Methods for estimating the Bond Work Index for ball mills
Date
2024
Authors
Nikolić, Vladimir
Sánchez Ferradal, Paula
Medina Pierres, Jesús
Menendez-Aguado, Juan Maria
Trumić, Milan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI, Switzerland
Source
Minerals
Volume
14
Issue
12
Abstract
Mining is a crucial sector in the global economy, providing essential materials for various industries, including construction, electronics, and energy. However, traditional mining practices often have significant negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, integrating sustainable practices into mining has become vital. Grinding is a crucial stage in the mineral processing industry, essential in liberating valuable minerals from ore. However, it is also one of the most energy-intensive processes in mining operations, consuming a substantial amount of electricity. Understanding and optimising electricity consumption in the grinding process is essential for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs. The relationship between electricity consumption in the grinding process and the Bond Work Index (BWI) is a crucial aspect of mineral processing and energy management in the mining industry. Understanding this relationship helps optimise grinding operations and improve energy efficiency. This review paper continues a previous work, where possible alternative modified methods for estimating the BWI in a Bond ball mill are presented. An analysis of selected methods is also provided to assess and obtain an accurate value of the BWI, which is essential in the grinding process. The methods for estimating the BWI using the wet method are presented. It is shown how the BWI can be estimated using dynamic elastic parameters and how changes in the Bond ball mill affect the BWI value. New equations for calculating the BWI and alternative procedures for evaluating the BWI in samples of non-standard size are proposed. The paper presents a comparative analysis of all presented methods.
Description
Keywords
mining, grindability, comminution, Bond Work Index, energy efficiency
Citation
DOI
10.3390/min14121264
Scopus
ISSN
2075-163X
ISBN
License
CC-BY