What is a spiral chute?
Spiral chute (also known as spiral sorting machine) is a material sorting
equipment commonly used in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, building
materials and other industries, mainly used for gravity sorting of materials. It
uses a spiral groove and the action of water flow to stratify and sort materials
according to density differences, and is widely used in fields such as ore
beneficiation, coal sorting, and tailings treatment.
1、 Working principle
The working principle of spiral chute is based on the principle of gravity
sorting, combined with the speed difference of material settling along different
paths in the spiral chute. The specific work process is as follows:
Material addition:
The material enters the spiral chute through the feeding trough, and the
water flow drives the material to flow.
Layered sorting:
When the material flows with the water flow in the spiral groove, heavier
particles will settle to the bottom of the groove due to gravity, while lighter
particles will be carried to the upper part of the groove by the water flow. The
rotation of the spiral groove helps to move the material along the groove wall,
separating particles of different densities into layers.
Product output:
At different positions of the spiral groove, sorted materials such as
concentrates (heavy minerals) and tailings (light minerals) can be collected. By
reasonably allocating the discharge ports of the tank, different levels of
materials can be effectively separated.
Tailings treatment:
The discharged tailings are light materials, usually containing a large
amount of waste or unwanted substances.
2、 Main components
The main components of a spiral chute include:
Spiral groove body:
This is the core part of the spiral chute, usually made of wear-resistant
materials and shaped like a spiral. The material flows along the surface of the
tank and is sorted by gravity.
Spiral blade:
The spiral blades installed inside the tank help the material move along the
tank and promote the sorting of materials with different densities.
Feeding device:
The material is uniformly fed into the spiral chute through the feeding
device, usually combined with water flow, so that the material can smoothly
enter the sorting area.
Discharge port:
The discharge port is used to discharge the sorted concentrate and tailings,
usually located at different positions of the spiral chute, to facilitate the
collection of sorted materials as needed.
Supporting structure:
Spiral chutes need to be stably installed through supporting structures to
ensure the stability and effectiveness of equipment operation.
3、 Application areas of spiral chutes
Spiral chutes are mainly used in the following industries:
Mining industry:
In mining, spiral chutes are commonly used for gravity separation of ores,
especially in the beneficiation process of minerals such as copper, lead-zinc,
and tin.
Coal industry:
Used for coal mine sorting, impurities in coal can be separated from coal
through spiral chutes to improve the purity of coal.
Metallurgical industry:
Used for the selection of metallurgical ores, separating valuable metal
minerals from waste minerals.
Building materials industry:
In the process of sand and gravel sorting, spiral chutes can be used to
separate different particles of sand and gravel, in order to improve production
efficiency and product quality.
Tailings treatment:
In mining, spiral chutes are also commonly used for tailings treatment,
effectively recovering useful minerals and reducing environmental pollution.
waste recovery:
Spiral chutes can also be used in the waste recycling industry to sort
recyclable materials and waste, improving resource utilization efficiency.
4、 Advantages and disadvantages of spiral chutes
advantage:
Easy to operate:
The spiral chute structure is simple, easy to operate and maintain, and
suitable for large-scale production.
High sorting accuracy:
During the sorting process, the spiral chute can effectively separate
materials based on their density differences, resulting in high sorting
accuracy.
Energy conservation and environmental protection:
Spiral chutes use gravity for sorting, do not require a large amount of
electric drive, have high energy efficiency, and are relatively environmentally
friendly.
Strong adaptability:
Can handle various types of materials, suitable for minerals of different
particle sizes and properties.
Low cost:
Spiral chute equipment has low investment and operating costs, making it
suitable for use in small and medium-sized mines.
Disadvantages:
Limited sorting ability:
For fine-grained materials, the sorting effect of spiral chutes may not be as
good as other equipment such as jigs.
Limited processing capacity:
In large-scale production, the processing capacity of spiral chutes may be
limited and unable to meet the demand for high throughput.
Large footprint:
Due to its spiral structure and sorting process, spiral chutes require a
large equipment area, which may not be suitable for production environments with
limited space.
Sensitive to the moisture content of materials:
If the moisture content of the material is too high or too low, it may affect
the sorting effect, so it is necessary to maintain a reasonable feeding and
water flow rate.
5、 Maintenance and upkeep of spiral chutes
Regular inspection of spiral blades and grooves:
Spiral blades and grooves are the core parts of the equipment, which may wear
or be damaged after long-term use and require regular inspection and timely
replacement.
Maintain uniform feeding:
The feeding device should maintain a uniform supply of materials to avoid
material accumulation or uneven flow, which may affect the sorting effect.
Cleaning equipment:
During the use of the equipment, materials may accumulate inside the
equipment. Regular cleaning can avoid blockages and affect the sorting
efficiency.
Check the drainage system:
The drainage system needs to be kept unobstructed to prevent slow or uneven
water flow, which may affect the sorting efficiency of materials.
Lubrication and maintenance:
For the moving parts of the equipment, such as bearings, regular lubrication
and maintenance are required to reduce friction and improve equipment operating
efficiency.
6、 Summary
Spiral chute is an efficient gravity sorting equipment widely used in
material sorting in industries such as mining, coal, metallurgy, etc. It
utilizes the effects of gravity and water flow to sort materials in layers
according to density differences, with advantages such as simple operation, high
sorting accuracy, energy conservation, and environmental protection. Although
there are certain limitations in the processing capacity and adaptability of
spiral chutes, they are still a very useful equipment in small and medium-sized
mines and specific processes. By proper maintenance and upkeep, the long-term
stable operation of the equipment can be ensured.