Mining and Minerals
Mining and Mineral Processing
Crescend can provide containerized, greater than four hundred kilowatt-class (400 kW) microwave power systems that can achieve the high process rates required for mining applications. The limit of combined power is only limited by the capabilities of the transmission line (waveguide) used in the system.
Ore Fracturing
Exposure to high power microwaves of many types of minerals, especially metal ores, causes fracturing at micro and/or macro scales which makes Solid-state technology highly effective for use in mining and mineral processing. Microwaves selectively heat metal ore, while typically gangue does not heat at all. This creates strong thermal stresses within the pebbles due to thermal expansion, causing fracturing. This effect can significantly improve performance and reduce energy consumption of beneficiation processing and subsequent milling operations.
Crescend’s PTL-200 high power containerized microwave system was originally designed for specific requirements of the mining industry. It can be quickly installed at the mine site with a minimum of on-site work. It can be easily moved as needed. The high reliability and minimal maintenance requirements of Crescend’s solid state generator technology is especially important at typically remote mine locations.
Microwave fracturing of non-ore minerals has benefits as well. Cutting operations are faster with significantly reduced tool wear.
Crescend’s Microwave engineering team has experience in the design of microwave applicators for mining applications and can contribute microwave know-how to your project.
Three Applications for RF Microwave Energy for Mining
Crescend’s microwave technology finds applications across various stages of the mining process:
RF Microwave Energy for Mining: Rock Cutting
Our microwave antennas can be fitted directly to mining machines during cutting and extraction, resulting in:
Higher cutting rates
Significantly less wear on expensive cutting tools
Reduced downtime for bit replacement
RF Microwave Energy for Mining: Ore Processing
In ore processing, fast exposure of ore pebbles to intense microwaves causes extensive micro-fracturing. This can:
Speed up grind time in mills
Result in substantial energy savings
Increase process rates
RF Microwave Energy for Mining: Mineral Liberation
Microwave pre-treatment of ores can:
Increase metal yield by releasing metal particles that would otherwise have remained trapped in the gangue
Result in finer particle sizes in the grinding process, improving flotation yield
While the effects of microwaves on ore were discovered over ten years ago, the technology was limited by the fragility and power constraints of magnetron-based systems. Crescend Technologies has overcome these limitations with its fully solid-state high-power microwave generators.
Leading The Way in Mining and Ore Processing
We’ve already delivered several containerized “plug and play” systems to the mining industry, currently used for process validation with impressive results. Our technology has been proven effective in both mining and rock cutting operations in South America and South Africa, respectively.
As the mining industry continues to evolve, seeking more sustainable and efficient methods, Crescend Technologies stands at the forefront, ready to work with innovative companies in the mining and ore processing industry to power the future of mining with its innovative Solid-State RF Microwave Energy solutions.
Key Use-Case Advantage for Solid-State Microwave
Our basic generator is a 50 kilowatt unit, but we can easily combine multiple generators to achieve very high power levels. For example, our containerized microwave power module product delivers 200 kilowatts of energy to a single feed line. We have already installed and commissioned an 800 kilowatt system at a mine site.
Read more about how Crescend Technologies: Revolutionizing Mining with RF Microwave Energy for Mining Applications
Lithium Ore Calcination
Calcination is a required pre-treatment to convert α-spodumene to a more reactive β-spodumene phase. This transformation takes place at a temperature of above 900 °C. Microwaves are a faster and more energy efficient alternative to rotary drum dryers, especially when natural gas is not available at the site. Microwaves may also be more efficient for heating in acid roasting processing.
Mineral Drying
Microwave systems are also used for mineral drying to remove water from slurries, and to dry unfired ceramic clays. Our conveyor oven systems are a good choice for these applications.
