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By Gilberto Fernandes Lima, Leonardo Neves, Getúlio Fonseca dos Santos

O refino secundário é um processo onde a homogeneização do aço e as flotações de inclusões ocorrem no banho metálico, cujo conhecimento do tempo de mistura é necessário na produção de aços limpos. A panela, principal vaso onde ocorre o processo, contem plugues ou bicos de injeção de gás inerte, podendo ser utilizados argônio ou nitrogênio, que são responsáveis pela rinsagem do aço. Devido à importância desta etapa neste processo, este trabalho objetivou realizar o estudo do escoamento bifásico do aço na panela com duas configurações diferentes, sendo a configuração um com dois plugues de gás inerte: ambos a meio raio e a configuração dois com dois plugues de gás inerte, um a meio raio e outro no centro da panela. Neste projeto foi utilizada fluidodinâmica computacional, CFD, para a realização das malhas e simulações que forneceram as curvas de traçador e o perfil de velocidade para ambas as configurações. Os resultados simulados indicam que a configuração dois é a mais indicada para o escoamento bifásico, sendo a melhor opção para ser utilizada no modelo de panela industrial.

Oct 1, 2019

By A. T. Iannacchione

Underground stone mining represents an emerging sector for the U.S. mining industry. As this expansion takes mines under deeper cover and as more efficient mining methods are utilized, adequate stone pillar design methods will become more important. It is the purpose of this paper to examine current design practices and to discuss issues for safe mine layouts so that a rational first approach towards balancing the demands for increased production can be weighed against increased risk to worker safety from rib instabilities and pillar failures. Seventy-two stone mine pillar designs were examined. Pillars with width-to- height ratios below 1.5 and subjected to excessive stress levels appear more likely to fail. When width-to- height ratios fall below 1 .0, defects in the pillars, such as through-going discontinuities, can have a significant influence on stability. Discontinuity persistence, dip, material properties, and orientation are important factors controlling pillar strength. The influence of discontinuity dip, a characteristic easily identified in the field, was examined so that its presence could be accounted for in developing generalized guidelines for pillar design.

Jan 1, 1999

By Livia Mara Candido

As reservas de minério de ferro, apresentam tendências de menores teores de Fe, tornando maior a necessidade da redução da fração granulométrica inferior a 150µm, o que torna o processo viável tecnicamente por meio concentração. O método mais comum utilizado é a concentração através da flotação. Flotação é uma técnica de separação baseada na afinidade das espécies minerais com as moléculas de água. Na flotação reversa de minério de ferro, utilizam-se agentes que reforçam o caráter hidrofílico das partículas de Ferro, chamados de depressores. O mais comumente utilizado é o amido de milho em forma de solução, gelatinizado com a adição de soda cáustica. Dentro desse contexto e afim de aumentar o poder de gelatinização do depressor, foram realizados através do planejamento fatorial estatístico, ensaios de flotação em bancada, com diferentes concentrações iniciais e finais de amido de milho presente na solução e ainda a relação de amido/soda para avaliar o impacto sobre a recuperação metalúrgica da flotação, concluindo-se que recuperação metálica foram fortemente influenciados pela concentração inicial da solução de amido.

Oct 30, 2017

By Claude Bazin

"The On-Stream Analyzer has proven and is still proving to be an extremely valuable tool for the control of flotation circuits. This paper examines the possibility of going further in the utilization of the provided assays using a real-time material balance program to calculate the distribution of solids within the streams of a circuit. Mass balance results can be used for process control, process analysis and detection of sensors malfunction. Examples from 3 Canadian and one American concentrators are presented to illustrate the potential of the method.IntroductionThe On-Stream Analyzer (OSA) has gained, over the last two decades, the status of key instrument for the control of flotation plants. The OSA is currently used in almost every sulphide flotation plant and its application in oxide mineral flotation plants is increasing. On-Stream Analyzers provide X-rays pulse counts that are converted into assays using multilinear regression programs. The estimated assays are passed to the flotation operators, via an operator console, or to control loops of various degrees of complexity (McKee, 1991) implemented in a Distributed Control System (DCS). Operators and/or controllers take control actions based on these assays to ensure an adequate operation of the plant. Although this application pays off very rapidly for the purchase of the OSA, one should ask: Could we get more from the OSA?Some plants reported the use of OSA measurements to process optimization (McKee, 1991). The optimization strategy is based upon economic indices calculated from metal recovery using the 2 product formulae (Wills, 1992, page 124). The 2 product formulae is however sensitive to measurement errors in the assays and can lead to considerable scatter in the calculated indices (Hodouin et al., 1993). Least squares algorithms provide an interesting alternative to filter out measurement errors (Spring, 1992). This paper presents a recursive least squares algorithm that estimates in a real time fashion the mass flow rates in a flotation plant using OSA and mass flow measurements. The algorithm is robust and its recursive structure is not demanding in terms of computation time and memory. The method was tested with data from four concentrators. Results of the material balance algorithm prove to be useful to detect sensors malfunction and may potentially be used for the control and optimization of flotation plants.The paper is divided into two sections. The first section gives a description of the proposed method. The mathematics of the method are kept to a minimum, since the detail is presented elsewhere (Bazin and Franklin, 1994). The second section shows the application of the method to different flotation plants."

