Optimizing the weight clogged of a vibrating screen during mining operations

Prince Yaw Andoh; E. O. A.  Acheampong; Anthony Agyei-Agyemang; Peter Oppong Tawiah; N. N. Andoh

doi:10.4314/just.v39i1,2.1236

Prince Yaw Andoh Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
E. O. A. Acheampong Metso Ghana Limited
Anthony Agyei-Agyemang Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Peter Oppong Tawiah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
N. N. Andoh Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v39i1,2.1236

Keywords: Weight clogged, screening process, factorial design, optimization, mining operation

Abstract

Mining companies usually face challenges of chronic clogging of screening media which causes frequent downtime, low efficiency and wear. Investigation of weight clogged (the amount of ma-terial retained on the sieve after screening) in the vibrating screen was carried out on sulphide ore samples during mining operations to study the effects of amplitude of vibration, aperture size and quantity of feed on weight clogged in the vibrating screen and to optimize the weight clogged during mining operations. Sieving analysis experiment was performed on the samples with a vibrator using the 23 design of experiments (DOE) method. The results showed that the aperture size was the most influencing factor of weight clogged, followed by the quantity offeed. Amplitude posed the least influence on weight clogged. The effects can be optimized at high am-plitude (3 cm), at high aperture size (150 mm) and at low quantity offeed (600 g).

Author Biographies

Prince Yaw Andoh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Prince Yaw Andoh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with over 16 years' experience in teaching and researching in the areas of Design, Manufacturing and Applied Mechanics. His primary area of research interests includes modeling, identification and control of mechanical systems, tribology of manufactured surfaces and integration of design and manufacturing. His research work involves the development of quantitative parameter for characterization of a model for prediction and control of delamination area for composite laminates, the development of factorial design for the planning, conducting, analyzing and interpreting experiments so that sound and valid conclusions can be drawn efficiently, and economically; designing a facility layout for a small scale palm oil processing factory, processing and characterization of bamboo to serve as a composite material for wind turbine blade applications. Email: pyandoh.coe@knust.edu.gh; andohp_2@yahoo.com; pyandoh.coe@gmail.com

E. O. A. Acheampong, Metso Ghana Limited

Elvis Ofori Adjei Acheampong is a Senior Manager – Site Account for Metso Outotec Ghana Ltd. He holds a Master of Engineering in Industrial Operations from KNUST, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from GIMPA, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from GIMPA, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from KNUST, and is a Registered Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) with GhIE. He has over 15 years of work experience in various mineral processing technologies in the mining and construction industry. His area of specialization is Operations, Maintenance Planning, Product Support Engineering, Sales Engineering, Key Account Management and Business Development. His research interests are in Mineral Processing Technologies, Optimization of Process Technology in Mining Operations, Energy Economics and Finance. Email: elvisty@yahoo.com; elvis.adjeiacheampong@mogroup.com

Anthony Agyei-Agyemang, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Anthony Agyei-Agyemang is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KNUST, Kumasi. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from University of Karlsruhe, Germany, and a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from KNUST. His area of specialization is Machine Design, Manufacturing and Automation. His research interests are in Road and Air Transport Safety, and the use of numerical methods, especially, finite element method, in Solid and Fluid Mechanics applications in Machine Design, Energy and Environmental Protection. Email: tonyagyemang@yahoo.com; aaagyemang.coe@knust.edu.gh

Peter Oppong Tawiah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

KNUST

Kumasi

Senior Lecturer

N. N. Andoh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

KNUST,

Kumasi