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By H. S. George

A method of illumination that enhances the value of microscopic study of opaque materials, as in metallography. By simulating natural lighting, structures. That possess relief are given a natural appearance. An example is included of the revelation of a hitherto invisible microconstituent. Erroneous interpretation is avoided. For example, etching figures in ferrite, heretofore considered to be pits, are revealed as pyramids, standing in bas-relief. Suggestions on technique are given, for, while the method is obvious, practice and attention to detail are requisite. ON one occasion when it seemed desirable to reveal under the microscope not only the metallic structure of an alloy, but certain small non-metallic inclusions, that are ordinarily obliterated by etching, it was discovered that, by partly eclipsing the illuminating pencil of light rays, the residual light was thrown on the object from one side and the structure was brought out in relief. At the same time, the non-metallic inclusions were retained in clear view. In this first demonstration of lighting obliquely through the objective a card was thrust part way into the light beam between the arc iris, and the light filter; the shadow of the card on the filter served to locate its position. Next several stiff-paper disks of various diameters were mounted on flexible wires some plasticine on the other end of the wires made it easy to adjust and maintain a disk at any desired position in the light beam. To facilitate manipulation, an assortment of disks, was mounted on a wheel, as shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of partly eclipsing the light beam was discussed in an earlier paper.1 There it was pointed out that the usual methods of illuminating opaque objects for microscopic examination lend an, un-natural appearance to, the view, while the new method, which has been termed conical illumination, revels the true relationship of constituents by simulating natural lighting.

Jan 3, 1924

By R. F. Pilgrim

A digital computer program to mathematically simulate the effect of limited changes in feed rate in the range of 80 to 95 tph on a plant-scale wet grinding circuit has been developed and tested. The circuit studied included an 8-ft-diam X 12-ft rod mill operating in open circuit and feeding two parallel 12-ft-diam x 10-ft pebble mills, each one operating in closed circuit with an 8 X 32-ft rake classifier. The simulation is an empirical one based on two sets of data collected manually from the operating circuit under what was said to be steady-state feed rates of 80 and 95 tph with all other operating variables also at steady state. The procedure is a combination of several published approaches to the modeling of grinding mills and classifiers and it is applicable to a wide range of circuits. The program permits the computing of the size distributions of all feeds and discharges of all grinding units and classifiers in the circuit for a specified feed rate. The data used in this report for demonstrating the program are unsatisfactory since the circuit was not operating under steady-state conditions when it was sampled. Consequently the circuit model parameters could not be accurately estimated. The predictive power would be greatly improved if new data were obtained under true steady-state conditions.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. M. Cabal, M. Chica Olmo, J. P. Laille

One of the main goals of a simulation of a coal deposit mining is to predict a series of parameters considered by the miner to be useful, e.g. ash content, sulphur content, seam thickness etc). The idea is to simulate different ways of mining a multi-seam brown coal deposit (the Mine Puentes de Garcia Rodriguez deposit, ENDESA, Spain ), which is exploited by several bucket-wheel-excavators (BWE) . Two mining models are used: a geostatistical model which provides a numerical way of re- presenting the three-dimensional ore-body, then a deterministic model, consisting of simulating the technical aspects of the mining. The main purpose of this simulation is to show how the mining operations can be reproduced using these two techniques.

Jan 1, 1983

By T. Inoue, T. Imaizumi

A simulation model has been developed to find out the possibility of improving the industrial closed-circuit wet grinding operations. The model involves a continuous tumbling mill in combination with a hydrocyclone to recycle the oversize material back to the mill. The mill is described by the breakage, i.e. the selection and the distribution, functions, co-ordinated with the diffusional mixing along the axis. The cyclone classifier is characterized by the partition function with allowance for the non-selective separation of part of the feed material into the underflow. The computer program developed incorporates an interactive capability to modify the operating conditions of the system whenever needed. The results are analysed for the operational conditions characterizing the mill and the classifier. Besides the steady state conditions some observations are also made about the dynamic responses of the closed circuit grinding system.

