PSI® 500i particle size analyzer

Improve your operations with real-time particle size information from the grinding circuit provided by the Metso PSI 500i Particle Size Analyzer.

Benefits

Through particle size monitoring and control, you can improve average grinding circuit capacity and availability while still maintaining your target grind. Additionally, grinding control improves downstream process performance by minimizing reagent consumption, increasing recoveries, and increasing the efficiency of thickening and filtration.

Maximizes throughput and availability
Optimizes recovery
Uses energy and reagents effectively
Minimizes dewatering costs
Offers optimal product quality

Operation

The Metso PSI 500i Particle Size Analyzer:

Monitors grinding circuit product with wide or bimodal distributions
Monitors regrind circuits
Offers grinding control for Fe and FeCr pellet production with specific surface area measurements (Blaine)
Monitors mine backfill and tailings disposal
Controls the thickener for optimal water recovery
Monitors feed to slurry pipeline
Measures the product quality of industrial minerals

Particle size control

The Metso PSI 500i Particle Size Analyzer provides real-time, accurate particle size distribution measurements. As it is not sensitive to entrained air in the sample, it can also be used in regrind circuits.

Laser diffraction particle size measurement

A significant advantage of laser diffraction is that it gives a consistent volumetric particle size analysis result without any external calibration. There is a small difference compared to the particle size analysis measured by other methods, such as sieve analysis, but repeatability and precision over a wide particle size range are the most important features in process control applications.

Furthermore, its speed, non-contact nature, and robustness against ambient conditions make laser diffraction ideal for on-line mineral slurry applications. The results of laser diffraction volumetric distribution measurements can be correlated to a reference method if needed, for example sieve and sedigraph analysis.

The optical measuring head is designed and manufactured by Malvern Instruments in cooperation with Metso and is based on proven technology that is industry standard in most laboratories.

Specifications

Sample lines: 1–3
Primary sample flow rate: 50–120 l/min
Maximum sample solids: content sample has to flow
Sample temperature: 5–50°C (70°C with options)
Size range (optimized by optics focal length): 0.5–1000 μm
Precision: 1–2% abs, Dv50
Measurement interval: 3 min/line
Plant DCS connections: Modbus TCP (slave), Modbus RTU (slave), OPC (server), Profibus DP
Remote service connection: Internet via VPN firewall

Weights
Analyzer: max 300 kg
Dilution water tank (empty/full): 165/1365 kg

Utilities
Analyzer unit, single phase AC: 115–230 VAC +/-10% at 2–4A 50/60Hz
Dilution water pump, single phase AC: 115–230 VAC +/-10% at 6–12A 50/60Hz
Recommended UPS: 1 kW/10 min
Water consumption: 10 l/min, max 30 l/min for 10 sec
Water temperature and quality: max 40°C sand filtered
Oil-free instrument air pressure: 5–10 bar
Air consumption: 7 Nl/min