Metso Outotec and CSIRO partner on agitation technology

Metso Outotec and CSIRO have signed a global exclusive cooperation agreement on the delivery of SwirlFlow agitation technology for the bauxite and alumina sector outside of China.

The combination of the companies’ leading expertise in their respective fields should allow the parties to create the strongest offering to the market for the use of SwirlFlow technology in the refinery precipitation tanks.

Originally developed by CSIRO in partnership with Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL), SwirlFlow celebrated its 25-year milestone of operations in alumina processing in Australia in February. Looking like a supercharged stick blender, SwirlFlow sits at the top of the mixing tank and generates a tornado-like swirl throughout the fluid, which delivers mixing and dispersion of solids in thick slurries.

“Sustainability is a top priority for Metso Outotec,” said Dr Alessio Scarsella, Director of Light Metals at Metso Outotec. “In addition to our own investments to develop technology for sustainable alumina processing, we are pleased to be able to announce our cooperation with CSIRO. This will allow us to meet our customers’ growing demand such as lower capital installation, reduced spare parts costs and increase in precipitation tank availability.”

”CSIRO’s leading technology in SwirlFlow agitation has been pioneered at a tier one refinery’s precipitation tanks, leading to significantly reduced maintenance costs and improved operational time between descaling events,” said Andrew Jenkin, Research Program Director for Processing at CSIRO.

Image: SwirlFlow creates a tornado-like swirling action to deliver mixing and dispersion of solids in thick slurries.