Jan 1, 1980

By D. W. Fuerstenau

Locked-cycle grinding experiments on mineral mixtures provide a means to study circuit performance in simulated continuous grinding systems. Such experiments with calcite/quartz mixtures revealed that approximately twenty-five 2-minute cycles are required before the composition of the circuit product and the recycle material attain steady state. The circulating load, after steadily increasing during the first 15 cycles, continued to fluctuate over a narrow range. Previous batch ball mill grinding of mineral mixtures has shown that breakage rate functions of minerals are time- independent but composition-dependent. In the closed-circuit grinding of ores with constituents having different grindabilities, the grinding rate parameters for the components also would therefore change during the transient period. With fluctuations in feed composition occurring randomly every half to one hour in processing plants, it is quite likely that the grinding circuit can be in unsteady state perpetually. The significance of these observations is discussed in this paper in the con- text of the models used in control schemes for the grinding circuits

Jan 1, 1984

By P. K. Chatterjee

The overall success of many strip coal mining operations depends primarily upon the efficient use of draglines to remove overburden. These machines require enormous capital investment and unless used efficiently the profitability of a venture is adversely affected. It is important that the dragline works continuously and it is imperative that the walking path and other facets of its operation be predetermined exactly so that the desired production rate is achieved with a minimum of non-productive time. Details of dragline operations which are of particular interest are walking path, prediction of best cut and positioning to maximize production, the angle of swing which produces the swiftest operation, optimum fill factor allowable for the type of material and conditions of ground, the maximum depth from which it can excavate and operating level with respect to the elevation of the high wall. The aims of the present paper are: 1. To establish a cut-off point in the cost-depth ratio. 2. Predict the most economic method of stripping in a given area using graphical plots of walking path implemented with information necessary to ensure optimum production. The optimum operating efficiency of the dragline in relation to the terrain and other conditions imposed on its operation will be evaluated. The model is based upon operating data which has been collected from site observations of a large strip coal mining operation in Central Queensland, Australia.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. P. King

The two-phase distributed-parameter kinetic model for flotation has been wed as the basis for a digital simulation of flotation plants of arbitrary configuration. Ores that contain any number of minerals can be handled. The effects of incomplete liberation and particle-size distribution are specifically allowed for. The simulator allows the investigation of variations in throughput and in the slurry density of the feed, and of variations in stage volumes and aeration rates. It can handle cell behavior even under conditions of hindered flotation. The requirements for data preparation are completely documented so that the computer program is suitable for general-purpose use. The program is written in Fortran. The output from the simulator consists of the complete material flows in the plant, as well as the grade, recovery, and particle-size distribution in each stream.

Jan 1, 1976

By L. G. Austin, P. T. Luckie, R. R. Klimpel, R. S. C. Rogers

1. INTRODUCTION The Bond method(1.2) for sizing tumbling ball mills has been used successfully for many years. The primary purpose of the Bond calculation is to predict the mill size and mill power to give a desired capacity (Q tph) from a wet overflow ball mill in normal closed circuit operated with a circulation ratio of 2.5. The input to the calculation is the make-up feed size characterized by the 80%-passing size in micrometers (xG), the desired circuit product size characterized by the 80%-passing size (xQ), and an empirical grindability number (the standard Bond Work Index) determined by a standard test. A series of empirical correcting factors(2) are used to convert the results to open-circuit or dry grinding in grate discharge mills. The Bond method has two major engineering advantages: (i) it is very simple; (ii) experience has shown that it works for many circumstances, as a reasonable approximation, because it is based on direct conversion of test data to results measured on industrial mills. There are four main disadvantages of the Bond method. First, there will be a range of error for any specific mill and material and set of operating conditions because the method does not explicitly include several variables which are obviously important: (i) recycle ratio and classifier efficiency (ii) mixture of ball sizes in the mill (iii) variations of residence time distributions with mill geometry and slurry density (iv) lifter design (v) slurry rheology (vi) different underfilling or overfilling of the mill as flow rate is changed. Second, the Bond method explicitly assumes that specific grinding energy E is not a function of ball load, whereas industrial practice and laboratory tests(3) show that the specific grinding energy (to go from a specified feed to a specified product) is less for lower ball loadings than the ball loading for maximum mill capacity. Third, the method uses only the 80% passing size of circuit feed and product to characterize the size distributions, whereas mill capacity in general must depend on the shape of the feed size distribution and the product size distribution. The prime example of this is the use of the reverse closed circuit which removes some fraction of the make-up feed before it is

