Liberation Analysis Using a Simple Image Processing System

摘要

A simple image processing system has been used to develop a combined model for size reduction and mineral liberation. The model is based on an extension of the population balance model for grinding to include the liberation behavior of a binary ore. Separate model equations are used to describe the breakage and production of A, B, and AB type material. Batch grinding experiments conducted on a sphalerite ore from Eastern Tennessee have been used for parameter estimation and model validation. The experimental results show that the breakage distribution functions for A or B type material are the same whether these materials are ground alone or with the ore. Furthermore, the breakage distribution functions are found to be normalizable with feed size. Breakage rate functions, however, are found to change significantly in the presence of the ore. Simulation results obtained using the estimated and experimentally determined breakage parameters agree very closely with the experimentally determined size distributions for sphalerite, gangue, composite material, and the total product.