CIM

Bernhard Klein

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2011

CIM Distinguished Lecturers

Bernhard Klein is department head and associate professor at the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He is a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC.

Klein obtained his B.Sc. and PhD degrees in mining and mineral processing engineering from UBC in 1985 and 1992, respectively. In 1997, he joined the Department of Mining Engineering at UBC as assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2003. He was appointed as department head in 2008.

Distinguished Lecturer 2010-11

Lecture Abstract

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Energy Efficiency in Mining

Canada is a resource-rich country with significant industrial developments in the mining sector, which account for roughly 4.5 per cent of the country’s GDP or over $36 billion per annum. The production of metals is an inherently energy-intensive endeavor: for example the BC minerals industry currently accounts for 5 per cent of BC Hydro’s grid production capacity, which is equivalent to 2500 GW hours of power use per annum. Although energy rates are considered low in areas serviced by the electrical grid, they still account for a large portion of operational costs. In remote areas, away from the electrical grid, energy production from diesel generation is much more expensive. In either case, it is clear that energy costs will increase in the future, and improvements that can be made in energy efficiency will directly impact the bottom line.

Comminution is the single largest use of energy in mining and milling operations. In large open pit mines, comminution accounts for as much as 70 per cent of the overall energy consumption during mining and milling operations.

This presentation reviews opportunities for increased efficiency and energy recovery, and assesses technologies that can significantly impact energy use in mining. It will focus on technologies that reduce energy usage for comminution:

  • Pre-concentration of run-of-Mine (ROM) ore
  • Applications of high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR)
  • High-speed stirred grinding mills

From previous research, it is estimated that the introduction of these technologies can reduce the amount of energy required for comminution by at least 20 per cent.