Energy Efficiency Within Crushing and Reclaiming Product Development
Add to calWilliam Smith Building, Keele University and via Zoom
Michael Metson – Komatsu Mining Technologies
Energy efficiency is becoming ever more important to material processors and miners. Current trends indicate a strong move to both pre-screening undersized materials (Quarry Magazine, 2020), and a shift to electrically powered crushing and breaking, to reduce unnecessary energy draw, and dependency upon fossil fuels (Powerscreen, 2022).
As tensile strength of rock is much smaller than its comparative compressive strength, potentially by the order of 0.1 times (S. Bernt & R.L. Aadnøy, 2019), rock will readily crush more efficiently in tension rather than in compression. Therefore, utilisation of slow speed pick armoured feeder-breakers, generate a more cost-efficient crush.
Additionally, the absence of the need for heavy civils preparation with feeder-breakers and reclaim feeders is an attractive proposition when processing at higher capacities. The opportunity cost of installing static gyratory and jaw crushers require significant initial installation civils expenditure (Australian Mining, 2019). The use of tension crushing methods is not a new crushing concept, however, recent development for crushing harder rock in this space is making this crushing philosophy more accepted within mainstream mining.
This presentation will focus upon the key benefits of Feeder breakers and Sizers, and how we are adapting our market approach to deal with more challenging materials with higher water content, greater hardness and larger maximum piece sizes.
A buffet supper will be served after the lecture, at which everyone will be very welcome.
