| Abstract Scope |
The Hydro Alunorte refinery receives bauxite slurry used in the alumina production from Mineração Paragominas, both sites located in Pará – Brazil. This bauxite slurry is transported via pipeline and dewatered in hyperbaric filters located in Alunorte. To improve the overall equipment effectiveness of the dewatering plant, this work evaluated the influence of the rotation speed, basin level, and slurry density on the filters' productivity by applying a factorial design. The experiment, which was carried out on the industrial filters, complemented the outcome of a previous investigation executed on a laboratory scale using slurry density, top size, and pH as control factors to assess the solids throughput through Box Behnken Design. Results indicated that a top size reduction decreases productivity by up to 20%. However, an increase in density, rotation, and basin level proved to offset this loss. |