Type
Conference PaperAuthors
Kim, SeungheeSantamarina, Carlos

KAUST Department
Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC)Earth Science and Engineering Program
Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering
Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division
Date
2016-08-11Online Publication Date
2016-08-11Print Publication Date
2016-08-08Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/622459
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Crushing and grinding are primary contributors to a high energy demand in the mining industry, yet, both are surprisingly inefficient processes, often with efficiencies as low as 1%. We analyze size reductions during crushing and grinding operations and explore the potential of multiplying internal weaknesses in rock materials by non-mechanical means. In particular, when rock blocks (wet or even dry if polycrystalline) are exposed to microwaves, internal cracks can develop along grain boundaries via differential thermal expansion between grains and volumetric thermal expansion of water in pores. Brazilian tests conducted on granite and cement mortar specimens show that the tensile strength decreases proportional to the duration of microwave treatment. Thermal changes, excessive fluid pressure buildup and induced stresses are analyzed in the context of hydro-Thermo-mechanically coupled processes. Results confirm that both differential thermal expansion of mineral grains and volumetric thermal expansion of water can generate cracks upon microwave exposure. Optimal conditions are suggested to lower the combined consumption of electric and mechanical energy.Citation
Kim S, Carlos Santamarina J (2016) Rock Crushing Using Microwave Pre-Treatment. Geo-Chicago 2016. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784480151.071.Journal
Geo-Chicago 2016Conference/Event name
4th Geo-Chicago Conferen Sustainable Materials and Resource Conservation, Geo-Chicago 2016Additional Links
http://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/9780784480151.071ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1061/9780784480151.071