Jan 1, 1982

By E. P. Bucklen

Simulation is a tool useful in the evaluation of the probable effect which various changes may have on the performance of time-dependent systems. This is especially true as far as rail transportation in mining is concerned. The VPI-OCR RAILSIM program is a computer program designed specifically for solving a broad range of problems encountered in the design of haulage systems of new mines as well as in the operation of haulage systems in existing mines. This program is one of several computer applications for evaluating mining systems developed at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University under contract with the Office o f Coal Research of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. The RAILSIM program uses Monte Carlo techniques to introduce variability in the occurrence of events such as would be observed in real systems. Data are required to describe the haulage network, locomotives, stationary facilities, and other miscellaneous parameters. Output from the program lists measures of performance that are useful in assessing the capabilities and limitations of given system configurations. The output information may cover many shifts of operation to indicate the broad range of variation and interaction which can occur as the system responds to varying levels of demand for service. The RAILSIM program was tested extensively in mining operations. The results of some of these tests are used to illustrate the usefulness of this program.

Jan 1, 1972

By Louis P. Gignac

INTRODUCTION The selection of trackless equipment for underground mining can be a complex engineering problem due to the wide range of equipment sizes and operating modes. Computer simulation is particularly useful in estimating the performance of different systems for specific rock- handling problems. A hybrid simulator, incorporating some of the features of deterministic and stochastic simulation, was developed in order to handle not only queuing delays at loading and dumping points, but a1 so traffic interferences. Any number of vehicles can operate in any one of four basic modes (LHD, LAF, FEL, HFC) in parallel or in series. If the units use common roadways, loading and dumping points, certain operating delays will occur and be registered by the simulator and thus give a better evaluation of the marginal productivity of each additional unit. Based on a typical layout of drawpoints and ore passes for the sub-level stoping method, productivity and operating costs of different rock-handling systems will be examined. 1 . COMPUTER SIMULATION Numerous applications of computer simulations are reported in the 1iterature for various mining problems. Depending on the complexity of the system to be studied, simulation models were conceived with different degrees of sophistication. Three different types of simulators are generally recognized: stochastic, deterministic, and hybrid. Stochastic or Monte Carl o simulation randomly generates items, transactions, or events from some population defined by a frequency distribution and produces some expected future situations. Because this type of simulation is governed by the input of probability distributions, it requires a detailed knowledge of the system to be simulated; it implies expensive and time-consuming studies and reports to gene- rate this input information. A major short- coming of stochastic techniques is in new equipment evaluation, where the lack of data is unavoidable, and in new system design where the conditions are outside the range of the known historical behavior of the equipment. However, probabilistic simulation is almost essential for the study of cyclic queues and traffic problems. Deterministic simulation studies a system by generating performances on the basis of the mechanical capabilities of the vehicles and the physical limitations of the mining scheme. It is based on the engineering principle that the engine converts its energy into a rimpull at the wheels, which is in turn opposed by the rolling resistance and the grade of the ground; the machine is accelerated or decelerated until the tractive and resistive forces are in equilibrium, at which point it moves at constant speed. The information required by this technique, such as rimpull charts and equipment weight, is readily available from equipment suppliers. However, equipment performance at the mining site is also dictated by human and environmental conditions and changes with time and usage. For this reason, deterministic simulation generally overestimates the system capabilities; these must then be adjusted by efficiency factors based on observation and experience. Recently, hybrid simulation models, using both stochastic and deterministic techniques, have been built with some of the events generated stochasticly and others being deterministic. This compromising approach originated at the Pennsylvania State University. O'Nei1 (1966) designed a simulator for truck-and- shovel operations that allows for transportation from multiple faces to mu1tiple destinations. Each truck performs according to its mechanical capabilities while its loading and dumping time and its load fluctuate according to specific probability distributions. A major advance in the simulation of mining systems is due to Sanford's model (1969) of underground coal mining operations. The originality of the model is in the use of an Executive System Control which sets up the initial system, de- fines the operation conditions , and instructs continuously four sub-assemblies representing shuttle cars, trains, continuous miners , and conveyors, which in turn generate a feed-back of their movement to the Executive Control System for further instructions. The model has enough flexibility to simulate simultaneous and sequential jobs that characterize any dynamic system. Sanford's early work evolved slowly to what is known today as the Under- ground Materials Handling Simulator for coal mining (Manula, 1974).

