XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 263
with other processing equipment and techniques,
such as crushing, grinding, flotation, and dewater-
ing. Achieving seamless integration and optimizing
process parameters to maximize mineral recovery
while minimizing energy consumption requires
careful engineering and operational expertise.
3. Reliability and Maintenance: Like any new tech-
nology, HVP systems may encounter reliability
issues and require regular maintenance to ensure
optimal performance. Mining companies may be
hesitant to adopt HVP technology if they perceive
it as less reliable or more maintenance-intensive
than traditional mineral processing equipment.
Demonstrating the long-term reliability and dura-
bility of HVP systems is crucial for overcoming
this barrier.
4. Cost of Implementation: The initial investment
required to install and integrate HVP systems
into existing mineral processing operations can be
substantial. This includes the cost of purchasing
HVP equipment, retrofitting processing plants,
and training personnel to operate the technology
effectively. Many mining companies may be hesi-
tant to invest in HVP technology due to the per-
ceived high upfront costs and uncertainty about
the return on investment.
5. Regulatory and Environmental Concerns:
Mining operations are subject to stringent envi-
ronmental regulations governing emissions, water
usage, and waste disposal. While HVP technology
offers potential environmental benefits, such as
reduced energy consumption and waste genera-
tion, mining companies may face regulatory hur-
dles or public scrutiny when implementing new
technologies. Addressing regulatory requirements
and demonstrating the environmental sustain-
ability of HVP technology is essential for gaining
acceptance in the minerals industry.
6. Market Acceptance and Industry Culture: The
minerals industry is traditionally conservative and
slow to adopt new technologies. Mining compa-
nies may be hesitant to deviate from established
mineral processing practices, especially if they
perceive HVP technology as unproven or risky.
Overcoming cultural resistance and fostering a
culture of innovation within the industry is crucial
for promoting the adoption of HVP technology.
Whilst some challenges identified above are specific to HVP
technology, some are challenges all upcoming technologies
face. Addressing these impediments requires collaborative
efforts between technology developers, mining companies,
research institutions, and regulatory bodies. Demonstrating
the economic, environmental, and operational benefits of
HVP technology through pilot projects, case studies, and
industry collaborations can help overcome barriers and
accelerate its adoption in the minerals industry.
Ongoing research and development efforts aim to
address these challenges and further enhance the efficacy
and applicability of HVP technology in the minerals
industry.
JKMRC HVP ELECTRODE-GRIZZLY
CONCEPT
To address some of the challenges being faced by HVP tech-
nology, a concept of a continuous HVP system specifically
targeting the mining industry was proposed by Shi and
Manlapig (2018) after years of research on the application
and benefits of adopting HVP for ore processing (Wang
et al. 2011 Wang et al. 2012 Zuo et al. 2015). The novel
approach proposed the use of grizzly bars as electrodes.
Traditionally used in mining operations for the scalping
of large particles, in this application, the grizzly would be
responsible for releasing high-voltage discharges onto the
feed material traveling along them. The grizzly concept has
several unique features, namely, (1) increased processing
area, which allows higher material throughput, (2) elimi-
nates the need for a belt system to move material in and out
of the processing zone that has been typically used in other
continuous HVP concepts, and (3) instantly classifies the
disintegrate “high-grade” particles targeted by high-voltage
pulses from “low-grade/barren” particles. According to the
patent, low-grade particles would be retained at the top of
the electrode bars and discharged as an oversized product
at the end of the grizzly electrode. The illustration of the
concept, as presented in the patent, is shown in Figure 2.
The concept was designed to treat significant tonnage
rates whilst minimizing the footprint of the process. The
ability to separate the feed into two streams with distinct
grades would allow different processing routes downstream
based on the grade of the material or even the early rejec-
tion of low-grade coarse material that would be uneco-
nomical to process. The patented process allows for ore
pre-concentration and coarse gangue rejection in one sin-
gle step, as opposed to the sequential HVP treatment fol-
lowed by screening, adopted in other processes (as shown
in Figure 3).
