7
Rotable chute designs are incorporated to minimize
downtime during the replacement of the deflector plate.
Access to the Phu Kham’s SAG mill feed chute is by the
overhead tower crane, which is permanently used for con-
densed Phu Kham process plant footprint.
In grinding mills, optimizing the number of liner com-
ponents and sequencing the change-out using automation
can reduce the relining time of the SAG and ball mills.
Russell Mining Equipment (RME) has been developing
relining automation solutions to increase the maintenance
crew’s safety and reduce the relining time (Gwynn-Jones et
al., 2024).
Figure 8 presents the key features of RME’s semi-auto-
mated mill relining solution. The solution comprises of:
Table 6. Preventative and predictive maintenance solutions to increase equipment availability
Equipment Preventative Predictive
Crushers Conduct daily maintenance checks—lubes, closed side
settings, condition of wear components
Check closed side settings of the crusher gap
Leverage online monitoring sensors—vibration and
temperatures linked with machine learning to predict
asset conditions
Bulk Handling
Systems
Check belt tensions, lubes, and skirt conditions
(especially at the reclaim system)
Clean up any spillage
If oversized rocks are sent through the system—check
the closed side settings of crusher gaps
Check general conditions of screen panels
Utilize online monitoring sensors, such as belt
conditions, rip sensors, image analysis etc.
Utilize drones fitted with acoustics and thermal sensors
to determine the conditions of idlers and pulleys and
general structural integrity
Grinding Mills Take advantage of capturing mill internal
measurements of liners and charge/media filling levels
during unplanned downtime
Design the liners to suit a fixed maintenance plan (e.g.,
reline every six months)
Leverage online monitoring solutions to prevent
damage to mill liners (acoustics, liner load cells)
Utilize OEM-supplied condition monitoring solutions
(real-time conditions of motors, drives, gears)
Hydrocyclones
and pumps
Check conditions of standby cyclones—regularly
switch cyclones in the cluster
Utilize tramp metal detectors in cyclone feed to
determine the required maintenance strategy.
Utilize online monitoring solutions for pump
diagnostics—machine learning for condition
monitoring
Table 7. Cyclone feed pump maintenance strategies (Weir Minerals, 2024)
Strategy Approach Maintenance Time (hours)
In-situ Each worn components are replaced/exchanged on the spot when
the pump is offline
16
Clamshell The entire wet-end /clamshell is replaced instead of replacing each
worn component
12
Bare shaft Similar to the clamshell, the entire pump (including the wet ends)
is replaced with a spare. The worn pump is then refurbished at the
warehouse.
8
Figure 7. Phu Kham’s near 90-degree transfer head chute for
the SAG mill feed
Rotable chute designs are incorporated to minimize
downtime during the replacement of the deflector plate.
Access to the Phu Kham’s SAG mill feed chute is by the
overhead tower crane, which is permanently used for con-
densed Phu Kham process plant footprint.
In grinding mills, optimizing the number of liner com-
ponents and sequencing the change-out using automation
can reduce the relining time of the SAG and ball mills.
Russell Mining Equipment (RME) has been developing
relining automation solutions to increase the maintenance
crew’s safety and reduce the relining time (Gwynn-Jones et
al., 2024).
Figure 8 presents the key features of RME’s semi-auto-
mated mill relining solution. The solution comprises of:
Table 6. Preventative and predictive maintenance solutions to increase equipment availability
Equipment Preventative Predictive
Crushers Conduct daily maintenance checks—lubes, closed side
settings, condition of wear components
Check closed side settings of the crusher gap
Leverage online monitoring sensors—vibration and
temperatures linked with machine learning to predict
asset conditions
Bulk Handling
Systems
Check belt tensions, lubes, and skirt conditions
(especially at the reclaim system)
Clean up any spillage
If oversized rocks are sent through the system—check
the closed side settings of crusher gaps
Check general conditions of screen panels
Utilize online monitoring sensors, such as belt
conditions, rip sensors, image analysis etc.
Utilize drones fitted with acoustics and thermal sensors
to determine the conditions of idlers and pulleys and
general structural integrity
Grinding Mills Take advantage of capturing mill internal
measurements of liners and charge/media filling levels
during unplanned downtime
Design the liners to suit a fixed maintenance plan (e.g.,
reline every six months)
Leverage online monitoring solutions to prevent
damage to mill liners (acoustics, liner load cells)
Utilize OEM-supplied condition monitoring solutions
(real-time conditions of motors, drives, gears)
Hydrocyclones
and pumps
Check conditions of standby cyclones—regularly
switch cyclones in the cluster
Utilize tramp metal detectors in cyclone feed to
determine the required maintenance strategy.
Utilize online monitoring solutions for pump
diagnostics—machine learning for condition
monitoring
Table 7. Cyclone feed pump maintenance strategies (Weir Minerals, 2024)
Strategy Approach Maintenance Time (hours)
In-situ Each worn components are replaced/exchanged on the spot when
the pump is offline
16
Clamshell The entire wet-end /clamshell is replaced instead of replacing each
worn component
12
Bare shaft Similar to the clamshell, the entire pump (including the wet ends)
is replaced with a spare. The worn pump is then refurbished at the
warehouse.
8
Figure 7. Phu Kham’s near 90-degree transfer head chute for
the SAG mill feed