ThyssenKrupp Resource Technology:

Kessler M., Project Manager

Burchardt E., Chief Technologist, e-mail: roman.karl@thyssenkrupp.com

Mineral mining and processing industry increasingly focuses on efficient grinding systems in recent years worldwide, mainly, because of growing energy cost and global water deficit. This trend will only intensify in years to come; as ore reserves are being depleted, the time and energy consumed to recover ore will simultaneously grow. Energy-efficient grinding systems, such as high pressure grinding rolls technology, are the technically and economically viable solution to challenges that mining and processing industry faces or will face soon. From the practical evidence, HPGR raise competitive capacity in mineral mining and processing, which is particularly crucial at the time of unstable or tumbling prices of mineral raw materials. Today HPGR are used in various production processes. HPGR work in tertiary crushing circuits to prepare feed for the next-following ball milling, or as quaternary grinders aimed to enhance productivity. Furthermore, HPGR serve for pebble crushing in semiauotogenous milling, iron ore grinding and final disintegration. High pressure grinding rolls offer solution to a number of key problems in mineral dressing. Majority of ore bodies contain lower grade ore that is harder or difficult-to-process as against previous time; therefore high productivity processing plants need minimization of operating cost in order to reach profitability. The article gives a review of the experience gained in the use of high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR). Grinding efficiency has been acquiring more importance in the world’s mining and processing industry in recent years, mainly, because of growing energy costs and global water deficiency. This trend is going to intensify from now on. The time and energy consumed for ore disintegration will grow in proportion to the depletion of ore reserves. Energy-efficient grinding, such as HPRG, is the technology- and energy-healthy solution to the problems that mining and processing industry is and will be facing. Experience practice shows that HPRG raise competitive capacity of mining and processing industry, which is exceptionally important in the days of unstable or loosing market of raw materials. Since its introduction to cement production in the 1980s, HPGR have become the commonly accepted and proved technology of hard and abrasive ore processing. Currently, HPGR enjoy wide application in various raw material treatment technologies. HPGR are included in fine crushing installations to prepare a feedstock for ball mills, or to re-crush ore for the enhancement of output. Furthermore, HPGR are used to produce pebble, which is a semi-autogenous milling product, iron ore, etc.