Aragones, Andrei Ramier

PROBLEMS

4.22) A cyclone used to control the emissions from a furniture manufacturer is expected to be
80% efficient (80% recovery). The hopper under the cyclone holds 1 tonnes of wood dust. If the
air flow to the cyclone holds 1.2 tonnes per day of wood dust, how often must the hopper be
emptied?

Solution:

maximum capacity of hopper = 1 tonnes of wood dust

air flow to the cyclone holds 1.2 tonnes/day of wood dust

1.2 tonnes/day
1 tonne

= 1.2/day
= 2 / day

The hopper must be emptied twice per day

4.24) A 1000tonnes/day ore-processing plant processes an ore that contains 20% mineral. The
plant recovers 100 tonnes/day of the mineral. This is not a very effective operation, and some of
the mineral is still in the waste ore (the tailings). These tailings are sent to a secondary
processing plant that is able to recover 50% of the mineral in the tailings. The recovered mineral
from the secondary recovery plant is sent to the main plant, where it is combined with the other
recovered mineral, and then all of it is shipped to the user.

a. How much mineral is shipped to the user?

b. How much total tailings are to be wasted?
c. How much mineral is wasted in the tailings?

Solution:

1000 tonnes/day produced

100 tonnes/day recovered
900 tonnes/day sent to secondary processing plant and is able to recover 50%
50% of 900tonnes/day = 450tonnes/day

a) 450tonnes + 100 tonnes = 550 tonnes

b) 900 tonnes - 450 tonnes = 450 tonnes
c) 1000 tonnes - 550 tonnes = 450 tonnes