SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SAG MILL DRIVE SYSTEMS

The various options available for large horsepower mill drive systems are examined, together with their impacts on mill design and relative capital and operational costs. First a brief history of large mill drive systems is given. Then state-of-the-art mill design and mechanical design considerations are discussed. A design for fixed-speed or variable-speed operation is presented, and the capital and operational cost factors that influence design are considered. The choice of a drive system is dependent on the size of the mill, its critical speed, and the horsepower required. Several areas of concern are outlined for each drive system design. A criterion for selecting the best design for large mills is developed. © 1990 IEEE