Prediction of 3D slurry flow within the grinding chamber and discharge from a pilot scale SAG mill

Cleary, Paul W. and Morrison, Rob D. (2012) Prediction of 3D slurry flow within the grinding chamber and discharge from a pilot scale SAG mill. Minerals Engineering, 39 : 184-195.


Author Cleary, Paul W.
Morrison, Rob D.
Title Prediction of 3D slurry flow within the grinding chamber and discharge from a pilot scale SAG mill
Journal name Minerals Engineering  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-11
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/j.mineng.2012.05.019
Volume number 39
ISSN 0892-6875; 1872-9444
Start page 184
End page 195
Total pages 12
Place of publication Kidlington, Oxford United Kingdom
Publisher Pergamon
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Formatted abstract Slurry flow, including flow through the charge in the grinding chamber, through the discharge grates, along the pulp lifters and its discharge from the mill is an important contributor to the efficiency of the grinding process within a SAG mill. Poor transport of finer ground material can adversely affect grinding leading to excess energy consumption and over-grinding of fine material. This paper uses a 1-way coupled DEM–SPH method in three dimensions to analyse the full slurry flow for a 1.8 m diameter by 0.6 m long AG/SAG pilot mill. This provides detailed information on the internal flow of slurry within a SAG mill, including the prediction of dry regions and of slurry pooling. The importance of the end walls in generating complex three dimensional recirculation patterns in the charge and its influence on axial flow is demonstrated. Such a full 3D analysis ensures that the slurry is presented to the grate with a realistic spatial distribution and allows prediction of the flow through the grates and then within the pulp chamber. The rate of filling of the pulp chambers, the point of initiation of flow down along the rising pulp lifters, back flow into the grinding chamber and flow onto the discharge cone are all investigated. It is shown that the end wall lifters are critical to the flow through the grate generating pumping and shadowing effects which produce strongly non-uniform flow through different grate panels.
Keyword Mill
Grates
Pulp lifters
Slurry
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre Publications
Official 2013 Collection
 
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Created: Thu, 11 Oct 2012, 14:26:07 EST by Karen Holtham on behalf of Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre