Title: Optimisation of solids concentration in wet rod mill grinding of limestone ore through modelling and simulation

Authors: Md. Serajuddin; Sulekha Mukhopadhyay; Anand Rao Kacham

Addresses: Mineral Processing Division, Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), AMD Complex, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 500016, India; Department of Engineering Sciences, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400094, India ' Chemical Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400085, India; Department of Engineering Sciences, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400094, India ' Mineral Processing Division, Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), AMD Complex, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 500016, India; Department of Engineering Sciences, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400094, India

Abstract: Solid concentration, the most important variable in wet rod mill grinding, was optimised through modelling and simulation by the combined use of the matrix and population balance models (PBM). The size distribution of the ground products was predicted with the help of breakage, selection, and classification functions. A relation between the specific rate of breakage and the particle size was established for different solid concentrations. The optimum solid concentration for rod mill grinding of crushed limestone type brecciated uranium ore was found to be 65% solid (w/w). Interestingly, it was found that the milling matrix involving the breakage and selection functions (without classification function) is sufficient for modelling the rod mill grinding, when the selection function is back-calculated. An attempt was also made to establish a relation between the specific rate of breakage and solid concentration. The methodology used in the present analysis can be used for any other ores or minerals.

Keywords: grinding; matrix model; population balance model; PBM; breakage function; selection function.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2022.129521

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2022 Vol.13 No.3, pp.231 - 255

Received: 20 Dec 2021
Received in revised form: 27 Oct 2022
Accepted: 02 Nov 2022
Published online: 13 Mar 2023 *

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