OPTIMIZATION OF COMMINUTION CIRCUIT THROUGHPUT AND PRODUCT SIZE DISTRIBUTION BY SIMULATION AND CONTROL
The goal of this project is to improve energy efficiency of industrial crushing and grinding operations (comminution). Mathematical models of the comminution process are being used to study methods for optimizing the product size distribution, so that the amount of excessively fine material produced can be minimized. The goal is to save energy by reducing the amount of material that is ground below the target size, while simultaneously reducing the quantity of materials wasted as ''slimes'' that are too fine to be useful. This is being accomplished by mathematical modeling of the grinding circuits to determine how to correct this problem. It has been determined that, for mixtures of approximately equal quantities of high-density minerals (such as iron oxides) and low-density minerals (such as quartz), existing hydrocyclone models fail to accurately predict the hydrocyclone behavior. Since the hydrocyclone is the key unit controlling the particle size, an accurate model of these units is required and is being fully developed. Experimental work has demonstrated that the previous models are inaccurate due to incorrect assumptions concerning the change in hydrocyclone cut size as a function of changing particle density.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan Technological University (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-01NT41062
- OSTI ID:
- 831080
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Jul 2004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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OPTIMIZATION OF COMMINUTION CIRCUIT THROUGHPUT AND PRODUCT SIZE DISTRIBUTION BY SIMULATION AND CONTROL
Optimization of Comminution Circuit Throughput and Product Size Distribution by Simulation and Control