We have noted in an earlier published article, one of our client has decided to change the grinding balls diameter use by them own initiative. The 90mm grinding balls by Energosteel production have used for material grinding at client’s enterprise. The reason for diameter change was client’s desire try to increase the mill’s productivity by grinding balls mass increasing in the mill and maintaining the previous volume the mill filling (recall, one cubic meter of the 90 mm grinding balls weighs less than one cubic meter of the 80mm grinding balls).
The customer’s specialists have consulted with the technical support department of Energosteel Company about conditions for such tests providing before them beginning. The specialists decided the best way for the tests conduction is test providing “from scratch”, i.e. make a complete steel grinding balls unloading from the mill and fill it with a trial lot. New 60mm and 80mm grinding balls (30 tons of each diameter), as well as the 50-80mm grinding balls unloaded from the mill (35 tons) have used as a loaded grinding mixture. The grinding balls with a diameter less than 50 mm are waste and have not loaded into mill, because grinding balls operate in the waterfall mode at mill to ensure the required grinding quality. Current mill loading has provided by 80mm grinding balls.
Industrial tests began in mid-January of 2018. The test period is 2-3 months.
All technological grinding parameters have been analyzed after agreed test period expiration. It was noted, there was no particular difference in 90mm and 80mm grinding balls use; the technological grinding parameters have remained the same. The 90mm grinding balls abraded to 50mm for a longer period, that’s why client has decided use the 90mm grinding balls by Energosteel Company production. It should be noted, the client has decided to conduct one-time purchases of 60mm and 80mm steel grinding balls during mill was reloaded after repair, according to the tests results. This solution will allow immediately generate the necessary grinding composition of grinding balls and reach the quality grinding without waiting for grinding balls “lapping” in the mill.
We have repeatedly noted, our many partners currently provide similar tests to change the grinding balls average diameter in the mill (average diameter decrease, in most cases). We want to remind, a similar test has been conducting at the largest Ukrainian mining & processing enterprise, where the 100 mm grinding balls have been replaced to 80 mm grinding balls at the first grinding phase. The test has been conducted for more than 3 months, because of the heterogeneity grinding material (size, hardness, the initial ore chemical composition).
We will continue to inform you about this industrial test in the future.