TOMRA Mining looks at the ore sorting fine print with latest innovation
Posted by Daniel Gleeson on February 23, 2023
TOMRA Mining is breaking new ground with a new ejection module for its COM Tertiary X-ray Transmission (XRT) sensor-based sorter, specifically designed for small particle size sorting.
The COM Tertiary XRT Fines Sorter with the new TS100C module and the recently launched image processing unit is capable of sorting particle sizes down to 4mm in high-performance applications with much higher energy efficiency, delivering a high-quality product at low operating costs, the company says . Field tests have shown that production-scale energy consumption can be reduced by 70%.
The new TS100C high-resolution ejector module features a new ejector type that is four times faster than previous iterations. Together with the new image processing unit, it ensures greater precision when sorting small particle sizes at high throughputs. The sorter’s mechanical design has also been improved, according to TOMRA, with the introduction of a new splitter plate and more precise calibration equipment to ensure the greater precision in alignment between detection and ejection systems required for fine particles.
The fast and high-precision ejection module uses significantly less compressed air to eject the particles and thus reduces energy consumption. Extensive test work was carried out in the TOMRA Test Center, both with artificial material mixtures and with real sample material. The tests showed a reduction in air consumption compared to industry standards and an improvement in product purity of around 15%, the company reports.
“With the resulting reduction in operating costs, sorting small particle sizes down to 4 mm with the COM Tertiary XRT Fines Sorter is not only practical, it also adds value to the process,” it said.
Ines Hartwig, Director Product Management at TOMRA Mining, said: “We are receiving a rapidly growing number of requests from customers to sort smaller particles. One of the biggest cost drivers in sensor-based sorting is the energy required for the compressed air in the ejectors. The new TS100C ejection module successfully addresses this problem and provides an effective solution to this increasing demand. It is a breakthrough invention to produce higher value products and reduce product wastage.”
To gain field experience with the new ejector module, TOMRA partnered with a customer who has been running a COM Tertiary XRT for more than two years to produce high-grade magnesite. The screen removes up to 50% low-grade material and waste material from the incoming raw magnesite with grain sizes from 10 to 35 mm at around 20 t/h.
“After doing the test work with the TS100C ejection module at the TOMRA test center, we were convinced that it would be very beneficial for this customer,” says Hartwig. “We showed them the test results and outlined the benefits we expected from the module. Once they saw the potential reduction in compressed air consumption and the resulting cost savings, they were keen to do the field trial!”
The customer ran several trials and documented the energy savings and sorting efficiencies. The results showed a 70% reduction in air consumption with an increase in product recovery with a lower mass input to waste for the same product quality and a capacity increase from 20 t/h to 30 t/h with comparable results to TOMRA.
The COM Tertiary XRT Fines Sorter with the new TS100C ejection module has been installed at the TOMRA test center in Wedel, Germany and is ready to perform tests for customers with material samples from their mines, says TOMRA.