Avaliação da compactação de pellet feed saturado depositado sobre coluna de água

This study investigated the compaction of saturated iron ore pellet feed, comparing the influence of the presence of a bottom water column (10% of the total height). A reduced-scale experimental setup equipped with a vibration device was used to enable load compaction. Three acrylic towers subjected to upward mechanical impacts and a standard mass of 5 kg of ore were employed. The results showed that the bottom water significantly increased the average compaction, from 16.04% (saturated condition only) to 39.55%. The bottom water rapidly percolated upward, reaching the top within the first minute of the test and accumulating an average upper water layer of 34.5 mm (70% of the initial volume). It was concluded that the bottom water reduces air pockets and voids, thereby intensifying ore densification during compaction tests.