engleski

Scale-up of comminution process – kinetic approach

Comminution is well-known energy consuming process. Good description of the process at laboratory scale and development of the useful mathematical model for process scale-up would eventually lead to reduction of the energy consumption in comminution process. Scale-up procedure of comminution is generally based on trial and error principle, a practical approach but one that requires a lot of experimental work. Deficiency of such approach is more expressed when processing high-value materials. Frequently used modeling technique in this research area is the one based on population balance equation, so-called model-based method for scale-up. The comminution of dolomite samples was performed in the laboratory ball mills of different pot volumes at optimal rotational speed. Powder and ball filling volumes were kept constant in all experiments. Kinetic parameters were evaluated using one-size method and calculated from the alteration of unbroken size fraction of material with time assuming first-order breakage kinetics. Comminution kinetics was described using size-discrete form of population balance equation. All experiments confirm first-order breakage behaviour. Specific breakage rate decreases with particle size and increases with mill volume. Derived mathematical model nominates as a good foundation for further scale-up analysis of dolomite comminution in ball mills.

comminution; ball mill; scale-up; population balance

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