Transformational Flowsheet: Unlocking Energy and Water Savings

TRANSFORMATIONAL FLOWSHEET: UNLOCKING ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS

*Fisher Wang1, Erich Dohm2, Serhat Onol3, Evgeny Zhmarin1, Drew Hobert2
1Swiss Tower Mills Minerals AG Haselstrasse 1, 5400 Baden, Switzerland (*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
2Eriez Flotation 1901 Wager Road, Erie, PA, USA
3Weir Egtenrayseweg 9, 5928PH Venlo, Netherlands

*This paper was presented at the Mongolia MMP Conference 2024. To view the full paper select download file below. 

ABSTRACT
Addressing the mining industry's growing concerns about energy and water consumption, Weir, STM Minerals, and Eriez Flotation have jointly developed the "Transformational Flowsheet" - an innovative solution for modern mineral processing plant design. This collaborative effort integrates cutting-edge technologies to optimize energy efficiency and minimize water usage. The proposed flowsheet consists of high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) and coarse vertical stirred mills, replacing conventional SAG and ball mill circuits. Additionally, coarse particle flotation technology maximizes early rejection of barren particles, producing mineralized particles for downstream regrind using energy-efficient vertical stirred mills. This design enhances target metal recovery by reducing over-grinding losses and utilizing inert grinding media. Through joint development, this paper showcases the potential energy and water savings of the "Transformational Flowsheet" paving the way for sustainable and efficient mineral processing practices.

KEYWORDS
Mineral Processing Flowsheet, Energy Efficiency, Water Savings, HPGRs, Stirred Mill, Coarse Particle Flotation