SHORT COMMUNICATIONS : 109

Note on influence of interval size on the first-order
hypothesis of grlndlng
In the study of first-order kinetics of breakage in
mills, the size intervals chosen have been variously
2-t, 2-* and 3 ratios, lower to upper sieve size. It is
assumed that if material breaks in a first-order
manner, then the rate of breakage from such a size
interval will be first-order also. This assumption is
only true, however, for a suitably small size inter-
val_ This note investigates how small the size inter-
val must be to obtain a first-order breakage for the
interval.
The case considered is when the point rate-of-
breakage function is of the form
s = x=
where x is a dimensionless size defined by
s = size/top size
and S is a dimensionless rate delined by
S = S (of size)% (of top size)
The point cumulative breakage distribution func-
tion considered is
where s and JGare dimensionless size. Dimension-
less quantities are used to reduce the number of
evenly disiributed over the ten sub-intervals, giving
P(l, 0) = l.‘P(2,0) = 0.9, etc. The amount remain-
ing in the major size interval after reduced time of
grmding r is W, (t) = I- P(l I, t)_ Batch grinding of
this material was computed for Z=2-‘. I!-%_ 5:
z= 1. fi=O_5. l-O_ 2.0. 3_0_ 4.0; and z=$_ /3= 1.0.
2_0,3.0,4.0, using numerical computation (note that
the Reid’ solution becomes unstable for values of
S too close together, as occurs here).
The batch grinding equation’ is
When x=/I.
1 -P(x, t) = [I -P(s. 0)] esp(-Yz) (5)
(1) For z= I, and when starting material less than the
bottom size of the major interval. P(11,O). equals
zero,
\vr(L)= 1-P(ll,r)=exp(-ZZt) (sa)
This is, of course, confirmed by the computations.
This is an exact first-order breakage relation for the
major size interval. As I deviates from fi, the varia-
tion of IV, (t) with time deviates more from the first-
order relation_ The results are summarized in
Table I_
TABLE 1 I oR-~.tl-lO\; FROY RRZX-OROEK x’L.OT

computations.
If the size interval under investigation has lower
to upper size ratio of 2, say, the behavior of material
in this size interval can be closely approximated
0.5 z-? 0 0 0 0 0
by splitting it into a suitable number of sub-inter- 2-i 0 _A --
0
vals and assuming S and E values to be constant I 0 i &-I -- -?-
I
within a given sub-interval. For this study, ten sub-
intervals were used. The size ratio of the sub-inter- 1.0 1-5 0 0 0 0 0
2-i 0 0
vals is thus 1
0
0 _ 2 ,I+,
I

Let the sub-intervais be numbered starting from

the top size as 1, __.j, .__i, . ..fO. Below the bottom
size of the major interval is denoted by 11. Then, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show some typical results.
as usual’, Figure 4 shows a plot of S versus size and B cerszu
i<j size for a small (8 in. x 10 in.) laboratory rod mill
(-09
operating on limestone_ This shows CC-$, p-4,
which is the most extreme combination we have
yet_ encountered__
It is concluded that size ratios of 4 are generally
j<O unsatisfactory unless ~~~218and that 2-• intervals
&)
sg-) =

14
The starting size di%-ibution
11 >j>O
jail
is assumed to be
may sometimes give signi&ant deviations from
first order, depending on o! and fi_ Intervals of 2-•
are always satisfactory_
Powier Ekvicr
Technology- %C,UGia SA,Lausannc
110 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

to-

5 -

o-

15 -

!5-
-05

\
0 1 2 3 ; 5 6
DIYENSKXLESS TiXE SCALE
025, i

Fig. 1. Deviations from first+xda plot as a function of intend Fig 2 Deviations from first-order plot as a function ofj?; a=$.
size: a=+. /3=3. Z=&

Fig 4. Dimensionless rate of brcaka~ S, and cumulative break-

age diinibution B, for laboratory rod mill. limestone.

REFERENCES
Fig 3. Deviations ftom tint-order plot as a function of interval
size: z=l.B=4_
1 LG.A~~TN,P.T-L~~IxAxDRM_KLIMKL. solutions of
the batch grinding equation leading to Rosin-Rammler dis-
L. G. Austin zind P. T. Luckie triiutions, Am_ Ins_ Chem Engx Ann Meeting. Akzmber_
I%S_
Department of Mated1 Sciences, 2 K. J. REID, C&m. Eng. Sk, 20 (1965) 953.
Pennsyhnia state um-~sity,
Universiiy Park, Pa (USA.) Received May 20, 1970