DISEO, SIMULACIN Y OPTIMIZACIN DE UN CIRCUITO DE MOLIENDA SAG UTILIZANDO EL SIMULADOR JKSimMet

Tom BoBo1, Sebastin Urrejola2, Cristian Rodrguez2

(1) Split Engineering LLC.
110 S. Church Avenue, Suite 8312 CP 85701 Tucson Arizona, USA Fono: (1)-(520)-3273773 Fax : (1)-(520)-3267532 http://www.spliteng.com

(2) Split Engineering Chile Ltda.

Calle General Salvo #331 oficina 201 Providencia - Santiago, CHILE Fono: (56)-(2)-5978200 Fax : (56)-(2)-5978206 http://www.spliteng.com

Energy consumption Total energy consumption in Chile by mining industry represent 34.1% Grinding cost unit-operation 1% increase on a 100.000tpd of porphyry copper increase revenue over US$2M

Optimize your process!

How we do it? Changes in technology or introduction of new technologies Improvements in technology, its application and operating practice. This involve: Reduce unit operation energy consumption Increase throughput, and value production Improve downstream process performance Combination of these

OPTIMIZATION WAYS

Perform a plant-scale test work Difficult or even inconclusive results Simulation as an optimization tool Ability to explore different scenarios quickly and efficiently Answer the what if? questions

JKSimMet Simulation Software Package!

WHAT DO WE NEED?

Characterize the feed material JKDWT Estimate machine parameters AG/SAG mill model

Let the simulations begins!

JK DROP WEIGHT TEST

AG/SAG MILL ORE PARAMETERS

t10 = A 1 e ( bEcs )

AG/SAG MODEL IN JKSimMet

CALIBRATING THE MODELS

SIMULATE
After calibration, the model will match the actual mill more closely than the default model would. At this point, the model can be used for simulation, i.e. To calculate the effect of the model parameters on the throughput and product of the mill. For instance, the model can show the effect of changes in the ball charge, the use of a pebble crusher, etc. The variable rate AG/SAG model in the JKSimMet package allows simulation of the effect of the following variables: Ball size Grate configuration Ball charge Mill speed

Ore grindability Throughput Feed size distribution Mill geometry

SIMULATE

CASE OF STUDY

THROUGHPUT

SAG MILL POWER UTILIZATION

CONCLUSIONS
Modern computer technology has made it possible to supply powerful modeling software to the plant engineer.

Combined with the ore characterization techniques as JKDWT to provide a particle breakage function to measure the grindability, the grinding circuit operator now has the tools to optimize each component of the grinding circuit

CONCLUSIONS
Using a range of models of circuit and concentrator operation, we can in principle optimize operation of: A comminution circuit with respect to product size, throughput or energy utilization. A comminution circuit with respect to downstream recovery. A complete mine concentrator operation with respect to particular productivity criteria.