A 3D cellular automata ore stockpile model – Part 2: Simulation and industrial validation of dynamic discharging and trajectory segregation mechanisms

Abstract

This paper describes a 3D cellular automaton (CA) for dynamically modelling ore piles with continuous feeding and discharging and incorporating two separate size segregation mechanisms. Stockpiles are an integral part of materials handling and storage, and their operation plays an important role in the overall performance of the mineral processing plant. Size segregation can create fluctuations and cause processing units to receive uneven feeds. However, this issue has not received enough attention. Therefore, a three-dimensional dynamic stockpile model has been developed at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), which can model the dynamic response of a wide-size-range stockpile. A Continuous Cellular Automata was developed, dividing the volume of the stockpile into a three-dimensional grid of cells with each cell containing an independent set of properties that are tracked throughout the simulation. Modelling size segregation during material flow was presented in Part 1. The variation in the stockpile surface profile and size distribution of the stockpile can be predicted. In this paper, the stockpile model with size segregation extends to the discharging and migration for real-time simulation. The model structure and industrial validation are discussed in this paper, which will show the application of the dynamic model, including the particle size distribution and the height variation of the stockpile. The three-dimensional dynamic stockpile model can contribute to the control of the comminution circuit because different operational strategies can be predicted using the model.