Jan 1, 1981

By Stanley C. Suboleski, J. Richard Lucas

Simulator I, a program to simulate production in room and pillar mining systems containing up to six face operations, was developed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute under sponsorship of the Office of Coal Research. Since its inception, several hundred analyses have been run, with over thirty companies using the program. This paper describes the simulation technique used in this program, the output achieved from an analysis, and reviews the experience gained in working with Simulator I.

Jan 1, 1969

By B. Ladanyi, G. Archambault

It is generally recognized to date that a rational stability analysis of slopes and foundations in rock masses is a desirable but still rather remote goal of rock mechanics.1 In principle, a slope analysis is possible provided the original state of effective stress in the ground is known and the shear strength of the earth material can be clearly defined. In a macroscopically continuous earth medium such as soil, the two basic ingredients of the stability analysis in most cases can be assessed with sufficient approximation. A much less favorable situation exists when the slope is composed of a macroscopically discontinuous medium such as rock mass containing one or more sets of geological planar structures. In such a case, both the original effective stresses and the overall shear strength of the mass are much more difficult to determine. As for the former, it is only recently that certain calculation methods and solutions concerning the stress distribution2 and the seepage forces3 in a discontinuous medium have been proposed. As the strength behavior of the rock mass is concerned, much valuable effort has been made in recent years toward reaching a proper understanding of the phenomenon of rock mass failure under stress. Probably one of the most complete investigations of the problem to date has recently been made at the University of Illinois. The study resulted in establishing a first useful working hypothesis of the shear behavior of a regularly jointed rock mass, proposed by Patton in 1966.4 The main purpose of the work described in this chapter is to establish a more general framework for the shear behavior of rock mass, one that would be directly related to some basic rock parameters and would also

Jan 1, 1970

By C. C. Hatch, A. L. Mular

The methodology employed to develop a digital simulation of the Brenda Mines Ltd., Peachland, B. C., secondary crushing plant is described. Methodology includes data acquisition, data adjustment, model building, and the construction of a simulator structure. The simulator was utilized to study the effects of secondary and tertiary crusher close side settings, secondary screen opening, plant feed rate, and percent + 1 in. in the feed on the following responses: percent - 1/2 in. in the final product, plant reduction ratio, circulating load ratio, and screen efficiency. Results are presented in graphical form.

Jan 1, 1983

By Gary E. McIntosh

This paper will discuss a US Bureau of Mines project designed to assess and predict the impacts which surface coal mining will have on the regional shallow groundwater system in the Powder River Basin. The primary objective will be met through the accomplishment of the following: (1) The design and establishment of a regional network for monitoring shallow groundwater systems in the basin; (2) monitoring the direction and rate of flow, water quality, and aquifer characteristics of the shallow groundwater systems; and (3) development of a regional groundwater simulation model, with appurtenant subroutines to determine local effects.

Jan 4, 1979

By Gary E. McIntosh

This paper will discuss a US Bureau of Mines project designed to assess and predict the impacts which surface coal mining will have on the regional shallow groundwater systems in the Powder River Basin. The primary objective will be met through the accomplishment of the following: (1) The design and establishment of a regional network for monitoring shallow groundwater systems in the basin; (2) monitoring the direction and rate of flow, water quality, and aquifer characteristics of the shallow groundwater systems; and (3) development of a regional groundwater simulation model, with appurtenant subroutines to determine local effects.

