Modeling and Improving the Efficiency of Crushing Equipment

Abstract

Over the last few decades, the demand for energy-efficient mineral-processing methods has continued. The necessity to develop energy-efficient technologies for the mineral industry will increase in the future, considering the exhaustion of high-quality resources and severe environmental limitations. The subject of this study is crushing equipment. It is a complex of units designed to reduce the fraction of ore and non-metallic solid materials. It is also designed to make them more symmetrical in order to facilitate their transport and later use in production. Thus, the urgency of using crushers in mining and processing plants is clear, so it is relevant to find ways to optimize their operation and reduce energy consumption. This article presents a systematic review of the task of improving the energy efficiency of crushing units. This is achieved by studying modelling methods and results, the automation of crushing and grinding processes, and the wear reduction of crusher components. On the grounds of the reviewed sources, the main methods of increasing the efficiency of crushing units are identified. A mathematical model of the cone crusher was designed. The simulation error is less than 6%. A simulation experiment was carried out on the mathematical model. The dependences of the current and power of the crusher electric drive on the feeder capacity are determined; the graphs have a symmetrical position relative to the approximating curve (R2 ≈ 0.9).