Application of design of experiments (DoE) in evaluating crushing-screening performance for aggregates production

Abstract

The configuration and the interaction between the crushers and screens enable aggregate producers to produce products that are in accordance with the applicable product certification. However, the performance of the system is seldom optimized for the given conditions and market demand. This paper aims to describe the experimental work and the results of quantifying the crusher and screen performance by applying the design of experiments (DoE) in a full-scale tertiary crushing process of an aggregate production plant with both standard belt-cut sampling as well with continuous processes monitoring. The results show the application of a simplified modelling approach using the design of experiments for the evaluation of crusher performance and circuit performance using experimental data. The research output is able to demonstrate that there exists an interaction effect between the crusher closed side setting and eccentric speed that previously has not been identified with traditional methods. The quantification of interaction between crusher and screen individual performance to the process performance has been demonstrated with both belt-cut samples and continuous process monitoring. Using a DoE, digital experiments can be planned for mapping and quantifying the performance of aggregate production.