Jan 1, 1995

By A. J. Neale, B. C. Flintoff

"In most mineral processing operations the term audit is usually reserved for the exercise of checking financial records and/ or safety practices. While these activities are time consuming, no one disputes their necessity or value. If we subject these areas to such careful scrutiny, why is it that we don't normally apply the same principles to critically examine process operation. After all, the operating efficiency of the plant impacts directly on the measures of profitability.A mineral processing plant is a complex system that has a number of distinct, but mutually dependent elements: process equipment, instrumentation, operating policies, maintenance policies, control strategies and people. To ensure maximum economic performance, in the dynamic environment that characterizes a concentrator, requires a periodic review of each of these areas. However, to be useful, the study must be based on sound metallurgical principles and be conducted in a highly focused manner. Experience teaches us that the exercise is very revealing and potentially very rewarding.This paper will discuss the process audit process and illustrate its potential value through illustration taken from plant studies.IntroductionThe last twenty years have seen tremendous technological and organizational changes sweep the minerals industry. Process control systems, on-stream analyzers, and gold recovery techniques barely conceived twenty years ago are now incorporated in virtually all new installations in an effort to maximize operating efficiencies. In conjunction with these developments, changes in the way plants are managed, down-sizing of technical staff, reduction in the size of operating crews, and the flattening out of the management structure have significantly reduced operating costs. As a result, plants are making more efficient use of our natural resources, minimizing the costs of production, and in turn maximizing operating profits. Or are they?"

Jan 1, 1991

By Cristiana dos Santos Nunes

A soldagem de uniões dissimilares é muito comum em sistemas usados na exploração de petróleo e produção em águas profundas no mar. Comumente envolve soldagem de tubos de aço de baixo carbono com aços forjados baixa liga, muitas vezes, com revestimento interno de Inconel com o objetivo de reduzir o nível de tensões residuais seguidos de tratamentos térmicos de pós-soldagem. Uma técnica alternativa para reduzir as tensões residuais é utilizar um eletrodo que, durante o processo de resfriamento passa por uma transformação martensítica em uma temperatura relativamente baixa, de modo que a deformação resultante da transformação compense a contração durante o processo de resfriamento. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o emprego do maraging como metal de solda em união dissimilar de materiais aplicadas na indústria do petróleo. Foram usados amostras de aços estruturais chanfradas em meio-v e soldadas utilizando varetas. Os níveis de tensões residuais e microestruturas da zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) foram investigados. Uma verificação importante foi que a junta soldada apresentou tensões compressivas no metal de solda.

Aug 16, 2017

By A. Karami

It is well established that an ordered sequencing of charge initiations in a blast pattern is an important design consideration that affects blasting performance. Delay times must be chosen such that damage to the rock mass is controlled. The accuracy of delay detonators is also of major concern. A large scatter could lead to an incorrect blast sequencing that would lead to damage to the rock mass causing increased over-break, degraded fragmentation, increased fly-rock and poor vibration control. In this study, the effect of using accurate delay detonators on the explosive energy generated is investigated. For this purpose, power spectral density of the blast vibration for delayed shots are calculated and compared with the case where holes are shot at the same time (no delay). At the end the results are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 2000

By Joseph J. Diehl, Brian B. Khalighi

This paper discusses the Queens Water Tunnel, No. 3, Stage 2, being driven by a new Robbins High Performance (HP) Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).The paper is divided into four sections. In the INTRODUCTION section, a short overview of the scope of the project is presented. In the GEOLOGY section, the geological condition along the tunnel drive is briefly introduced. The TBM DESIGN section discusses the various design criteria and the resulting machine specifications. The paper concludes, in the TBM OPERATION section, with a case history describing the tunneling operation from start-up to the time of the writing of this paper.

