Process Engineering
Paterson & Cooke has process engineering expertise in the field of mineral processing, ranging from comminution, classification, beneficiation to solid/liquid separation. This, coupled with our in-depth knowledge of rheology, clay chemistry and slurry flow behaviour, enables us to provide our clients with unique, more creative and more definitive mineral process solutions.
We have made important technology contributions in solid/liquid separation, hydraulic hoisting, deep mine backfilling, marine mining and dredging, and process control. Our process engineering and design is underpinned by our specialized engineering capabilities such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and extensive in-house laboratories that allow us to conduct test work up to pilot scale and scaled model testing for actual validation of the engineering and design.
Paterson & Cooke integrates the field of research and development with the fields of engineering, full-scale implementation and plant operation. Many projects require novel process solutions. Our resources allow us to conduct fundamental and practical research and develop new process flow sheet options and novel process equipment and solutions specific to our clients’ needs.
Our on-site expertise provides a valuable role in extending our process engineering capability to clients’ sites where our specialist technical capabilities are leveraged to address our clients’ process challenges through trouble shooting, field test work, debottlenecking, process optimisation, control implementation and upgrades.
Notable Projects
Investigatory test work into the suitability of sand stacking chemistry for tailings deposition with accelerated de-watering characteristics, ranging from chemistry selection working with a chemical company, initial free water release as a function of shear to final consolidation behaviour characterization through suction induced consolidation tests working with the University of Colorado.
Development, test work and design of a novel elutriator to classify dredged material to maximize the processing capacity of the floating diamond treatment plant.
Case Studies
