AG/SAG mill acoustic emissions characterisation under different operating conditions. (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Owusu, Kwaku Boateng; Zanin, Massimiliano; Skinner, William; Asamoah, Richmond K.
• Is Part Of: Minerals engineering. Volume 171(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: AG/SAG grinding mill -- Mill acoustic emissions -- Energy-efficient milling -- Optimisation -- Continuous process monitoring; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Mines and mineral resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-6875

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Remarkable acoustic emissions occur during grinding due to steel ball interactions. Water addition and rock dampens acoustic emissions produced by steel balls. Change in mill speed, mill load and mill lifter height reflected well in mill noise. Acoustic emissions monitoring could aid in-mill energy-efficient operation. Abstract: Towards the development of an improved and more efficient online monitoring system in an industrial AG/SAG grinding mill, the present study employs a laboratory-based AG/SAG mill and acoustic sensor to investigate the acoustic characteristics of different mill operating conditions. Specifically, mill operating conditions such as empty mill, individual charge compositions and their combinations, together with different lifter heights and mill speeds were studied. The results showed remarkable acoustic emission in ball only load and reduced in order of ball-water, ball-rock, rock-ball-water, rock only, rock-water, water only and no load. Water and rock showed minor and major dampening effects on the mill acoustic emission, respectively, in the presence of steel balls. Generally, mill rotational speed, charge load as well as lifter height variations reflected well in the mill noise emission. This study supports the use of mill acoustic sensing technique to understand different grinding conditions in AG/SAG mills for improved and continuous process monitoring, energy-efficient milling, and enhanced optimisation.