Minerals can range in composition from pure chemical elements to highly complex oxides, carbonates, or silicates. According to the National Mining Association (NMA), minerals are used to make roughly USD 2 trillion worth of products annually – about 13 percent of US gross domestic product!

Due to their cohesive nature, many minerals, such as gypsum, calcite (CaCO3), and quartz (SiO2), are prone to arching and ratholing problems in storage silos, bins, and hoppers. Some minerals, like fluorite (CaF2) and corundum (Al2O3), can attack hoppers and chutes causing rapid abrasive wear due to sliding and impact effects.

Fine minerals like talc can be prone to flooding or flushing, yielding difficult process control problems, while mineral blends can be subject to costly separation, called segregation.

All of the solids handling problems described above can be solved or prevented. Jenike & Johanson can provide a scientific understanding for the cause of these problems and issue practical recommendations for powder and bulk solids equipment to ensure consistent, reliable, and safe material flow. Our key engineering services used to support the minerals industry follow.

KEY ENGINEERING SERVICES

• Plant visit for troubleshooting mineral flow problems
• Flow properties testing of minerals and their mixtures
• Pneumatic conveying testing and system design
• Functional design of silos, hoppers, chutes and feeders
  • Size reduction (primary/secondary crusher) circuits
  • Mixing and blending operations
  • Maximizing the reclaim capacity of stockpiles
  • Barge or train unloading hopper and feeder systems
• Physical modeling of unique mineral handling process
• Structural engineering for storage silos and hoppers
• Detailed design engineering

If your plant is currently experiencing handling difficulties with minerals or implementing a new minerals processing plant, contact Jenike & Johanson for immediate assistance with your bulk solids handling needs.