Optimisation

During the first year or more of operation it is often necessary to perform regular checks of roll wear. This involves locking out the system, accessing the rolls and then reversing that process, a cycle which consumes considerable time. The SCU eliminates the need for manually accessing the rolls and reduces the time taken to perform a roll wear inspection to several minutes.

Determining accurate roll replacement scheduling

To accurately schedule roll replacement time, it is critical to monitor the wear rate of the rolls. With current techniques it is not possible to quickly determine the wear state of the rolls. This sometimes leads to premature roll change out or excessive roll wear. The use of an SCU eliminates all such inefficiencies and enables the roll replacement to be scheduled at the most optimum time.

Visual monitoring of inside the HPGR

The SCU provides on-demand recording of inside the HPGR at any time. Should the rolls or conveyor feed stop unexpectedly, the control room operator can activate the SCU to observe the rolls, capturing imagery which can then be reviewed by metallurgists at their convenience.

The current SCU viewing area includes a top-down view of the HPGR rolls. This provides value by enabling the inspection of:
• Wear profile (along roll length)
• Tooth condition
• Roll gap assessment

Reduction of operational risk

Mill operators should never have to access the HPGR without knowing the condition of the rollers on the inside. An understanding of the internal conditions allows HPGR operators to be better informed before performing preventative maintenance and incurring unnecessary servicing downtime. HPGR operators risk meeting operational targets without an SCU in place.

Remote monitoring

The SCU incorporates functionality that enables the user to log into the camera remotely. This allows a technical team to discuss roll wear while viewing inside the HPGR in real time, regardless of their physical location.