Apparatus for and method of controlling feed of grinding media to a grinding mill

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for and a method of controlling the feed rate of grinding media to a grinding mill of the type which operates at a power draft in the vicinity of the critical peak power draft of the grinding mill. In the described embodiment, the ore grinding media feed rate to a secondary autogenous grinding mill is controlled. In the described embodiment the ore grinding media feed rate is normally automatically controlled in response to the electrical power demand of the grinding mill by control means whose function is to maintain the power draft of the mill at a predetermined set point. At suitable time intervals, such as once every sixty minutes, the normal automatic feed control for the ore grinding media is interrupted or deactivated and an override feed control for the ore grinding media is substituted in place of the normal feed control. The override feed control acts to substantially decrease the rate of feed of the ore grinding media to the mill sufficiently to cause a measurable effect on the power draft of the mill. During the period when the override control is in effect, the feed of ore grinding media to the mill may even be stopped completely. A sensing device responsive to power increase or decrease detects whether the power input to the mill decreases or increases when the override feed control is in control, thereby indicating whether the mill is loaded below or above the grinding media charge or loading corresponding to the critical peak power draft of the mill. If the sensing device detects a decrease in power input to the mill during the override period, the override ore grinding media feed control is disconnected or otherwise deactivated and the normal ore grinding media feed control is reconnected or otherwise reactivated. If the sensing device detects an increase in power input to the mill during the override period, the override feed control remains connected to provide a decreased rate of feed of ore grinding media, which may even include a complete stoppage of feed of ore grinding media, until the sensing device detects a decrease in power input to the mill, at which time the override ore grinding media feed control is disconnected and the normal ore grinding media feed control is reconnected.

Inventors

• 👤 F Bond

Bibliographic Details