BUSINESS MEETING WITH EUROPEAN PARTNER INSIDE THE ENERGOSTEEL COMPANY WALLS
HOW DO THE ALLOYING ELEMENTS AFFECT THE GRINDING BALLS WEAR?
In August 2021, the specialists of Energosteel Company had a business trip to our client in Georgia. This buyer of grinding balls is the first export end-user of our products. The key purpose of the visit is to collect necessary technical information on the operation of steel grinding balls produced by LLC «Plant «Energosteel» in industrial conditions of the client. We will go into more detail about this.
Now the whole process of grinding at the customer’s factory has shifted to use steel grinding balls (60 HRC) of 100mm and 60mm diameter. Similar grinding balls of 43 HRC were previously used.
Distinctive features of grinding at this enterprise are the following factors:
- The sufficiently hard and abrasive ore.
- The grinding is carried out in two-stage sections.
- Small geometrical dimensions of ball mills, which do not exceed 22-23 cubic meters.
- Various types (both in shape and material) of armor plates, which are installed in the mills of the first stage.
Experience shows that the transition from one type of grinding body to another (any change – the material, size, hardness, etc.) is not always as easy as it seems. In most cases, adjustments have to be made to the process of shredding. Changes can be made to a number of parameters: from mill filling with grinding balls to a change in the armour design.
During our nine-day visit to the client’s factory, we conducted two measurements in each of the six first-stage mills and one measurement in three second-stage mills. We have collected and analysed all statistical information that characterizes the shredding process at the enterprise.
Separately worth noting the fact that during the visual assessment of grinding balls, it was noted that steel grinding balls of the 60 HRC retain their spherical shape throughout the entire period of operation, which is clearly demonstrated in the photo below.
The grinding balls 100 mm (60 HRC) uniform deterioration
Based on the results of the visit, Energosteel specialists provided recommendations that will help our client to facilitate the transition from the grinding balls of 43 HRC to more harder grinding balls.
Despite the fact that the test takes place quite far away from us, our specialists at least once in 4-5 days contact the technical specialists of the client and receive the current information on the experiment, reacting in time and adjusting the process.