Jan 1, 1997

The nature of the specialty glass and ceramic business magnifies the dependency of the ultimate product on the unique properties of their raw materials used to make them. This dependency has implications in the management of risk in the supply process which requires a special procurement organization and program commitment to be successful. The Coming system of managing critical materials and factors in development of alternate new suppliers and products is discussed.

Jan 1, 1989

By Kevan Ford, Getulio Junior, Rob Henderson, Wayne Philips, Chris Martin, Rob Thorpe

"Plant 2 at the Kinross Paracatu gold operation in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, was commissioned in late 2008. Designed to be the largest tonnage, lowest grade gold milling operation in the world, Plant 2’s throughput has steadily increased towards its design capacity of 5087 tons per hour.The plant employs a gold-specific flotation scheme to recover the majority of gold, which is present as discrete free gold particles. Additional gold is recovered by jigs in the grinding circuit, and the jig concentrates are reground, upgraded and subjected to intensive cyanide leaching. The flotation cleaner concentrate is reground and leached using a conventional CIL circuit.One year after start-up, with the plant stabilizing operationally, plant circuit surveys were completed by a joint team from Kinross Paracatu and Blue Coast Metallurgy Ltd. The surveys audited the flotation and concentrate treatment circuits to investigate the metallurgical performance.This paper describes the Plant 2 operation and how the surveys were designed and executed. Some of the quality control systems that were employed to provide meaningful data from such a low grade gold ore are described and findings and actions taken to improve metallurgy as a consequence of the surveys are discussed.INTRODUCTIONThe Paracatu mine is located two kilometres north of the city of Paracatu, in the north western portion of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 230 km southeast of the national capital Brasília (shown in Figure 1). The present day Paracatu mining operation, fully owned by Kinross Gold, through its Brazilian subsidiary Rio Paracatu Mineração (RPM) is designed to be the largest tonnage, lowest grade free milling gold operation in the world.The deposit currently hosts some 1.2 billion tonnes of ore at a grade of ~0.41 g/t gold, hence contains a total gold reserve of over 20 million ounces. At a designed plant throughput rate of 61 Mt/year the mine life goes beyond 2030."

Jan 1, 2011

By M. Bustillo, S. Ordonez

"Paper presented at the conference Economic geology in Europe and beyond II, models for mineral deposits in sedimentary basins, held in Keyworth, UK, 13-14 April 1994. The Mississippi Valley-type deposits occur in massive, homogeneous dolostones from which diagenesis has obliterated all primary sedimentary structures. The mineralisation forms irregular, lens-shaped stratabound bodies, mostly in the lower part of the dolostones. They are composed exclusively of sphalerite, galena, pyrite, marcasite and barite, with white sparry dolomite a common cementing phase. Mineral zoning can be recognised from pyrite and marcasite in the east to barite in the west. Sphalerite, the most common sulphide, occurs basically as colloform and banded crusts and galena as isolated cubic or skeletal crystals, mainly in the centre of the banded botryoidal sphalerite. The combined observations of the deposits' geology, geochemistry and ore petrology suggest a three-stage genetic model: carbonate sedimentation in a shallow-water environment; dolomitisation, probably after compaction, by fluids of connate origin and lateral evolution; and mineralisation by migrating solutions, perhaps related to oil-field brines, that originated in deep zones of the basin during diagenesis of the basinal mudrocks in the NE"

Apr 1, 1995

By Charles Hardy

?POWDER METALLURGY? is the production of semiformed or fully formed metal products by compressing metal powders. It had its beginnings in the fabrication of tungsten and molybdenum bars and wire by compression, sintering, and swaging. Powder metallurgy, although still in its infancy with other metals, has shown remarkable progress in recent years. Production of Metal Powders-The first step in any powder-metallurgy process is the production of metal particles of suitable shape and size. Mechanical processes for producing metal powders, as by crushing, stamping, or grinding, are usually not suitable, as the resulting particles may cause laminations and decreased strength in the finished articles. The principal metal powders now in use on a large scale are produced by electrolysis or by reduction of metal oxides by gases.

