412 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
of the system. The 4-second measurement interval in fact
allows four pods are fully measured before discharge and is
more than adequate.
MRA Design Considerations
MRAs comprise two primary components, the electron-
ics container and the sensor. The electronics container is
an air-conditioned shipping container, 10 feet in length,
and houses the radiofrequency power supply, amplification,
conditioning and control systems. The electronics is posi-
tioned within 10 m of the sensor and connected by several
cables.
The sensor is an approximately cylindrical shaped
radiofrequency antenna, constructed in upper and lower
halves, through which the conveyor belt passes. MR sen-
sors are customised to suit the dimensions of the existing
conveyor and the ore. The 600–800kg sensor assembly is
designed to rest on the existing conveyor belt structure
without modification and without the need to cut the con-
veyor belt (Figure 7).
As is typical for MR sensor installations, the sensor
was installed during a scheduled 12-hour shutdown. As a
result of COVID travel restrictions, installation was done
by KMP personnel at the remote direction of NextOre per-
sonnel located in Sydney, Australia.
The sensor aperture dimensions are designed to safely
accommodate the ore and achieve a fill factor, calculated
as the cross-sectional area of the ore divided by the cross-
sectional area of the antenna, of between 10–25%. The
design features an opening size larger than the diameter of
the largest expected particle size to pass through, resting
on top of an otherwise fully loaded belt, without making
Figure 5. Satellite image of Kansanshi sulphide primary crushing circuit in August 2021 (left) and June 2022 (right), after
installation of BOS equipment
Figure 6. CV-1201 Elevation showing selected MRA installation position relative to feed end
of the system. The 4-second measurement interval in fact
allows four pods are fully measured before discharge and is
more than adequate.
MRA Design Considerations
MRAs comprise two primary components, the electron-
ics container and the sensor. The electronics container is
an air-conditioned shipping container, 10 feet in length,
and houses the radiofrequency power supply, amplification,
conditioning and control systems. The electronics is posi-
tioned within 10 m of the sensor and connected by several
cables.
The sensor is an approximately cylindrical shaped
radiofrequency antenna, constructed in upper and lower
halves, through which the conveyor belt passes. MR sen-
sors are customised to suit the dimensions of the existing
conveyor and the ore. The 600–800kg sensor assembly is
designed to rest on the existing conveyor belt structure
without modification and without the need to cut the con-
veyor belt (Figure 7).
As is typical for MR sensor installations, the sensor
was installed during a scheduled 12-hour shutdown. As a
result of COVID travel restrictions, installation was done
by KMP personnel at the remote direction of NextOre per-
sonnel located in Sydney, Australia.
The sensor aperture dimensions are designed to safely
accommodate the ore and achieve a fill factor, calculated
as the cross-sectional area of the ore divided by the cross-
sectional area of the antenna, of between 10–25%. The
design features an opening size larger than the diameter of
the largest expected particle size to pass through, resting
on top of an otherwise fully loaded belt, without making
Figure 5. Satellite image of Kansanshi sulphide primary crushing circuit in August 2021 (left) and June 2022 (right), after
installation of BOS equipment
Figure 6. CV-1201 Elevation showing selected MRA installation position relative to feed end