Modelling of crushing operations in the aggregates industry

The software package JKSimMet was used to model processes at MountSorrel Granite quarry in Leicestershire. The project aimed to show whether there were functional relationships between the input data in the primary crushing phase (gap size (mm), feed size distribution, throughput (t/hr) and ore type) with the output data (product size distribution and power draw). The effect that changing the gap size has on the product size distribution was investigated for the gyratory crusher using the software package JKSimMet. Various simulations were run so that product size distributions were given for different values of CSS (close side setting). The percentage of granite passing various sizes in the product size distribution was plotted against the gap size using Matlab. It was found that these plots were based on the Rosin-Rammler distribution for large enough values of CSS. The effect of changing the feed size distribution, throughput of the gyratory crusher and the ore type were investigated. The effect of changing the ore type in the blasting phase was also investigated. This demonstrated the effect that the blasting phase had on the output of the primary crushing phase.