Abstract:
Using a laboratory mill, was evaluated the application of different TopSizes for the ball charge in the regrinding stage at Samarco Mineração – and their impacts on the other process parameters. The diameters evaluated were 35; 30; 25 and 20mm (being 15mm the purge diameter considered, according to industrial scale), measuring possible variations in the energy consumptions, ball consumptions, generation of specific surface, etc. In a short view and taking into consideration only the Germano’s unit operations, changes in the charge ball TopSize could not be economically viable. However, in a systemic view and also taking into account the Ponta Ubu’s unit operations, changes in the charge ball TopSize could bring importante global benefits to be considered. If such results could replicated on the industrial scale of Samarco Mineração, there would be gains of the order of R$ 1,0-8,0 M/a (depending on the reduction of specific surface in the reground product) due, mainly, to gains in the productivity of the filtering step and reduction in the operational costs of the burning/hardening step.