The
philosophy of the program has been and will continue to be one whose
focus is on developing tools, understanding unit operations and applying
the information to meet the needs of the industry in the areas of
plant design and process optimisation. This has been achieved by a
proven mixture of applied and fundamental research, plant testwork,
student training and an emphasis on practical outcomes and scientific/engineering
advancement, with investigations undertaken at around 20 operating
sites in the past four years. An important outcome has been the development
of a range of software and other tools for use by metallurgists.
Since its inception the range of research topics covered by the project
has steadily expanded. The P9M extension (2000 - 2003) covered the
following:
| • |
Comminution |
-
AG/SAG mills
- crushing
- ball milling
- ultra fine milling
- wear of media and liners
- acoustic measurement of mill load
- DEM modelling |
| • |
Classification |
-
3-product hydrocyclone |
| • |
Mineral
Liberation |
-
multi-phase liberation modelling |
| • |
Gravity
Separation |
-
fundamental model of sluice flow - experiments with laboratory
sluice |
| • |
Flotation |
-
floatability component modelling
- circuit modelling methodology
- flotation cell and circuit simulation software
- flotation cell characterisation
- froth performance modelling
- property based floatability modelling
- CFD and physical modelling of flotation cells
- SimFloat |
The
successful mechanism that has been developed for conducting research
into these areas involves students and staff working with sponsors
on specific problems/topics which the sponsors have identified.
Usually, but not exclusively, these are site based and are analysed
through detailed fieldwork studies. The data from these studies
are then used, often together with modelling and simulation techniques,
to help provide a solution. At the same time the data assist in
furthering the understanding of the processes in question, as well
as enhancing the industrial database with which the mathematical
models are refined and validated, so providing generic solutions.
|