Jan 1, 1936

By Francisco Carvalho

Durante o comissionamento o laminador Novelis CM3 apresentou níveis elevados de vibração, que causou instabilidades no processo de laminação, gerando problema de qualidade e desperdício de produto. Devido à vibração, as chapas produzidas pelo CM3 apresentaram marcas de Chatter, e para entender esse fenômeno foram empregadas as seguintes técnicas: Análise de Vibração, Análise da Forma de Deflexão Operacional e simulação numérica pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos-MEF. De acordo com a literatura, um laminador pode apresentar três modos de Chatter: 5-20 Hz (torção); 128- 256 Hz (3a oitava) e 500-700 Hz (5a oitava). O modo de 3a oitava é mais crítico para a estrutura. Na Análise de Vibração, os espectros apresentam níveis elevados na frequência de 153 Hz, sendo que na análise por ODS identificou-se movimentos relativos nos rolos de Backup e na estrutura de apoio em 153 Hz. Os cálculos por MEF destacaram a existência de um modo natural em 153 Hz nos rolos Backup, como observado nos modos operacionais obtidos por ODS, caracterizando ressonância no sistema. Esta ressonância está associada à vibração do modo de 3a oitava, que ocasiona níveis elevados de vibração no sistema. A excitação deste modo natural faz com que haja a flexão dos cilindros, que causa variações na pressão de laminação gerando assim marcas nas chapas. Também, realizou-se uma Análise Modal do rolo Backup identificando-se uma frequência natural na região de 150 Hz, com a forma modal de flexão.

Aug 16, 2017

By Sandra Lúcia de Moraes

Uma característica do setor mineral é a movimentação de grandes volumes de materiais que, em função do teor do bem mineral contido e das particularidades do processo de beneficiamento, ao final gera grandes quantidades de rejeitos. O aproveitamento desses rejeitos é um tema que tem sido discutido e que foi fomentado após o acidente acontecido em 2015, com a barragem da Samarco em Mariana - MG. O trabalho denominado “Rejeitos da Mineração: Um olhar do cenário brasileiro” está estruturado em duas partes. A primeira parte destacou a importância econômica e social do setor mineral para o país. A segunda parte, apresentada neste artigo, aborda o nível de desenvolvimento tecnológico voltado ao aproveitamento dos rejeitos e quais novos usos têm sido propostos. Neste documento, os autores trazem também o fechamento dos levantamentos realizados e suscitam uma discussão visando estimular o desenvolvimento sustentável da mineração, por meio da criação de um novo negócio inserido na cadeia produtiva da mineração.

Oct 30, 2017

By M. A. Trevits, T. A. Gray, L. M. Crayne, P. Glogowski

Mine seals can he remotely constructed in underground coal mines through vertical boreholes when direct access to a fire is impossible or considered to he too dangerous. This method has great merit because the boreholes can be drilled to specific mine areas, and the seals can be positioned close to a fire zone. The technology however can be largely ineffective if the constructed seals do not provide of effective barriers to airflow or if they cannot he used to impound water and other inert materials. Unfortunately, no viable alternatives exists to sealing the entire mine to the ground surface. Full-scale remote mine seal construction research is being conducted at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lake Lynn Laboratory (LLL). Under this effort. Howard Concrete Pumping Company and GAI Consultants Inc. have joined forces to evaluate a potentially significant improvement to the current state of the art. This paper covers the development o f novel technology or rewrote mine seal construction, the evaluation of rite materials used, the construction practice and the Fellow-up testing.

By Luis Alberto Sfalsin Passos

Com o passar dos anos observa-se uma mudança nas características mineralógicas dos minérios de ferro lavrados nas novas minas da Samarco Mineração SA. De acordo com levantamentos podem ser constatadas mudanças nos percentuais da hematita porosa, hematita especular e da goethita na constituição do concentrado de minério de ferro. Pode-se verificar uma tendência de aumento do percentual de goethita bem como do PPC (perda por calcinação) característica intrínseca ao minério. Estes fatos implicam em uma maior dificuldade da concentração em garantir a qualidade da polpa de minério bombeada para as usinas de pelotização, visto que fatores como a granulometria do minério (partículas menores que 325#) e a superfície específica são afetadas pela mineralogia. Por consequência, há uma maior dificuldade no processo de filtragem para obtenção do pellet feed com a faixa de umidade necessária para o processo de pelotamento e queima. De outra forma, o aumento do PPC dificulta o processo de secagem das pelotas no forno de pelotização, exigindo um maior aporte térmico para retirada da água residual contida nos cristais que não evaporam a 100°C. Todos estes fatores contribuem para a qualidade da pelota queimada, interferindo na sua resistência física como compressão a frio e tamboramento. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo apontar as variáveis que influenciam significativamente o tamboramento, para propor ações que melhorem o controle do processo produtivo de forma a buscar o ponto de equilíbrio entre qualidade e produção.

