Solid material comminution or disintegration – Processes
Patent
1986-03-25
1988-01-26
Rosenbaum, Mark
Solid material comminution or disintegration
Processes
241 23, 241 29, 241DIG37, B02C 1918
Patent
active
047212560
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for the fine comminution of coal and other mineral matter such as ores of base metals, iron ore and, more generally, all materials described as industrial minerals and rocks (hereinafter referred to as "minerals").
(2) Prior Art
A process and apparatus for the ultrasonic comminution of solid materials are described in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,593 of W. B. Tarpley Jr., and a process of ultrasonic homogenisation or emulsification is disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,112 of P. R. Steenstrup. A process and apparatus for continuation by sonic high frequency impacting or crushing are described in the specification of Australian Pat. No. 544,699 of A. G. Bodine.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention has for its objects the provision of a method and apparatus by means of which the fine comminution of minerals may be carried out particularly efficiently. According to the invention a mineral, such as coal for example, which has been crushed in a hammermill or like apparatus, is introduced by a feeder to a cyclic stream of cryogenic fluid, such as liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen for example, by which the entrained mineral particles are carried through a comminutor applying mechanically generated high frequency vibratory energy, the cryogenic fluid and comminuted mineral being then conducted to a separator by which the comminuted mineral is separated from the fluid and discharged, the fluid being re-cycled to the feeder. In a primary heat exchanger the fluid from the feeder is pre-cooled by fluid passing from the comminuter to the separator, and the fluid is further cooled to the required operating temperature before reaching the comminutor by refrigerant in a secondary heat exchanger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a continuous comminution installation according to the invention, and
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the comminuting apparatus of the installation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The installation shown in the drawings is devised for the comminution of coal, but it is to be understood that it is applicable, with modifications if necessary or desirable, to the treatment of other minerals as set out above.
The installation includes a primary crusher 10, which may be a hammermill or other known device capable of economically reducing coal introduced to it to a size of the order of one to ten millimeters.
The crushed coal is conveyed by way of stream 11 to a storage hopper 12 from which it is drawn as required and conveyed at ambient temperature, by way of stream 13, to a feeder 14.
The continuous comminution process involves the introduction of the crushed coal to a cryogenic process fluid and its conveyance by this fluid in sequence from the feeder 14, through a primary heat exchanger 15, through a secondary heat exchanger 16, through a high frequency comminuter 17, back through the primary heat exchanger 15 and to a mineral-fluid separator 18 where the comminuted coal is discharged and the cryogenic process fluid is recycled through the feeder 14.
Any of a number of cryogenic fluids may be used as the process fluid, liquid carbon dioxide being a suitable medium, as also is liquid nitrogen, although other elements or compounds that remain liquid below about -40.degree. C. such as the inert gases or low molecular weight alkanes (methane to nonane for example) or mixtures of these, or, more generally, components of natural gas, may be used.
The continuous processing system has an internal operating pressure selected to suit the properties of the process fluid used; for example if carbon dioxide is employed, the internal operating pressure must be in excess of 5.11 atmospheres to maintain the carbon dioxide in the liquid state.
The feeder 14 may be a lockhopper or equivalent device capable of introducing the crushed coal received from the storage hopper 12 into the s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3991943 (1976-11-01), Rohrbach
patent: 4102503 (1978-07-01), Meinass
patent: 4131238 (1978-12-01), Tarpley
patent: 4156593 (1979-05-01), Tarpley
patent: 4273294 (1981-06-01), Hollely et al.
patent: 4302112 (1981-11-01), Steenstrup
Rosenbaum Mark
University of Queensland
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