Development of a Method to Measure Charges in Tumbling Mills

Abstract

Tumbling mills are often taken as the object of optimization studies because they are a type of equipment that consume large amounts of energy. Among the current available resources to conduct such studies, mathematic modelling presents great efficiency due to its low cost, speed and reliability. The total charge and grinding media charge are very important variables to conduct modelling exercises that aim at power draw and product size distribution forecasting. However, the common measurement methods require people entering the equipment, which carries a number of adversities related to confined spaces. In this regard, this paper presents the development of a method and the prototype of a device able to measure tumbling mill charges, quickly, precisely, with low cost and, above all, ensuring safety. The result of this work is a method that allows equivalent or superior precision in comparison to the existing methods, whose main aspect is to eliminate the requirement of people entering dangerous environments, such as tumbling mills.