Determination of the formal powder filling of a wet ball mill in open circuit configuration. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mulenga, François K.; Bwalya, Murray M.
• Is Part Of: Minerals engineering. Volume 130(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 4
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Powder filling -- Mill hold-up -- Residence time distribution -- Load behaviour -- Open milling circuit -- Milling conditions; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Mines and mineral resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.10.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-6875

Abstract

Highlights: Three powder filling models are tested on a continuous mill. The mechanistic model is the most accurate but errors increase at lower ball filling. The simplest empirical model performed the least especially at lower slurry density. Powder fillings from residence time distributions were consistently low. Better description of mill load behaviour may lead to improved powder filling models. Abstract: Powder filling is challenging to measure in industrial mills. In this paper, three estimation models of powder filling are evaluated. The first is built around the crescent-shaped load; the second is empirical while the third exploits residence time distribution. In terms of supporting data, total mass content, ball filling, slurry density, load orientation, power draw, and material transport through the mill were measured under various conditions. The residence time distribution was then characterised and used in computing powder filling. Measured powder filling was compared against predictions and possible sources of discrepancy were discussed.