Comparative Laboratory Studies of Conventional and Electrodynamic Fragmentation of an Industrial Mineral

Abstract

In order to address comminution efficiency, which could be defined as the increase in mass specific surface against net specific energy input, the energy consumption of an industrial mineral with and without pre-weakening by high voltage pulses covering the same size range were compared. The three tested comminution sequences consisted of a laboratory jaw crusher or pilot scale high voltage pulse machine at two different circulating loads, a laboratory crusher and two tumbling mills of differing grinding media; all being operated following the principles of energy optimized comminution according to the OCS-method. The first results indicate that possible energy reduction by electrodynamic pre-weakening is available in the immediately subsequent, but not in further conventional comminution stages for the tested industrial mineral.