A comparison of the Bond method for sizing wet tumbling ball mills with a size—mass balance simulation model

• Published in: Powder technology 1983-01, Vol.34 (2), p.261-274
• Main Authors: Austin, L.G., Brame, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/0032-5910(83)87059-4

A comparison is made of the results from a ball mill model simulation with those of the conventional Bond ball mill design method, for a material whose breakage characteristics and Work Index have been determined. In order to perform the simulation, ‘normal’ values were chosen for make-up feed size distribution, mill residence time distribution, ball mix, classifier behaviour, etc. At high flow rates through a mill (low reduction ratio), it is necessary to allow for the reduction in breakage rates caused by over-filling of the mill, using an empirical mass transfer relation: filling ▪. By suitable choice of the constant in this relation, it was found possible to duplicate the variation of mill capacity with feed size and product size (in wet closed-circuit grinding) predicted by the Bond method. The simulation model is then used to predict the variation of performance with design variables not included in the Bond method.