Back in the early 1980s, computer technology was actually in an incomparable state compared to today. At that time, could the human brain be replicated? Could a robot be created that could behave like a human? Can computers think? Can they learn things? Answers to questions like these have not yet been found. In fact, such questions have been asked continuously for years. They have continued to be asked, and as a result, some of these questions have been partially answered today. Numerous artificial neural network models have been developed, and countless applications have emerged. Developments show that these systems will enter more and more people's lives in the future. These studies have actually emerged as a result of curiosity about how the human brain works and how it learns. How the human brain works is not yet known today? However, studies have shown that computers can learn and produce successful results. These systems are used effectively, especially in events that require the evaluation of a large amount of information. Applications are seen in many fields, from industrial life to financial life, from medical science to military systems. The successes obtained in these applications both increase the importance of artificial neural networks and increase interest in these systems. In the mining industry, there is a need for improved quality control systems in the production of minerals. In addition, the desire to recover minerals of low economic value in a cost-effective way requires a higher level of control and automation. As a result of these demands, the success and necessity of instant messaging mineral classification and the use of this information have led to the use of artificial neural networks in the mining industry. Since the 1990s, the use of artificial neural networks has been increasing day by day. However, artificial neural networks should also be selected appropriately. In this article, information about the use of artificial neural networks in the world is given, and how they are used with mineral processing systems is explained. Multifaceted research results are given on the benefits of its use in mineral processing systems.
There are different paths for the comminution of certain size ore down to a target size, such as primary crushing-single stage SAG milling, primary crushing-SAG milling-pebble crushing-ball milling or 3-stage conventional crushing-rod milling-ball milling. Different comminution alternatives result in variate investment (CAPEX) and operating (OPEX) cost options. Other than qualitative decision, decision maker (design engineer) should decide based on economics (CAPEX and OPEX). The COM_TRD_Sim software has been developed for size reduction trade-off. The software accepts the user defined schedule data, processes several different experimental indices available in the literature. It compares the economics for exactly doing the same job (for example: crushing/grinding from 800 mm down to 50 micron for all alternatives). Alternatively, the software estimates CAPEX and OPEX for size reduction of different alternatives for different tasks (from 800 mm down to 50 micron for single stage SAG or from 600 mm down to 150 micron for 3 stage crushing + rod + ball milling). The software predictions have been verified against several industrial applications and the case studies given in the paper show the software capabilities for new design challenges. This volume explains the software capabilities, infrastructure and the models utilized in the calculation order, which are from the literature and in-house models of MPES Engineering. There are almost 40 mathematical models utilized in the software including MacPherson-WMAC, Starkey-WSDT, SMC and Bond experimental indices.
Under diverse conditions, multiple empirical models are employed to forecast screen performance. Although they provide good insight for the sizing and selection of screens, they generally are insufficient for the precise quantification of the effects of parameters such as surface dimensions, aperture size, aperture shape/orientation and surface open area. Discrete element modelling has proved in many instances that it provides close-up examination of motion of particles under various conditions for a variety of mineral processing operations and provides data that is not possible to obtain with conventional experimentation or sampling. This study aims at investigating the influence of screen surface parameters (i.e. surface dimensions, aperture orientation/shape, aperture size and surface open area) on screening performance with the aid of Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) method for the simulation of vibrating screens. In order to achieve realistic simulations “multi-spheres” were used for the representation of particles with irregular shapes. The simulation results show that particle motions were accurately predicted and simulation data were evaluated using conventional screen efficiency criteria. The separation of particles was also investigated in terms of size distribution of products and residence time of particles along the screen.
To address the issue of resource wastage caused by the extraction of thick coal seams with large coal pillars, this study is based on the 1st Panel of the 110 Working Face at the Suancigou Coal Mine. It employs methods such as on-site measurement, physical similarity model experiments, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation to investigate the reasonable width of coal pillars under the disturbance of comprehensive mechanized mining in thick coal seams. The study reveals the damage and deformation evolution patterns of the coal pillars, calculates the critical width of the coal pillars based on limit equilibrium theory and strength theory, and simulates the distribution characteristics of stress and damage failure zones in the coal pillars. The results indicate that a 45 m coal pillar still possesses substantial load-bearing capacity after multiple mining activities, suggesting the possibility of reducing its width to enhance coal recovery rates. The calculations show that the minimum width of the coal pillar should not be less than 26.18 m. Simulations demonstrate that when the width of the coal pillar is 30 m, the coal recovery rate is relatively high and meets safety production requirements. The findings of this research are significant for improving coal recovery rates in the Suancigou Coal Mine and similar mining conditions.
Limestone and clay group minerals are used in the production of ceramic wall tile compositions. Wall tiles must have a 10-20% water absorption depending on the EN 14411 standard. In order to meet this water absorption criterion, calcite and dolomite minerals which are in carbonated structure are used in wall tile body composition. Manufacturers supply these minerals from limestone sources close to the enterprises, which are abundant in nature. The size of raw materials must be reduced to finer sizes (-45 µm) for the production of ceramic bodies. For this reason, it is very important to control the size of the limestone during the grinding process limestone to a very fine size (-45 µm) in aqueous media in order to produce qualified wall tile body composition. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the effects of grinding of limestone samples obtained from the Derenti, Nevruz, and Terzialan regions of Çanakkale province, on ceramic wall tiles based on laboratory and industry-scale experiments/analyses. The limestone samples were firstly ground in a discontinuous mill, and the grinding performances were compared in terms of time-dependent particle size, energy consumption, and capacity. Second, the wall tile bodies were shaped and then fired in an industrial kiln, and finally analyzed in terms of sintering properties and TS EN 14411 standards. The results from this study showed that Bond Work Indexes of Derenti, Nevruz, and Terzialan limestone samples were determined as 12.8, 11.7, and 13.0 kWh/t, respectively. As a result of industrial-based discontinuous grinding studies, the energy consumption for grinding to 0.2% sieve residue for +45 µm increased from 67.4 to 73.4 kW/t and the capacity decreased from 1.34 t/h to 1.23 t/h with the increase of quartz content of limestone samples from 0.8% to 2.1%. The particle size analysis of the samples indicated the d90, d50, and d10 values of the ground samples in industrial-based grinding experiments were 16.97 µm, 1.85 µm, and 0.37 µm, respectively, As a result of the studies carried out within the scope of wall tile body composition development, the shrinkage value decreased from 0.43% to 0.31% with the increase in CaO content from 53.9% to 54.6% and wall tile with TS EN 14411 water absorption standard was obtained by using 13% limestone. In conclusion, the mineral content in limestone showed significant effects on particle size distribution, energy consumption, and capacity in the fine grinding process as well as on sintering properties of wall tile body composition.
