Testing of grinding media performances at the conditions of Pb-Zn smelting slag wet milling and prediction of balls consumption by ann-based models

Abstract

This paper describes a part of the experimental procedure for testing the performance of grinding media (steel balls) during the smelting slag milling, as well as the modeling procedure and model results that predict the consumption of balls under given experimental conditions. Firstly, the most suitable mineral raw material for testing the durability of the grinding media was defined. In laboratory conditions, it was determined that it is most expedient to use slag from the melting process of Pb-Zn concentrate for testing. The coarse moisture content was determined on the initial slag sample, while the particle size composition and Bond work index were determined on the crushed slag samples. In accordance with the characteristics of the raw material, the technical-technological parameters of the system for wet grinding of slag were defined, in which the balls durability test was performed. The obtained results showed that the consumption of grinding media is about 1 kg/t of slag. Six ANN models, developed on the basis of experimental results, showed good predictive abilities when it comes to stel balls consumption. As a result of modeling, high correlation coefficients were obtained, the value of which was about R = 0.99.