Farrukh Yaqub, SKF Australia, discusses the advances in condition monitoring and data analytics that are helping owners to optimise the reliability, availability, and cost of grinding operations.
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rinding is a critical process in the mining value chain. The performance of downstream processes in the production of copper, iron, gold, and cement all depend on consistent grinding of input materials. Grinding mill throughput also plays a key role on the overall productivity and profitability of a mine. In recent years, grinding mills have become the focus of increased attention. To maximise yields and exploit lower quality ores, owners need their grinding mills to work harder and perform more consistently. Grinding is also a highly energy-intensive process, making mills a target for efficiency improvement efforts aimed at cutting operating costs and reducing the carbon footprint of materials production. Against this backdrop, the use of predictive technologies in grinding mills is growing, as owners seek ways to better understand the performance and reliability of their assets. By measuring a range of physical characteristics – such as temperature, vibration levels, and the position of key components – condition monitoring systems aim to provide early warning of wear, breakages, and other problems that could affect process performance or lead to unscheduled shutdowns.
global mining review // July/August 2021
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