Preferential sequence crushing of copper ore based upon high-voltage pulse technology

Abstract

Abstract In this study, high voltage pulse breakage was used to study the breakage process of copper ore. The particle size, shape coefficient and preferential crushing index ( Δ α i ) were determined using systematic experiments. The parameters were further investigated by fitting the energy consumption model of breakage to the experimental data. The results showed that the shape coefficient of the completely broken product was stable at 0.82. During the crushing process, the mineral components with large dielectric constant migrated to −0.3\u202fmm fine particle, and the Δ α i assumed a value of more than 1. For −0.074\u202fmm particles, Δ α i of chalcopyrite and pyrite reached values of 4.51 and 2.74, respectively. The mineral components with small dielectric constant migrated in the opposite direction. For +4\u202fmm particles, Δ α i of muscovite was 1.86. The main factors that affected the breakage sequence were the dielectric properties. The results showed that a certain order existed for different mineral components during the fragmentation process: η c > η p > η m . In addition, for higher dielectric constant, the breakage happened earlier. The fitted energy consumption model showed that, with the decrease in grain size, the efficiency of the energy utilization decreased.