Aug 16, 2017

By H. F. Yancey

The development, manufacture, and sale of small coal stokers suitable for domestic use has provided a new industry in the United States at a time when badly needed. Sales of domestic stokers have doubled each year for the past 4 years, until in 1936 probably more than 80,000 such units were put into use, According to reports of the Bureau of the Census 75,543 residential stokers mere sold in the first 10 months of 1937 by 108 manufacturers. This rapid expansion has made itself felt in the coal-mining, industry. The smaller sizes of coal, either in a sized or slack condition, are in greater demand; as a result, preparation practices at the mines have had to be revised so that, in many instances, lump coal is being crushed to meet the demand for stoker coal. This situation in turn has necessarily resulted in a realignment of price schedules for the different sizes. One of the first underfeed stokers small enough for domestic use was developed at Seattle, Wash., in 1912 in 1916, a small overfeed stoker was developed at Seattle. These two types are generally considered to represent the beginning of tie present domestic stoker industry in the United States. A careful inquiry as to the number of domestic stokers now installed in the Seattle area, made by C. R. Pate, who was detailed to this duty by the Works Progress Administration, indicated that probably 7,000 domestic stokers are being used in this area for residential heating. Most of these stokers axe of the overfeed type, although in the past 2 years the underfeed type has made rapid gains.

Jan 1, 1938

By Hugo Montalvão Gontijo

Sistemas de controle avançado são utilizados em diversas etapas do processo de produção de pelotas de minério de ferro, tais como moagem, pelotamento e forno de endurecimento. O trabalho visa demonstrar as etapas para implementação de um sistema de controle avançado Metso OCS-4D© em um forno de endurecimento do tipo Straight Grate visando padronizar a operação, aumentar a produção, reduzir o gasto energético e reduzir a variabilidade da qualidade das pelotas queimadas.

Aug 17, 2017

By Andreas Brandner

"At the beginning of 2007 the Austrian contractor PORR was awarded with remediation works for a 48-km long part of the railway line from Campina to Predeal – part of the Trans European main Corridors TEN-T priority line 22 Bucurest – Brasov, connecting the southeast European countries with the heart of Europe.Due to partly new realignment and change of regular sections as well as protection against rockfall and slope slide a huge bunch of slope stabilization works became necessary, which were awarded to the contractor PORR and their designer IB-Brandner.Following the studies of the tender documents for the planned protection measures responsible managers of PORR decided to propose an alternative protection design by IB- Brandner. Changing the original design a more flexible and environmentally compatible solution consisting of high performance net, soil nailing and rockfall protection systems (fences) was elaborated and adapted to local needs. During design process, several critical areas were identified and additionally taken into account.In the paper examples of the design and erection process show how difficulties in implementation starting with the presentation of the idea continuing to the realization on site were managed and a technically more sophisticated and commercially competitive solution could be delivered to the customer Romanian Railway – case study.The European Commission awarded – following an election process in which all citizens of the EU could join - the remediation project Railway line Campina – Predeal in Romania as the environmentally best EU co-financed infrastructure project. GENERAL PROJECT EVALUATIONDue to original design slope stabilization should be done by concrete slabs fixed with prestressed anchors and shotcrete cover.The area to be secured was limited to a 12-meter strip left and right from the railway track without reference to nature and local needs. Discussions with the client and his designer and rising awareness for the hazards to address took several months. Site visits in Austria to provide insight in the problems of dealing with natural hazards helped to convince the client of the needs and our alternative design."

Jan 1, 2017

By H. F. Yancey

The development, manufacture, and sale of small coal stokers suitable for domestic use has provided a new industry in the United States at a time when badly needed. Sales of domestic stokers have doubled each year for the past 4 rears, until in 1936 probably more than 90,000 such units were put into use. According to reports of the Bureau of the Census 79,543 residential stokers were sold in the first 10 months of 1937 by 109 manufacturers. This rapid expansion has made itself felt in the coal-mining industry. The smaller sizes of coal, either in a sized or slack condition, are in greater demand; as a result, preparation practices at the mines have had to be revised so that, in many instances, lump coal is being crushed to meet the demand for stoker coal. This situation in turn has necessarily resulted in a realignment of price schedules for the different sizes. One of the first underfeed stokers small enough for domestic use was developed at Seattle, Wash., in 1912; in 1916, a small overfeed stoker was developed at Seattle. These two types are generally considered to represent the beginning of the present domestic stoker industry in the United States. A careful inquiry as to the number of domestic stokers now installed in the Seattle area, made by C. R. Pate, who was detailed to this duty by the Works Progress Administration, indicated that probably 7,000 domestic stokers are being used in this area for residential heating. Most of these stokers axe of the overfeed type, although in the past 2 years the underfeed type has made rapid gains.

Jan 1, 1938