Jan 1, 1980

By Y. Astafyev

In applying computers at the enterprises it is necessary to develop an open-pit model which completely corresponds in its structure, properties and characteristics to real open-pit mining. This model is used for controlling open-pit operations which ultimately define the system controlling ore reserves. The preparation and reserving of the latter are highly expensive and labour-consuming, therefore the investigations are aimed at developing the ore reserve control system which is capable to provide open- pits with the necessary ore reserves on the basis of equipment relibility characteristics, and thus helps to solve the ore reserves problem which is to define their optimum dimensions under conditions of stochasticity of production processes. In accordance with the tasks of the investigation it may be conventionally divided into three parts. The aim of the first part is to develop a structural open-pit system model consisting of a set of elements which are represented here by drill-rigs, shovels, trucks, unit trains, plant receiving bins and dumps (Fig. 1). The combination of similar elements makes up technological components the sequence of which forms simple systems. The latter, in their turn, grouping according to the type of mined rocks and inter- acting in parallel, form the "Stripping" and “Mining” subsystems. In addition to this, there is the "Ore Reserves" subsystem which serves as a "store" and includes opened-up, prepared and ready for extraction ore reserves.

Jan 1, 1977

By Renato G. Bautista, Gary A. Beetner, Anthony L. Frey

A multistage mixer-settler extractor described in earlier hydrodynamic studies was simulated on a computer. A mass transfer mechanism was derived based on a pseudo distribution constant and a pseudo first-order rate constant. The constants were adjusted to give the proper output concentrations and proper form of the stage-wise concentrations. The results obtained by computer simulation of start-up conditions show very good agreement with experimental data. A second simulation was constructed which demonstrated that the model can be greatly simplified and still yield good results.

Jan 1, 1974

By F. G. Loper

Simulation as a mathematical technique is not new. However, recent increases in digital computer speeds and the ease of programming with languages such as Fortran have centered a good deal of attention around simulation in the last few years. By ignoring all but the relevant characteristics of a process, a mathematical simulator may be constructed which, when fed operating data, should react as the process would. The output becomes numbers, instead of tons, however. Thus, a trial-and-error operation of such a simulator will permit management to study a major system change at little cost.

Jan 1, 1967

By Keith Contor

The concept of using simulators to train operators of vehicles is not new. However, the Bureau of Mines initiated these programs to determine if computer controlled training devices would enhance production and improve safety in the coal mining industry. Two prototype devices have been constructed, tested and are currently operational. The continuous miner and dragline operator training systems both incorporate full scale operator stations using operational controls and displays. The operator interacts with the visual system through the cab controls to perform basic tasks and develop skills required for startup, operation and shutdown of the mining equipment. Data pertaining to the concepts and techniques applied during the design, development and evaluation of the training devices are presented. Descriptions of trainer designs and visual systems for training equipment are presented and the results of the system evaluation are summarized.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert Mehl

RELATIVELY few data have been collected on the rates of diffusion in ternary solid solution systems. In general it does not seem worth while to gather extensive data for such systems until the factors that determine the rates of diffusion in binary systems are better understood. But the rates of diffusion in a ternary system of limited solid solubility, in which the terminal solid solution is in equilibrium with an intermediate phase and may thus be represented as a quasibinary system, represents a case of special interest. In this case, where by reason of the association of the two solute metals in an intermediate phase a special attraction of the two solute atoms may be safely assumed, some interaction of these atoms during simultaneous diffusion in the solvent lattice might be expected. It has frequently been proposed that molecular solid solutions exist in quasibinary and in other ternary (and binary) solid solutions. There is no direct evidence for such solid solutions; arguments based upon the supposed anomaly in certain physical properties1 are hardly important; unexpected density relationships have proved deceptive ;2 suggestions of molecular solid solutions have been made on the basis of solution laws in their application to certain systems, but without result;3 attempts to find lattice parameters in the solid solution Al-MgZn2, which cannot be calculated from the separate effects of magnesium and zinc and might therefore be taken as evidence for a molecular aggregation, have given negative results.4 Fundamentally, methods for the determination of the state of molecu¬lar aggregation in solution depend upon the kinetic behavior of the par-ticles constituting the system. If it could be shown that the two solutes in a quasibinary ternary system diffuse in molecular proportions, despite a radical difference in the separate rates of diffusion of each solute when diffusing alone in the solvent lattice, some basis for the concept of molecu-lar solid solution would be afforded. Freche5 examined the rates of independent and simultaneous diffusion of magnesium and silicon in

Jan 1, 1939