Knelson concentrators are used in gold mining to recover fine gold from ore without using gold cyanidation. Developed in 1978, the device uses gravitational force and a liquefaction process to separate particles by density. The machine has led to the growth of Knelson Gravity Solutions, Knelson Milling Solutions, and Knelson Engineering and Manufacturing. The concentrator has a cone-shaped pan, electric motor, and pressurized water blanket to capture heavier particles. Different models have been developed, including batch and continuous variable discharge concentrators.
A Knelson concentrator is a centrifugal device used primarily in gold mining. The device is a gravity-fed concentrating apparatus, which recovers pieces of fine gold from the ore without having to use gold cyanidation, an expensive process that uses chemicals to extract the gold from the ore. By bypassing this process, Knelson concentrators have become an important type of mining equipment used by some of the largest gold mines in the world.
In 1978, Byron Knelson developed the first piece of equipment for Knelson concentrators. The success of the machine has led to the rapid growth of the company, which has offices in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, Russia and South America. The Knelson company has five industries to help customers more effectively meet their mining and milling needs; these divisions include Knelson Gravity Solutions, Knelson Milling Solutions, and Knelson Engineering and Manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
The standard Knelson concentrator uses gravitational force in combination with a liquefaction process. The force of gravity separates particles according to their density. This causes the fine gold chunks to break away from the lower grade ore they are attached to.
The main components of the Knelson concentrator are a cone-shaped pan, an electric motor, and a pressurized water blanket that surrounds the pan. From an elevated point of view, the substances that have been transformed into sewage are poured into the central tank. When the slurry hits the base plate of the bowl, the electric motor induces a gravitational force and the slurry begins a spinning process. During rotation, the slurry is naturally distributed in a variety of directions around the inside of the basin, which is covered in grooves that capture heavier particles without retaining lighter substances. This results in the fine gold mined from the slurry resting in the grooves of the sides of the basin.
As the process continues, pressurized water is introduced into the bowl. Strategically placed holes in the grooves let water in, allowing the heavier particles that have been caught to concentrate. The entire process is typically conducted with large quantities of slurry and the machine is sporadically cleaned with water as the lighter particles leave the basin via the overflow.
Since their inception in 1978, Knelson concentrators have grown to include many different makes and models, although they all follow the same central idea. Batch concentrators allow miners to separate huge quantities of fine gold in a short amount of time. Continuous variable discharge concentrators have been designed to address mineral problems that cannot be separated using the traditional batch process.
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