| This thesis is part of a larger INCO project. The objective of this project is to develop a control strategy for Clarabelle Mill aimed at better use of energy. To achieve this objective the Mill has integrated the semiautogenous-ball mill grinding circuit, and rod-ball mill grinding circuit.; The objective of my thesis was to create the model of Clarabelle Mill's grinding circuit and test it by a partial sensitivity analysis.; To achieve this goal I designed and developed the Mill's grinding circuit model using JKSimMet Simulator, and I did a sensitivity analysis of selected operating parameters. JKSimMet performs steady state simulation of a wide range of comminution, classification and separation operations. Its model fitting routine calibrates the built-in model to experimental values.; The modeling procedure was as follows: data acquisition, model fitting, and model validation. Having a robust model of Clarabelle Mill's grinding circuit, it was possible to quantify the influence of water addition and size distribution on the flotation feed density and size distribution.; The result of this sensitivity analysis shows that: (1) in the case of water addition to cyclone feed: if the feed density drops 1%, the cyclone overflow density drops 2.2% and the passing 65 mesh material increases by 1.1%; (2) in the case of fineness of ball mill feed: if SAG ratio in total ball mill feed increases 10%, the ball mill feed passing 65 mesh increases 2%. |
