What You All Need to Know About A Mineral Beneficiation Plant

A mineral beneficiation plant operates on various principles of engineering, economics, finance, management, etc. It requires intensive study of numerous disciplines and strong teamwork. A mineral beneficiation plant is designed to extract minerals such as Iron, dolomite, copper, quartz, gold, limestone, coke, manganese ore, chrome, rock phosphate. It uses a wide range of equipment which may vary depending upon the type of mineral to be extracted.

Initial Design

An initial framework is laid based on the end goal of the mineral beneficiation plant, the mineral to be extracted, operating limits for the plant, etc. Some mines are short-term and are active for three to eight years. Such projects would not require a huge investment in the initial design.

Design Flowsheet

The next step is to determine how to achieve the goals laid out in the initial framework. A diagrammatic scheme is drawn which must enlist the type of equipment to be used, installation plan, laboratory analysis, personnel required for operating the equipment, etc. The alternative routes for an end goal are also included in the design.

Quantified Flowsheet

A quantified flowsheet is prepared considering the running time of the plant. This step determines the flow rate of the mineral beneficiation plant based on primary and secondary data. This is done to determine how long the plant can be run using the specific set of equipment to keep up with the production goal.

Energy Input and Equipment Selection

The quantified flow sheets help to determine which combination of machines and production process is the most economical in achieving the desired results. The energy input to operate the proposed mineral beneficiation plant is considered. It is ideal to select the equipment that requires the minimum amount of energy to operate since efficient use of energy is an important consideration for a mineral beneficiation plant.

Operation

The plan is set in motion once the groundwork is complete. The equipment is set up and operated to carry out the processes. The sample analysis is done beforehand in the laboratory. The remaining processes that include communication (crushing and grinding), concentration, dewatering, etc. occur in the mineral beneficiation plant.

Safety

It is important to consider the safety of the personnel working at the mineral beneficiation plant. To achieve this, the equipment used must be safeguarded with emergency pull cords. An external agency must inspect the mineral beneficiation plant to ensure the safety standards of the plant are met. No faulty piece of equipment must be in operation at any time so that accidents can be avoided.

Environmental Considerations

A mineral processing plant should not be harmful to the environment, therefore, some regulations are imposed. It is advisable to install equipment such as screens, dust collection fans to keep the dust emission to a minimum level. The design should be prepared to minimize spills and leakage during the operation. The equipment with high noise should be avoided, if possible. The mineral beneficiation plant must have a plan for the safe disposal of any waste product and filings generated in the process. Any harmful by-product must not be released into the nearby water bodies or waste collection sites.

Flexible Design

Sometimes the mines are active for longer than expected. In such a scenario, the client may opt for extending the plan. Therefore, it is ideal to have some degree of flexibility in the design to allow for the expansion of the operation.

To Wrap Up

The decision of choosing a suitable mineral beneficiation plant for your business should be made wisely.