As the demand for aluminum and zinc metals continues to rise in fields such as aerospace, automobile manufacturing, and the electronics industry, the efficiency and quality of the aluminum-zinc ore dressing process have become crucial to industrial development. Recently, industry experts have conducted in-depth analyses on the core equipment for aluminum-zinc ore dressing, sorting out the key equipment and development trends in the four major processes of crushing, grinding, separation, and dehydration, so as to provide references for mining enterprises to optimize their production.
Equipment for Four Major Processes Performs Its Duties to Lay a Solid Foundation for Ore Dressing
The aluminum-zinc ore dressing process goes through four core stages: crushing, grinding, separation, and dehydration, and each step relies on professional equipment. In the crushing stage, jaw crushers are the first choice for primary crushing. With the advantages of simple structure and large crushing ratio, they are suitable for mines of different scales. The processing capacity of the PE series equipment ranges from 1 to 1000 tons per hour. Cone crushers, on the other hand, take on the important task of secondary and fine crushing. The efficiency of the CS series is 15%-20% higher than that of traditional equipment, and it can control the ore particle size below 25mm.
In the grinding stage, ball mills are the most widely used. Grid-type ball mills are suitable for rough grinding (with particles of -0.074mm accounting for 40%-60%), while overflow-type ball mills are used for fine grinding (with particles of -0.074mm accounting for more than 80%). For ores with high mud content, rod mills can reduce clay blockage through pre-grinding, thereby improving the efficiency of subsequent processes.
The separation stage is the core of aluminum-zinc ore purification, and flotation equipment has become the mainstream choice. Among them, the XJK series mechanical agitation flotation machines are easy to operate, with a zinc concentrate recovery rate of over 85%. The CHF series aerated flotation machines have low energy consumption and uniform air bubbles, showing excellent performance in the flotation of oxidized ores. The jet flotation machines, featuring small air bubbles and small floor space, are suitable for the separation of fine-grained ores. In addition, gravity separation equipment such as jigs and shaking tables, as well as permanent magnetic drum separators, also play important roles according to the characteristics of ores.
In the dehydration stage, thickeners first achieve preliminary dehydration. High-efficiency thickeners can speed up the process by adding flocculants, and deep-cone thickeners can increase the underflow concentration to 50%-70%. Filters further reduce the moisture content. The cake moisture of the GP series vacuum filters is 15%-20%, and the XAZG series filter presses can control the moisture content within 10%-12%, meeting the requirements of high-demand scenarios. Rotary drum dryers are suitable for situations where the moisture requirement is less than 5%, providing qualified concentrates for subsequent smelting.
Scientific Equipment Selection and Maintenance Ensure Efficient Operation
Experts emphasize that when selecting equipment, mining enterprises should consider the ore properties, production scale, and energy conservation and environmental protection requirements. For high-hardness ores, the combination of jaw crushers and cone crushers is preferred; for ores with high mud content, a rod mill pre-grinding link should be added; large-scale mines should select equipment with large processing capacity to avoid capacity waste, and at the same time, give priority to low-energy-consumption and low-pollution equipment to comply with the requirements of green development.
In terms of equipment maintenance, regular inspection and timely replacement of vulnerable parts such as jaw plates and liners, strengthening the training of operators to standardize the operation process, and establishing emergency plans for faults to handle problems quickly are the keys to ensuring the stable operation of equipment and prolonging its service life.
Large-Scale and Intelligent Development Become the Mainstream Trend of Equipment
With the upgrading of mining technology and the stricter requirements for environmental protection, aluminum-zinc ore dressing equipment is developing towards large-scale, intelligent, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly directions. The single-unit processing capacity of large-scale equipment continues to increase, which can reduce the number of equipment and floor space, and lower the enterprise costs. Intelligent equipment realizes real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment of operating parameters through sensors and Internet of Things technology, improving the dressing accuracy and efficiency. The application of new materials and energy-saving motors effectively reduces the energy consumption of equipment. The popularization of sealed equipment and dust removal systems further reduces dust and noise pollution, contributing to the construction of green mines.
Industry insiders stated that in the future, with the continuous innovation of technology, aluminum-zinc ore dressing equipment will be more in line with industrial needs and provide stronger support for the high-quality development of the aluminum-zinc industry.
