The complexity of understanding the whole thickening process to achieve real performance improvements cannot be underestimated. The last significant change in feedwell design was more than 15 years ago with the introduction of self-dilution systems - firstly with Outotec's Autodil, followed by FLSmidth's E-Duc._x000D_
Now, following many years of extensive in-house research, including close collaboration with AMIRA and the CSIRO, Outotec has launched the next generation Vane Feedwell. The Vane Feedwell has been globally patented and installed at various sites. This paper briefly outlines the feedwell's development using CFD modelling and its subsequent performance in a real life' site installation._x000D_
Plant results of the first commercial Vane Feedwell, in a mineral sands application, are discussed. The Vane Feedwell was retrofitted so comparative data of pre- and post-installation is shown.