Welcome to the P266 Website

Gravity thickening in mineral processing

Efficient performance of thickeners, clarifiers, washers, settlers and classifiers is crucial to most mineral processing, hydrometallurgical and water treatment operations. In our experience there is very significant scope for improvement in most applications. The challenges are to understand how to increase throughput, enhance performance (overflow clarity, underflow density, flocculant usage), reduce costs, improve operational stability. This can be achieved through better operating practices, retrofitting existing units and the development of new design concepts.

AMIRA P266 "Improving Thickener Technology"

The AMIRA P266 series of projects, led by researchers from the Parker Centre, has considerably advanced the understanding of the processes occurring within gravity thickeners. This has been achieved through the coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, physical modelling, experiments, flocculation performance testing, fundamental chemical studies and extensive on-site measurements. As a consequence of long-term industry support, the team now leads the world in identifying the key factors affecting full-scale thickener performance and in modifying design and operating conditions to realise improvements.

Commencement of the latest stage

The latest project, P266F, commenced in January 2009, and represents the sixth extension of the original project. The success of P266E has seen a number of new companies from around the world seek to join the project (for more detail, see P266 Sponsors).

P266F Core Activities target industry requirements

Technology Transfer from P266F to sponsors has a high priority

This website

The P266 website provides a brief introduction to the project and how it operates. Access to confidential project details and resources is restricted to sponsors. Passwords allow entry via the Sponsors Login sections

For further information on the project, please contact either David Nairn or Diane Woodcroft

Latest News

Sponsors’ input to P266 training resources

P266F Begins!

P266E Comes to a Close

Sedimentation Model Update

Final Knowledge Base update for P266E