OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
OVERHAULING THE DAILY GRIND
Ata Douzdouzani discusses the power of water- cooled drives in sustainable grinding mills
R
ight now, the global mining industry is caught between a rock and hard place. It’s expected to increase output and productivity
but reduce costs and carbon emissions. Here, we explore how water-cooled drives in grinding applications can help solve this conundrum and play a pivotal role in the decarbonisation of the mining sector. Te pursuit of sustainability targets is fuelling a global rise in demand for
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elements obtained by mining. Lithium, nickel and cobalt; graphite, copper and aluminium – all are vital to the manufacture of clean energy technologies and enhanced energy efficiency. To meet this rising demand, the mining industry must increase its output. But mining is not without its own sustainability goals; it too is expected to lower its carbon emissions in line with global sustainability targets, despite the
predicted increase in the energy intensity of its operations. Te only way forward is to improve energy efficiency across the value chain. It’s worth noting that comminution,
the process in which solid materials are reduced in particle size by crushing, grinding or cutting, accounts for a significant portion of energy consumption in mining operations. A mining energy consumption report, conducted by Engeco and commissioned by the Weir Group, revealed that the process consumes close to 40% of the total energy used in mining operations, with the grinding mill as the largest single consumer, making it a key area for energy conservation.
ENHANCING ENERGY EFFICIENCY Generally, large-scale mining machinery – such as ball mills, rod mills and roller presses – is operated by medium voltage
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