Energy efficient comminution in mining

Important results from the project

The purpose is to develop the partner constellation and to identify, define and prioritise areas where a potential for an energy saving is possible at both short and long term. The goal has been to create a constellation with research providers and industrial partners who are prepared to try and implement new solutions in pilot plants and full scale. A constellation now exists with Chalmers University of Technology and Luleå University together with LKAB, Boliden and Zinkgruvan. Because of other projects no application for a cooperation project was handed in to VINNOVA at this time.

Expected long term effects

The results of the project is nine work packages (WP) that have been defined. Within the Innovation track the WPs are about crushers, different physical fields applicability to comminution, and how to apply existing machines in new applications. Within the Optimisation track the WPs are about classification and different types of crushers. Also, three supporting WPs were defined with the purpose to measure and assess energy consumption, to adapt the comminution with respect to the mineralogy and an investigation about how increased comminution will affect the downstream process.

Approach and implementation

Three workshops have been arranged within the project where the universities and the companies together have worked with the energy challenge and how it can be addressed. Nine working packages (WP) within two tracks have been defined for a coming collaboration project. The universities have had one workshop to work with the setup, direction and width of the project. No application for a collaboration project was handed in at this time. Instead this will be done in future calls.