As previously reported, the Global Mining Standards Group now includes a working group developing standards for industrial comminution efficiency. The group gathered in Salt Lake City in February 2014 to define their goals and strategies.
Key assumptions:
1. The objective of their work is to formalize the Bond method of comparing grinding circuit comminution efficiency, to disseminate the method and establish a reference database.
2. The outcome of this project will be a business tool for senior management, plant management, and metallurgical staff to facilitate communication about grinding circuit performance.
3. The project is not research or theory oriented as the basic technology and methodology currently exists.
4. The Bond method can be used to quantify a large majority of industrial comminution energy use, but there will be exceptions (e.g. coarse crushing and very fine grinding). It is suggested the committee employ the “90/10” business rule to maximize the effectiveness of the group’s effort and avoid scope creep.
These guidelines have been formalised as follows:
Project Title: Guideline for Measuring and Comparing Industrial Comminution Circuit Energy Efficiencies by the Bond Method
Proposed Project Objective: To formalize and disseminate use of the Bond method to provide industry with a means to measure and compare comminution circuit efficiencies, including a reference data base.
Current Objective: To develop the project scope and outline the project plan.
Outcome: A business tool for company senior management (CEO, COO, CFO), senior plant management and plant metallurgical staff, so they can communicate performance regarding this extremely important (costly) area of their business.
Note that ‘Bond Efficiency’ has already been extensively used as a business tool. It is used:
- To benchmark a given circuit’s energy efficiency against that of other circuits
- To quantify changes in circuit efficiency with steps aimed at efficiency improvement
- To write process performance warrantees for equipment supplied to new projects
- To quantify energy savings required by new government energy efficiency regulations