mineral particles with around 62.5% Fe grade from slime with 55% Fe at a rate of around 30 t/hr making the process suitable for wide industrial application with significant cost advantage.
[00050] The present invention relates to a design on up gradation of existing slime beneficiation system for treating slime obtained from iron ore Crushing, Screening and Washing plant for recovery of valuable minerals from the rejects and also to improve the overall quality of sinter fines being produced. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a slime beneficiation process wherein rest 50% of slime which was being disposed off in tailing pond without metal recovery.
[00051] In an exemplary implementation, slime (50% of generation) can be tapped and pumped to a cluster of hydro cyclones, and underflow of this can be fed to SSSC. This increases pulp density of the SSSC pool, resulting in enhancement of gravity separation on the phenomena of hindered settling of particles; as a result of which low density free silica particles as gangue overflow to waste, and high density fine iron ore particles get settled at bottom of SSSC and get recovered as product.
[00052] Based on the study of the existing system and experimental test carried out in laboratory, the proposed system was designed for up gradation with equipment specification and was implemented at Dalli mines (example). The individual equipments i.e. Slurry pump with motor and control panels, gate valves, pressure gauges and belt scrapers were procured and installed to beneficiate the additional half of the generated slime to make the system for 100% utilization. After implementation, samples were drawn at various points and analyzed. Based on the analysis, recommendations have been made for further improvement of quality of the enriched product.
[00053] Using this system following results has been achieved. During treatment of slime assaying ~54.6% Fe, 10% SiO2 and 6.40% Al2O3 through series of 24 nos cluster hydro-cyclone (5”), the quality of the concentrate obtained is ~58.30% Fe, 8.9% SiO2 and 4.1% Al2O3.During treatment of underflow of the conventional cyclone assaying above mentioned composition through SSSC, the quality of the concentrate obtained is ~63.38% Fe, 4.12% SiO2 and 2.31% Al2O3.With this addition of concentrate @ 30 tph, the overall sinter fines quantity has also increased.
[00054] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary photographic representation of the proposed system.
[00055] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. Within the context of this document terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are also used euphemistically to mean “communicatively coupled with” over a network, where two or more devices are able to exchange data with each other over the network,possibly via one or more intermediary device.
[00056] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C …. and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc. The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[00057] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.
AVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[00058] The present disclosure enables beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to recover high density fine iron ore particles
[00059] The present disclosure enables beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain higher grade of Iron.
[00060] The present disclosure enables beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain reduced alumina.
[00061] The present disclosure enables beneficiation of iron ore slime so as to obtain reduced silica.