INDUSTRIAL TESTS OF HIGH HARDNESS GRINDING BALLS OF LARGE DIAMETERS

Despite the current difficult world situation, Energosteel Company is continuing its work on the upgrading grinding process at its customers’ enterprises. Thus, the industrial tests of Energosteel’s production grinding balls began in early March 2020, at the largest mining and processing plant in Georgia.

Specific nature of the tests was as follows: the substitution of steel grinding balls used earlier must be pursued simultaneously into all nine ball mills working in the first and second grinding phase. The steel grinding balls 100 mm and 60 mm in diameter and 60 HRC used earlier according to the DSTU 8538-2015. The steel grinding balls 100 mm and 60 mm in diameter and 65 HRC were delivered as a pilot batch (according to the DSTU 8538-2015.).

This is our first industrial test of high hardness grinding balls of large diameters. Therefore, our representative was on the scene of experimentation. We have done the following:

• The visual inspection and the measurement of mill occupancy rate was conducted.
• The all technical and technological specifications of mill performance were collected and analyzed.
• The Methodology for conducting tests was developed.
• The loading of test grinding balls into all mills was carried out.
• Re-inspection of several mills was conducted 12 hours later after the loading of test grinding balls into the mills.

Let us now summarize the results of this business trip. It was regrettable that we cannot take part in this test directly.  That is why our specialists will receive current test progress information remotely, almost on a daily basis. We will also analyze data promptly and recommend to our client the various actions that, we believe, need to be implemented to maximize the positive impact.