Electric field simulations utilizing COMSOL
Multiphysics ® software have demonstrated the uniformity
of the electric field between the bars, corroborating the ini-
tial assumptions in the patent of field uniformity across the
with other processing equipment and techniques,
such as crushing, grinding, flotation, and dewater-
ing. Achieving seamless integration and optimizing
process parameters to maximize mineral recovery
while minimizing energy consumption requires
careful engineering and operational expertise.
3. Reliability and Maintenance: Like any new tech-
nology, HVP systems may encounter reliability
issues and require regular maintenance to ensure
optimal performance. Mining companies may be
hesitant to adopt HVP technology if they perceive
it as less reliable or more maintenance-intensive
than traditional mineral processing equipment.
Demonstrating the long-term reliability and dura-
bility of HVP systems is crucial for overcoming
this barrier.
4. Cost of Implementation: The initial investment
required to install and integrate HVP systems
into existing mineral processing operations can be
substantial. This includes the cost of purchasing
HVP equipment, retrofitting processing plants,
and training personnel to operate the technology
effectively. Many mining companies may be hesi-
tant to invest in HVP technology due to the per-
ceived high upfront costs and uncertainty about
the return on investment.
5. Regulatory and Environmental Concerns:
Mining operations are subject to stringent envi-
ronmental regulations governing emissions, water
usage, and waste disposal. While HVP technology
offers potential environmental benefits, such as
reduced energy consumption and waste genera-
tion, mining companies may face regulatory hur-
dles or public scrutiny when implementing new
technologies. Addressing regulatory requirements
and demonstrating the environmental sustain-
ability of HVP technology is essential for gaining
acceptance in the minerals industry.
6. Market Acceptance and Industry Culture: The
minerals industry is traditionally conservative and
slow to adopt new technologies. Mining compa-
nies may be hesitant to deviate from established
mineral processing practices, especially if they
perceive HVP technology as unproven or risky.
Overcoming cultural resistance and fostering a
culture of innovation within the industry is crucial
for promoting the adoption of HVP technology.
Whilst some challenges identified above are specific to HVP
technology, some are challenges all upcoming technologies
face. Addressing these impediments requires collaborative
efforts between technology developers, mining companies,
research institutions, and regulatory bodies. Demonstrating
the economic, environmental, and operational benefits of
HVP technology through pilot projects, case studies, and
industry collaborations can help overcome barriers and
accelerate its adoption in the minerals industry.
Ongoing research and development efforts aim to
address these challenges and further enhance the efficacy
and applicability of HVP technology in the minerals
industry.
JKMRC HVP ELECTRODE-GRIZZLY
CONCEPT
To address some of the challenges being faced by HVP tech-
nology, a concept of a continuous HVP system specifically
targeting the mining industry was proposed by Shi and
Manlapig (2018) after years of research on the application
and benefits of adopting HVP for ore processing (Wang
et al. 2011 Wang et al. 2012 Zuo et al. 2015). The novel
approach proposed the use of grizzly bars as electrodes.
Traditionally used in mining operations for the scalping
of large particles, in this application, the grizzly would be
responsible for releasing high-voltage discharges onto the
feed material traveling along them. The grizzly concept has
several unique features, namely, (1) increased processing
area, which allows higher material throughput, (2) elimi-
nates the need for a belt system to move material in and out
of the processing zone that has been typically used in other
continuous HVP concepts, and (3) instantly classifies the
disintegrate “high-grade” particles targeted by high-voltage
pulses from “low-grade/barren” particles. According to the
patent, low-grade particles would be retained at the top of
the electrode bars and discharged as an oversized product
at the end of the grizzly electrode. The illustration of the
concept, as presented in the patent, is shown in Figure 2.
The concept was designed to treat significant tonnage
rates whilst minimizing the footprint of the process. The
ability to separate the feed into two streams with distinct
grades would allow different processing routes downstream
based on the grade of the material or even the early rejec-
tion of low-grade coarse material that would be uneco-
nomical to process. The patented process allows for ore
pre-concentration and coarse gangue rejection in one sin-
gle step, as opposed to the sequential HVP treatment fol-
lowed by screening, adopted in other processes (as shown
in Figure 3).
Electric field simulations utilizing COMSOL
Multiphysics ® software have demonstrated the uniformity
of the electric field between the bars, corroborating the ini-
tial assumptions in the patent of field uniformity across the