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...conducting innovative research for the Mining Industry! |
The Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals, and Materials |
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September, 2002.
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Energy Efficiency
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A Fundamental Analysis of Fracture Mechanics of Minerals During Comminution
Desmond Tromans, Professor of Metals and Materials Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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John A. Meech, Professor of Mining Engineering and Director of CERM3
Background Breaking rock and ore minerals into small particles is an essential operation at all mines. Conventional methods involve crushing rock between two metal plates or dropping steel balls or rods onto ore particles to generate smaller particles. About 65 to 80 percent of all energy used in mining is consumed in these processes despite the fact that only about 1 to 2 percent of this energy is effectively used to create new mineral surface.
This research consists of several components and involves collaboration with a number of leading research groups around the world. Our primary work is aimed at developing a fundamental understanding of the fracture mechanics of minerals. The work grew out of an initial study into the mechanism by which materials become activated to enhance leaching kinetics as the particle size drops below 1 micron.
Collaboration with the Materials Computations Group at the Institute for Materials Research at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan is proceeding to conduct First Principles modeling of the production of fine particles. An Internet link has been established to the Tohoku TeraFlops supercomputer - the 16th most powerful computer in the world.
We have also established a close link with the CSIRO Group at Lucas Heights in Australia to develop a system for on-line monitoring of energy consumed during comminution. To our knowledge, no one has ever conducted a proper energy balance on a grinding circuit. We believe that such a system may lead to strategies that increase the overall efficiency of energy use in mining.
One approach may involve the recovery of heat contained in the pulp that exits from a mill with such heat being reused in the grinding process itself or recycled to other requirements in the mill.
For a detailed presentation on the fracture mechanics study, click here.
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Email: cerm3@mining.ubc.ca
Copyright © 2002 Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals, and Materials. All rights reserved.
Permission is given to reproduce all or any of the contained materials provided due credit is given to CERM3 as the source.
Revised: September 28, 2002.
