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By Leandro Seixas Bicalho, Raphael Alcantara da Costa, Pedro Martins de Almeida Rollo, Eduardo Tres, Anderson D. Thomazini

Usual pelletizing process requires the use of iron ore within a given range of particle size. The pelletizing plants often have comminution circuits composed of ball mills and roller presses to meet the granulometric parameters. Aiming at the partial removal of grinding operations and elimination of wet ore processing, the present study evaluated the pelletizing of two samples of ore with lower surface area: (1) sample with only one passage into the roller press (specific surface area of 997 cm²/g) and (2) “in natura” sample as fed to the pelletizing plant (specific surface area of 450 cm²/g). These experiments were conducted with the use of bentonite and the products E/PE MIN 070/19 and E/PE MIN 090/19, made available by Clariant for this purpose. The results indicated that conventional bentonite is not efficient for coarse particle agglomeration. On the other hand, the products E/PE MIN 070/19 and E/PE MIN 090/19 achieved good performance. Considering a sample with only one passage into the roller press it was possible to form pellets similar to those produced in the conventional process.

Oct 1, 2019

By Roberto Gomes da Silveira Junior, Marcos Cordeiro Fonseca, Geraldo da Conceição Morais, Manoel Gomes de Souza Neto

Sinter maximization in the blast furnaces charge has proven to be the most economically viable way to produce pig iron at Usiminas. This fact has led the company to develop projects aimed at increasing the production of sintering. In this context, the present work shows the recent experience of Sintering Machines 1 and 2 drum mixer exchanging contributing to the increase of operational productivity due to the optimization of the original design. For 13 days was the replacement of the original drum installed in 1974 by a new drum with improvements in the design of the internal and the sprinkling water system. The improvements contributed to the effective formation of micro-pellets and, as a result, increased productivity of Sinter Machines. Several aspects of the project are presented: engineering, planning, safety, manufacturing, technical quality, schedule and a comparison between the parameters of the equipment operation before and after the implantation

Oct 1, 2019

By Klaydison Silva, Maurício Curi Segato, Elves Matiolo, Neymayer Pereira Lima

Flotation is the main concentration process, has been applied with sucess for the removal of quartz on the iron ore industry aiming high quality concentrates. limiting the top size close to 0,300mm and the removal of slimes are fundamental for the efficiency of reverse flotation of quartz. The high consumption of reagents, leading to insufficient particle coverage, and increased foam stability, leading to the difficulty of removal of quartz particles, are the main deleterious effects of the presence of slimes. Recent characterization studies, together with the development of new collector of linear chain, allowed the obtaining of concentrate with SiO2 contents close to 3% with 94% of metallurgical recovery, based on pilot tests carried out on a sample flotation column of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero.

Oct 3, 2019

By José Francisco Cabello Russo, Denilson Rodrigues de Araújo, Elias Fonseca de Castro, Henrique Dias Gatti Turrer

The Minas-Rio project of the Anglo American group was designed to produce pellet feed from a low-grade itabirite. The comminution circuit has three HPGR’s and two ball mills. This type of circuit, with HPGR (open circuit) followed by ball milling (closed circuit), is called a hybrid circuit. The literature shows this hybrid circuit as being more energy efficient. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the benefits of using the HPGR in the energy consumption of the grinding and regrinding and the secondary objective was to show the impact of the press on mass recovery of desliming and flotation, in view of a possible higher generation resulting from the pressing of the material. The results obtained in this work showed that the HPGR reduced the specific energy consumption in the comminution stages existing downstream of the press, increased the recovery of the flotation and did not decrease the recovery of the desliming stage.

Oct 3, 2019

By Geovane Viturino da Silva, Jeziel de Melo Canedo, André Wulff Hirano, Maxwell Pereira Cangani, Luiz Henrique Curado Ribeiro

With the deterioration of the quality of the iron ore, the new conditions of quality of the raw materials (mainly sinter feed) were adapted to their processes, resulting in the need for changes in the chemical quality of the sinter for blast furnaces in the Ternium Brazil, without changing the parameters of chemical, physical and metallurgical quality. Due to the change in this scenario, there was a great impact on the quality of the fine iron ore this year in 2019, due to which the work ranges of sinter MgO and B2 were currently modified to minimize these impacts in the blast furnaces of Ternium Brazil. This work aims to minimize the effects of the sinter worsening, with the reduction of the sinter MgO and B2 bands, with an increase of 2% in the mixture yield and FeT elevation in the range of 1.6% in the sinter product.

Oct 1, 2019

By Leonardo Semedo de Mattos Siqueira, Renata Ferreira Muller

The Granulometric Ratio (RG) is one of the most important indicators related to the pelletizing product. Through it, it guarantees good permeability of the bed of pellets, optimization of the thermal cycle and, thus, better results of physical quality and consumption of the energy matrix. To guarantee this indicator, it is necessary that the processes of agglomeration of pellets, classification of raw pellets and screening of burned pellets are under control of certain parameters and with a level of stability assured.

