Extended Testing Of A Simple Granulation Model
A mathematical model for predicting the size distributions of iron ore granules after granulation was developed by Litster et al. (1987). This model was initially tested using a limited range of iron ores, as well as on simple mixtures of the iron ores. However, since the development and testing of the model, a much wider range of iron ores has become available. Granulation experiments have been carried out here at different moisture contents for this wider range of individual iron ores, as well as for three simple blends and for four complex blends made up of the ores. Granulation experiments were also carried out using two of the four blends with their haematite and goethite ores replaced with fine particles. The Sauter mean diameters and size distributions of the different sets of granules formed were then compared with the values predicted by the mathematical model. In all cases for which there was sufficient moisture for granulation, the agreement between the Sauter mean diameters predicted by the model and those observed was within . There was also very good agreement between the model-predicted and experimentally determined size distributions for the granules formed.