Metso’s HRC technology confirmed in pilot testing in Chile
The scalability of Metso’s HRCTM high-pressure grinding technology has successfully been proven in pilot tests. The tests were conducted at a customer pilot plant in Chile during 2016 and 2017. The pilot confirmed that the HRC 800 high-pressure grinding roll fulfills the expected capacity requirements for the application, and that the scale factor defined by Metso in the laboratory environment proved to be correct, independent of the ore type. Based on the results, Metso’s modeling and simulation was proven, and the necessary equipment for the customer’s plant expansion was specified.
HRC technology is a higher-performance alternative to conventional high-pressure grinding rolls. Based on the pilot tests, it enables savings on operational expenses of 10 to 20 %, depending on the ore type. The pilot plant where the technology was tested processed copper and gold at a capacity of 50 t/h, allowing Metso to verify the required equipment for the customer’s future needs. The next pilot with HRC technology will take place in November 2017 in Chile.
