Determination of solids holdup in thickeners from measurement of electrical conductivity using flow cells

This communication introduces and discusses the application of flow conductivity cells to measure the solids holdup in mineral-water dispersions. Validation was carried out against independent solids holdup measurements both in the laboratory and in an industrial thickener. Typically, differences were less than 1%. The results suggest the probe has the potential to quantify the solids inventory in a thickener. The probe can operate on line and requires no additional measurements nor assumptions regarding the properties of the phases.