RockSense on-line particle analyzer system

The grinding process is very energy intensive and is often a bottleneck in reaching optimal plant capacity. This makes grinding an attractive target for optimization solutions. A suitable ore feed size distribution is critical in order to achieve high grinding efficiency and throughput, especially in the grinding circuits of AG or SAG mills.

Plant operators traditionally use visual information about ore appearance and size distribution when making key operational decisions. Although a skillful operator is often able to diagnose problems, continuous 24-hour human monitoring of ore feed characteristics is not practical.

Outotec RockSense analyzes the rock particles during normal belt movement, without impacting on the capacity of the conveyor belt. The high-resolution 3D laser scanner is combined with a rotary encoder to offer a realistic scale to aid in analysis of images.

The Outotec RockSense system provides the following analyses:

• Particle size distribution
• User-definable F-values
• Cumulative volume flow estimation

Outotec RockSense integrates seamlessly with the Outotec ACT mill control application, providing valuable and continuous input for optimizing grinding circuit control and performance. The Outotec ACT grinding optimization system ensures stable conditions within the grinding circuit, optimal particle size for subsequent processes, increased throughput, and energy efficiency.