Slurry rheology influence on the performance of mineral/coal grinding circuits. Part 2

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6144875

Klimpel, R R

This article summarizes slurry rheology influence on the grinding throughput of batch laboratory and continuous plant-scale mills operating in open and closed circuit configurations. The results of controlled changes in percent solids, particle size, slurry temperature, and viscosity control chemicals were demonstrated. More specifically, dilatant slurries show first order breakage. Pseudoplastic slurries also demonstrate first order breakage, but at a higher rate. Pseudoplastic slurries with significant yield values show slower non first order breakage. It is important to note that all of these rheological characterizations were done on the slurry as it exited the mill. Accelerated breakage in small batch mills of larger particles in the presence of fines is a direct consequence of the rheological transformation from dilatant to pseudoplastic as grinding occurs. In addition is the need, from a maximum throughput basis, of tumbling media mills to operate on as thick a slurry basis as possible that still offers a low enough viscosity to keep grinding first order. The above maximization also requires a solids loading at equal to or above the media void volume loading. It is also evident that use of rheology control chemicals allows even higher net production at even higher solids loading. A general observation on both open and closed circuit operation was that it was necessary to have the slurry in the grinding mill itself be in a pseudoplastic rheology region to achieve maximum net throughput. The use of the concepts of this article on industrial scale have proven valuable to the operating mineral/coal processing firms involved in the overall testing program.

• Research Organization: Dow Chemical Co., M.E. Pruitt Research Center, Midland, MI 48640
• OSTI ID: 6144875
• Journal Information: Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States), Journal Name: Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States) Vol. 35:1; ISSN MIENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010400* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Processing
ADDITIVES
CLOSED-CYCLE SYSTEMS
COAL PREPARATION
COMMINUTION
CONTROL
DENSITY
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
GRINDING
MACHINE TOOLS
MACHINING
MILLING MACHINES
MINERALS
MIXTURES
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
OPTIMIZATION
PARTICLE SIZE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRODUCTION
RHEOLOGY
SIZE
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
TOOLS