Prediction model to estimate the specific energy and product particle size distribution of semi

The optimal use of energy for grinding of ores in mills is one of the key objectives of this study. An attempt has been made to present an experimental model for the specific energy and product particle size distribution of semi-autogenous mills for the simulating of real conditions of the particles collision. A novel semi-autogenous mill test has been suggested in order to measure the required energy for grinding. The effect of the mill’s operation time and various energy levels on the particle size distribution and feed ore hardness has been investigated with samples collected from the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, Kerman, Iran. The obtained results demonstrated that there is a high congruence between the experimental product particle size distribution and energy, which are predicted by the proposed novel method and ball-drop test. Using the proposed analytic relationships, the required comminution energy and semi-autogenous mill operating time to achieve the specific product particle size distribution can be estimated with high accuracy (R2？=？0.96). Finally, the accuracy of the results was evaluated by a ball drop-weight test