Oct 1, 2019

By Wellington Ribeiro Moreirar, Anderson Willian Henrique Santini, Lívia Mara Cândido, Adriano Raimundo Totour

Rejects generated in mining projects usually do not have associated economic value. Most of the ore beneficiation processes occur by wet process with a higher fraction of water and ultrafine granulometry, which makes it difficult to dispose of these wastes. In 2013, studies with new tailings treatment and filtering technologies were initiated with the objective of eliminating the disposal of the residue generated in the industrial process to wet in dams. In this context, we tried to evaluate an alternative for the dewatering of the sludge and the tailings, aiming at their disposal in piles. Essentially, we sought to consolidate the application of the high-pressure filtration technology for the effluent dewatering, in order to allow its transport and its disposal in a sustainable way. The studies performed in a pilot filter showed good performance and allowed the industrial implantation. The studies and geotechnical indications of composite tailings (flotation and sludge) make it possible to dispose of the tailings in piles due to their better values of humidity, which allows them to be safely stacked.

Oct 3, 2019

By Fabio Lerbach

The Powder Charcoal Injection in the main burner of the rotary kiln of Pelletizing Plant aims to reduce natural gas consumption and consequently cost reduction with thermal energy. This paper presents the technology, the injection process and the advantages of using powder charcoal to substitute natural gas.

Oct 30, 2017

By Felipe Poffo, Flávio Messas

Due to the high level of competition in tooling sector, a necessity to increase the level of processes and assets management has initiated. Based on the World Class Manufacturing methodology, applied mainly in serial production industries, we have challenged ourselves to adapt the main concepts and implement them in a tooling company. After one work year, we could notice 29% productivity improvement in the bottleneck process, 25% cost reduction in outsourcing, standardization of the processes, 8% reduction in direct labor. Consequently, it was possible to implement a financial reserve and a long term planning cash flow.

Nov 22, 2018

By Walter Mazon, Marcello Rodrigues Cruz, Leandro Carvalhar Maciel

Filtration is the operation of liquid solid separation commonly applied in the mining industry. The use of filtering chemical agents is a technical solution viable for filtering optimization. The present work proposed to evaluate two filtering chemical agents (surfactants) to reduce the final moisture content of iron ore concentrate from Ferrous Resources. The leaf test top feed was done with the FLOTICOR FA 7241 and FLOTICOR FA 16557 products. The foaming profile of the filtrate was also evaluated, once excessive foaming is undesired when using this kind of products. The results showed a reduction in the final moisture of the filter cake. The product FLOTICOR FA 16557 achieved the best results, reducing final cake moisture from 10.4% to 9.8% at the dosagem of 25 g/t, besides presenting a fast kinetics in the foam drainage, presenting itself as a technical alternative for filtration optimization.

Oct 3, 2019

By César Junior dos Santos, Fábio da Silva dos Santos, Robson Rodrigues Martins

Tailings disposal has been a recurring theme of research in the major mining process development centers. This is due to the great interest of companies in reducing the social and financial impacts of their environmental liabilities. Another major driving force behind the search for new alternatives is the recent cases of environmental accidents in Brazil and abroad. According to the International Commission on Large Dam (ICOLD), two major accidents per year involving dams are reported worldwide. Hence, we realize that the analysis of the topic as well as the search for solutions becomes a challenge for both entrepreneurs and research institutions. In this work, a case study of the Herculano Mining will be carried out, working in the extraction and processing of iron ore. The main stages of the study are: technological characterization of tailings from the beneficiation process, analysis of filtration processes of this material for disposal in piles, bench tests and evaluation of the performance of the industrial facilities of the company in question. Herculano has an installed ceramic filtration equipment that faces operational difficulties in certain types of ore. At first, all the possibilities of adjusting this process will be analyzed so that it can filter the necessary mass of waste, acting in the rheology of the pulp (sedimentation, flocculation), regeneration of the ceramic plates and adjustments of the machine (filter), in order to obtain the best condition.

Oct 3, 2019

By Homero Delboni Junior, Thiago Nunan, Flávia Vargas

Ball mill liners perform two main functions in grinding process: protect the mill shell from the aggressive milling environment and delivery input power to the charge. When it comes to liners optimization the challenge are to prolong the service life and improve grinding performance. Some liners characteristics such as A / B ratio, lifters number, lifter height, and attack angle are extremely relevant to grinding process. By analyzing process data, and through DEM simulations application, these parameters were improved on W-mill liner, located at Vazante concentration plant. The new profile promoted a reduction of power variability between the final and the initial life cicle intervals and, therefore, better stability to circuit operation. In addition, the new liner service life reached 21,603 hours, 25% higher compared to the previous one in use. This optimized profile therefore proved to be able to improve its functions by achieving superior process performance combined with longer service life.

