MSE 304A

Problem Set 1
1. Calculate the (i) surface equivalent diameter and (ii) surface volume diameter of a cube.
2. Calculate the (i) area shape factor, (ii) volume shape factor, and (iii) specific surface area shape
factor of a cube.
3. To illustrate the applicability of methods used for presenting size distribution data, plot the size
distribution of the following comminution product in accordance with the Gaudin-Schumann
distribution. The feed was 4.76 mm quartz which was ground wet in a 200 mm diameter rod mill
containing 60% solids for 2 minutes. The tabulated data are mass fraction of particles retained on
each sieve.
Sieve Size Mass Fraction
(mm)
retained on
each sieve
4.76

3.36

0.139

2.38

0.240

1.68

0.189

1.19

0.115

0.841

0.08

0.595

0.063

0.420

0.046

0.297

0.034

0.210

0.026

0.149

0.021

0.105

0.014

0.074

0.009

0.053

0.005

0.037

0.006

<0.037

0.013

a) Evaluate the parameters of the Gaudin- Schumann distribution and briefly discuss how well this
empirical distribution fits experimental data.
b) What is the physical meaning of the size modulus?
c) Calculate the energy consumption in the above comminution process assuming that the work index
for grinding quartz in the above rod mill is 14kWh/ton. In Bonds formula, the particle size is
represented in micrometer.
d) Calculate the total surface area of the particles assuming that the area shape factor,
= 1.2.

4. Consider that a ground silicate ore is characterized by the Gaudin- Schumann distribution with a
size modulus of 0.2mm. To illustrate the effect of the distribution modulus on the amount of fine
particles in the comminuted product, consider two cases, one where the distribution modulus is 1.0
and the other 0.5. For these two cases, compare the amount of comminuted product below
0.015mm.
5. The Gaudin- Schumann size distribution requires two parameters to characterize the assembly of
comminuted particles. Sometimes it is simpler to characterize the assembly of particles in terms of
a single- average diameter. One such diameter is the arithmetic average based on number of
particles. Consider an assembly of cubic particles that follow the Gaudin-Schuhmann distribution
with a size modulus of 1mm and distribution modulus of 0.8. Assume that the specific gravity of the
particle is 1.0. Calculate the arithmetic average diameter for the above distribution.