A CADD rendering of an APIC jig. Particles of different densities in a homogeneous bed of solid material are stratified by water pulsed through the jig’s bed plate. JIGSCAN maintains a steady water pulse shape even when the feed content or throughput of material changes and closely controls the discharge of heavy material from the stratified bed. This ensures that optimal stratification, steady product quality and highest possible yields are obtained.

Enhancing jig performance

The APIC underbed air-pulsed jig effectively produces clean saleable products from raw materials by separating particles of different densities. To further enhance performance APIC jigs can now be equipped with JIGSCAN. JIGSCAN is supplied exclusively with new APIC Jigs but may be retrofitted to any existing jig of any design.

Computerised control

The JIGSCAN system is a fully integrated and computerised automatic jig control system. It has been used industrially with great success to provide improved control over product quality and higher yields of ‘on-specification’ product. One JIGSCAN user has credited the system with an 8 % improvement in on-specification product yield.

Much of the operator attention needed for efficient operation of a jig is reduced or eliminated. The system automatically raises an alarm if separation efficiency drops and sequences start-ups and shut-downs to optimise production. It controls all jigging functions and can interface with the plant in a variety of ways.

The JIGSCAN jig control system is the result of ten years of development by the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), an internationally renowned self-funded research institute and consulting organisation at The University of Queensland. Bateman Titaco and Mintek, which jointly develop and build large metal recovery and mineral upgrading plants utilising underbed air-pulsed jigs, have recently signed an agreement with JKMRC to collaborate in the future development of jigs with levels of control appropriate to client requirements and the type of materials to be treated.

Backup technology and services

JKMRC has developed mathematical computer models which have radically improved jig design and enable calculation of air consumption and estimates of jig lengths required for effective product separation.

The first model predicts the water motion in the jig depending on air valve settings, bed height and the physical dimensions of the jig and its air valves. The model is dynamic and the effect of air valve settings on all water velocity waveforms and pressure variations can be viewed interactively. As air consumption can be accurately predicted, the blower can be sized correctly for all jigging operations.

The second model predicts particle stratification in a continuous jig as a function of jig throughput, bed depth and water waveform. When used as a jig installation and optimisation design tool, special but simple tests have to be conducted on the material to be separated in an instrumented jig, either at JKMRC or Mintek. Large samples are not required as the tests are performed in batch mode.

For more information, please contact Vincent Dieudonné, General Manager, Jigging, on +27-11-899-2343 or email jigging@batemanengineering.com.

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