# Size Configuration 9.3

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Navigation: User Guide - General -> Project Configuration (cfg File) -> Size Configuration

Related Links: Size Distribution (PSD), Size Distribution Definition

## Introduction

The tabs for configuring size data will only be visible if:

1. You have the Size Distribution add on; and
2. You have selected the size distribution dll or group in the Model selection (see Model Selection)

These tabs are described in detail in the following sections.

## Sieve Series

### Adding and Editing Sieve Series

1. Name: The default Name for the sieve Series is Tyler0. You may rename this by typing in a different name, in the example above, the series name is Test1.
2. Add or Remove Sieve Series The project may have more than one sieve series - just add a new one with the Add button underneath the Sieve Series list box. You may also remove unwanted Sieve Series using the Remove button.

Each Size Distribution has it's own sieve series. There is a 1 to 1 correlation between the two and hence you define a Size Distribution and set the sieve series for that Distribution on this page.

Therefore, there are no 'Add' or 'Remove' Series buttons, and the user just selects the required distribution.

### Series Specification

1. Units: You may change the default engineering units for the sieve series by using the Units list box.
2. Specification:
• Manual - Allows the user to manually enter size intervals. The user may add or remove sizes from the series by clicking on the 'Add' or 'Remove' buttons. The user may also change a size by double clicking on the value in the Size series and then entering the required value.
• Q - Creates a series from the minimum and encompassing the maximum values based where the ratio between series is based on the following formulae:
$\displaystyle{ d_{i+1} = d_i \times R }$ where $\displaystyle{ R = 2^{1/3Q} }$.
Volumes are thus in the ratio $\displaystyle{ 2^{1/Q} }$, and if $\displaystyle{ Q=1 }$, each consecutive particle volume (or mass) is double the previous one.
Q is the number of bins per doubling of particle mass.
If MidPt is selected then the start value is Minimum/(1+0.5(Ratio-1)) else the start value is Minimum.
If the user is planning to use the Alumina Precipitator 3 with Full PSD model, then use the Q option, with Q = 1.0.
• Sqrt(2) - Each interval is √2 times previous interval.
• Ratio - Each interval is Ratio times previous interval.
• Arithmetic - Linear intervals separated by 'A'.
• Tyler Mesh - The full Tyler Mesh series. The user may truncate the series by adjusting the minimum and maximum values.
• US Mesh - The full US Mesh series. The user may truncate the series by adjusting the minimum and maximum values.
3. To Manual By clicking on this button the user transfers the series data to Manual and changes the specification type to Manual.
This allows the user to select one of the other methods of size series specification and then modify it as required.
4. Minimum - the minimum value for the Sieve Series.
5. Maximum - the maximum value for the Sieve Series.
6. Number of Points - Displays number of Intervals.
7. Decimals - For non manual types you can specify 0,1,or 2 decimal places.
8. Copy to Clipboard - This button copies the current sieve series onto the Windows clipboard, allowing it to be pasted into external programs such as Excel.
9. Paste from Clipboard - This button is only available if Manual is selected. It allows the user to copy a sieve series from an external program such as Excel and paste it into the sieve series box.

### Notes

1. When using size separation units, such as Screens and Hydrocyclones the calculated efficiency curve is dependant on the user defined sieve series. Because efficiency curves are usually steep, it is recommended that the user defines as many size fractions around the cut-sizes of interest as possible.
2. If the user wishes to use more than one sieve series in a project, then it is recommended that all of the sieve series have the same number of size intervals. This makes reporting and setting values simpler.
3. Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V will not work in the sieve series box, use the Copy to Clipboard and Paste from Clipboard buttons instead.

## Size Distribution

### Defining Size Distributions

1. Name You may define any number of size distribution series for the projects by clicking on the Add button below Name. You may then double click on the name and type in the desired name.
2. Units This value is displayed only, you may not change it here. It was defined when the Sieve Series was set up previously.
3. Top Size This value is displayed only, you may not change it here. It was defined when the Sieve Series was set up previously.
4. Bottom Size You may define the bottom size for the size distribution. This bottom size will be used in some model calculations, in particular it used in calculating the geometric mean of the smallest size interval.
5. Interpolation Method Only available in SysCAD 9.3 Build 137 or later. Methods available are:
• Linear - Linear interpolation is used when performing size distribution calculations.
• TSpline - TSpline interpolation is used when performing size distribution calculations. A spline is a special function defined piecewise by polynomials.
• LogLog - Linear interpolation of the natural logarithm of the size distribution values is used when performing size distribution calculations.
• LogLogTSpline - TSpline interpolation of the natural logarithm of the size distribution values is used when performing size distribution calculations.

### Defining Solids

• For this to function, at least one solid component must be defined in the species database and selected for the project.
• All solid components are displayed in the Species List.
• You must select at least one of these solid species to contain size data.
• Species are selected or deselected by double clicking.
• The size distribution of the default species, shown in the Default field at the bottom of the window, is the one that SysCAD will use to allocate to unspecified solids. (see example below)
If a stream contains only solid species that have NOT been selected to contain size data, then the user will not be able to assign size data to those solids.
• In the example above, solid components Ore1 and Ore2 are selected to have size distribution data and Ore1 will have the default size distribution.

Example

Using the data shown in the above window:

Total solids flow = 100t/h

Ore1 = 50t/h

Ore2 = 30t/h

Ore3 = 20t/h

SysCAD must allocate a size distribution to the 20t/h of Ore3. In this case, SysCAD will use the size distribution allocated to Ore1.

So, if Ore1 has a d50 = 10mm, then Ore3 will also have a d50 = 10mm.

## Measurements

This page allows the user to specify which measurements they wish to be calculated for each stream species that has a size distribution associated with it. These measurements appear on the MSz tab page when viewing the Access pages.

### Distribution

This will have a list of the distributions that have been defined in the project. Select the Distribution for which you wish to define measurements.

### Measurement List

Remove Remove an existing measurement.

### Measurements

The List of defined measurements. The order in which the measurements appear here is the order that the measurements are displayed in the MSz page.

### Measurement Details

The user defines the measurements here.

Name: The user types in the required measurement name, for example:

• P80 = the screen size through which 80% of the particles will pass;
• m100 = the fraction of particles that will pass 0.1mm.

Type: The following Types of calculations are allowed here:

 Type Description SizePassFrac Size at specified cumulative passing fraction FracPassSize Cumulative passing fraction at specified size FracRetainSize Cumulative retained fraction at specified size MassPassSize Cumulative passing mass at specified size MassRetainSize Cumulative retained mass at specified size PPG Total Particle Count per Mass of solids SAM Surface Area per Gram SAL Surface Area per Litre of liquids APD Average particle diameter based on Fraction Passing and Geometric mean size of each size interval Spread Difference in sizes at two specified cumulative passing fractions. MassRangeSize Mass flow between two different size ranges. FracRangeSize Mass Fraction between two different size ranges. Text This is a Text Label that will appear on the MSz page

Please see Size Measurements Data Sections (MSz Tab) for more information on the equations used to calculate PPG, SAM and SAL.

Value:

1. The size or fraction to calculate the fraction or size at (SizePassFrac and FracPassSize only).
2. The second list box allows you to specify units from a drop down list.

Result: The user can specify the units for the result display for SizePassFrac and FracPassSize from a drop down list.

Display Sequence: The Up and Down buttons can be used to move the display order of the selected measurement.

Count Factor This is a correction factor which may be used to account for particle geometry. This value is used when calculating:

SpN - Number of Particles per unit mass of solids; and
Qn - Number of Particles per unit time.