Development of the arc shattering concept of energy efficient comminution of hard materials, addendum

This report describes the results of additional efforts to demonstrate efficient comminution using the Arc-Shattering technique. This report is an Addendum to the Phase 1 Final Report. The Statement of Work (SOW) for the additional work is as follows: Extend Task 3 efforts to include construction and testing of configurations simulating continuous operating conditions. Included are: (1) a cylindrical configuration featuring an array of electrodes extending radially inward from the wall, (2) a funnel-shaped configuration, and (3) a vertical cylindrical configuration featuring countercurrent flow (ore from the top and water from the bottom to wash the fines upward to an exhaust tube). Comminution efficiency will be determined and expressed in terms of specific energy and Work Index, and optimum efficiency will be sought. Experimental variables include electrode and configuration geometry, particle size and distribution, percent solids, and electrical pulse energy. Task 6 efforts will be extended to include the results of this additional research in an addendum to the Phase 1 final report. All portions of this SOW were performed for that involving multiple electrodes. Based on the results herein, multiple electrode tests did not appear to be warranted.