Title

ENERGY EFFICIENT GRINDING MILLS

ENERGY EFFICIENT GRINDING MILLS

Authorship

Latchireddi, Sanjeeva

Latchireddi, Sanjeeva

I am this author

DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-20524

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Abstract

The horizontal grinding mills have been existing in mining industry since more than a century and the question on their efficiency is still remains debatable. The instant we think of ball mills, overflow discharge ball mills strikes first and indeed they are the most commonly seen in mining industry. The material transport in overflow ball mills is by displacement compared to the quicker migration of product size fines across the grate due to higher gradient. Quick migration and removal of the finished product leads to rapid change of mill content, minimum over-grinding, lower grinding cost per ton, improved metallurgy in downstream processes etc. Although principally grate discharge mills do have many advantages compared to overflow mills, their application has been quite limited. The efficiency of AG/SAG mills fall between the overflow mills and true grate-discharge (open ended grate) mills due to inherent material transport problems. This paper will look into different factors that influence the grinding efficiency of the horizontal mills – AG/SAG/Ball mills, with the possible solutions to make them more energy efficient using the Turbo Pulp Lifter (TPLTM) technology - an Outotec patented design, developed to ensure good grinding conditions in grate discharge grinding mills.

The horizontal grinding mills have been existing in mining industry since more than a century and the question on their efficiency is still remains debatable. The instant we think of ball mills, overflow discharge ball mills strikes first and indeed they are the most commonly seen in mining industry. The material transport in overflow ball mills is by displacement compared to the quicker migration of product size fines across the grate due to higher gradient. Quick migration and removal of the finished product leads to rapid change of mill content, minimum over-grinding, lower grinding cost per ton, improved metallurgy in downstream processes etc. Although principally grate discharge mills do have many advantages compared to overflow mills, their application has been quite limited. The efficiency of AG/SAG mills fall between the overflow mills and true grate-discharge (open ended grate) mills due to inherent material transport problems. This paper will look into different factors that influence the grinding efficiency of the horizontal mills – AG/SAG/Ball mills, with the possible solutions to make them more energy efficient using the Turbo Pulp Lifter (TPLTM) technology - an Outotec patented design, developed to ensure good grinding conditions in grate discharge grinding mills.

Keywords

Grinding; Regrinding; Ball Mill; AG; SAG; Energy Efficient.

Grinding; Regrinding; Ball Mill; AG; SAG; Energy Efficient.