Author 1:
Name & Surname: Ivanov A. N.
Company: RIVS Science and Production Association (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Director, Ore Pre-Processing Department
Contacts: e-mail: rivs@rivs.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Tikhonov O. N.
Company: RIVS Science and Production Association (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Head of subdivision

Improvement of ore pretreatment processes has always been a priority trend mining and processing modernization since ore pre-processing is the most expensive process stage of beneficiation. One of the promising directions, which in some instances has enabled effectivization of ore pre-processing at operating plants, is redesign of an ore pre-processing circuit by introduction of high pressure grinding rolls as an auxiliary stage of fine crushing of ore before grinding. Reduction of size of the ore grinding feed allows the increase in the milling equipment output by 15–20 % depending on features of a specific ore type and on characteristics of the current ore pre-processing chart. In order to estimate material behavior in the work zone of HPGR, laboratory and semi-commercial tests are carried out as a compulsory stage of feasibility study of the technology application under certain conditions. At the present time, RIVS is designing new charts and upgrades the existing schemes of ore pre-processing based on the test data and current process indexes of crushing and grinding equipment on hand using JKSim computer simulation software package. The obtained mathematical model allows high-reliable forecasting of the production data of the ore pre-processing chart at varied parameters of the involved equipment. As an illustration of the described approach, the article presents the technical-and-economic calculation for “Ore Pre-Processing Stage I Technical Upgrading, Crushing Stage IV” accomplished for the processing plant of Erdenet Mining Corporation.

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