Oct 3, 2019

By Stephanie L. Kaster, John G. Speer, Blake M. Whitley

Niobium-microalloying technology has been increasingly applied in a wide range of steel applications over the past half-century, to increase strength, control microstructure, enhance properties and enable a variety of applications. To achieve desired performance levels, thermomechanically processed microalloyed steels are widely supplied by the steel industry for high volume applications in hot-rolled plate, sheet and structural steels. However, in steel long products and forgings, the final properties are often generated by downstream users, after heat-treatment, surface hardening, forging or wire drawing. Two examples are presented highlighting advancements associated with Nb-microalloying, to enhance microstructures and properties developed during thermomechanical and/or downstream processing. In the first example, a 0.02 wt. pct. Nb addition was made to a medium-carbon bar steel intended for induction-hardening applications requiring fatigue and fracture resistance in bending and torsion. The Nb addition as well as thermomechanical bar processing led to beneficial refinement of both the pre-induction and post-induction microstructures. In the second example, a 0.01 wt. pct. Nb addition to a high-carbon wire rod was found to refine the pearlite colony size and interlamellar spacing, and increase the hardness.

Oct 1, 2019

By Keulla Venya Urbano e Silva, Marcelo Quintão e Silva Marchetti, Rafael Silva Marcelino, Rafaella Bicalho da Rocha

Comparative study between standard and BigFLUX matrices for high intensity magnetic separation pre-concentration (WHIMS) stage for iron ore. The evaluation was carried out on GAUSTEC’s pilot equipment for samples from Viga Mine’s operation. Samples in different feed iron content on rougher stage were evaluated in 46 experiments with matrix variation. The analisys compared chemistry, mass recovery and metallurgical recovery results to define the most efficient matrix to use in a pre-concentration stage.

Oct 3, 2019

By Flanelson Maciel Monteiro, Marcondes Mendes de Souza, Mauro Froes Meyer

This research is based on a bibliographical review of a field work that was done in the municipality of Parelhas / RN. The area explored, in turn, is known for its richness of mineral resources that are present in pegmatitic rocks. The general objective of this research is to characterize the main properties of the pegmatites and quartzite, in order to verify the heterogeneity of the elements, to raise a possible viability of extraction for economic purposes. The quartzite also presents a siliceous chemical composition. This rock is a source of bricks and silica refractories used in the steel industry and for the preparation of the blast furnace bed, ornamental rock used in different ways (rustic, carved, polished, among others). However, this research resulted in preliminary data, but it would be interesting to be more detailed in order to evaluate the economic viability of these rocks.

Oct 3, 2019

By Fábio Heiji Yamada, Marcelo Koiti Fugihara, Ruano Fonseca Araujo

Conception the simulation and optimization technologies for industrial processes applied in the mining environment: tools and methodologies. Clarifications provided about the differences of these techniques when compared with static analysis (intuition, use of static spreadsheets, etc.). Presentation of practical cases at several big mining companies in Brazil. These projects will be presented and illustrated through dynamic simulation models developed at those companies, each one with its set of objectives, scope and results (for example: sizing the number of equipment, silo, piles related to the mining processing, logistics, ROM transportation, mine operations plan, etc.).

Oct 3, 2019

By Felipe Darabas Rzatki

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a high performance thermoplastic often selected for high temperature tribological applications under chemically aggressive environments. The present work evaluate the tribological behavior of a high performance PEEK composite under ambient and high temperature (30 and 80°C, respectively). The atmosphere was also varied (air or tetrafluorethane). An AMTI tribometer equipped with a hermetic chamber and a heating system was used to carry out sliding tests of PEEK cylinders on 304 stainless steel polished discs (Sq < 10 nm) with reciprocating movement and 175 N normal force. Surfaces roughness analyses were performed with a white light interferometer. As expected, there was a strong influence of temperature on the tribological behavior of the samples tested in ambient atmosphere (25% decrease in friction coefficient associated with a 100% increase in wear rate). On the other hand, samples tested in tetrafluorethane atmosphere showed no significant friction temperature dependence.

Jul 31, 2018

By Luiz Peixoto, Andrea Falcon

There are a few ways to impact the capacity of a reciprocating compressor, by altering suction and discharge pressure and recirculation. By reducing the pressure drop in the section before the compressor it is possible to provide a higher suction pressure and subsequently achieve a higher compressor flow rate. The increase in the suction pressure while maintaining the discharge pressure reduced the demanded compressor Head. When considering oxygen compressors it is necessary to cautiously evaluate the safety norms and parameters due to the risk of explosions and fires due to high oxygen velocity.

Oct 3, 2019

By Carolina Sartori Marzullo

Apresenta-se a metodologia e sistemática para gestão da capacitação como ferramenta para aumento da competitividade e ganho de resultados do negócio num contexto crítico para o segmento.

Aug 16, 2017

By Javier Martinez Rubio

In this paper we will discuss the benefits of a very innovative way of introducing MgO in the blast furnace operation through the sinter, using mini lumps of dunite. By changing the traditional way of using an MgO bearing material in fines form (particle smaller than 5 mm), most of the MgO inserted material behaves as inert during the sintering process, with the effect of having the following parameters (among others) improved: productivity at the sintering bed, permeability inside the blast furnace, energy consumption, stability of the operation.

Aug 16, 2017