Toward Operation Improvement of HPGR and Ball Mill Circuits Through the Dynamic Optimization and Mill Speed Control in Response to Variation in Measurable Process Variables

Crushing and grinding processes are the largest consumers of energy at a mining operation. The High-Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) has gained popularity because it is much more energy efficient than conventional processes. The HPGR product is then ground in ball mills to prepare ore for mineral separation. These processes are controlled to optimize their performance by minimizing energy usage while maximizing productivity. The rotational speed of the rollers and of the ball mills can be controlled in response to changes in ore properties. The research will investigate and advance strategies for controlling the speed to optimize their performance.

Faculty Supervisor:

Bern Klein;Sanja Miskovic

Student:

Max Hesse;Bill Tubbs

Partner:

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia