Cfwmicol Engineering Science, 1974, Vol. 29, pp. 5E9-599. Pergamon Press.

Printed in Great Britain

A MATRIX THEORY OF
COMMINUTION MACHINES

W. J. WHITEN
Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, Isles Road, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Australia 4068

(Received 27 January 1973)

Abstract-Matrix differential equations are used to develop a theory of comminution machines that
includes the effects of classification and predicts machine contents. Certain equations are found to be
independent of classification effects. These equations indicate the importance of machine contents in
experimental work. The relation between models of this form and energy consumption laws is
investigated. A partial differential equation and boundary conditions are derived for a tumbling mill
and a practical method for calculating the steady-state solution is given.

INTRODUCTION Austin [9]) however Stewart and Restarick[ 131

Models of comminution machines have generally
been one of three types. The first type describes in
terms of the events which occur to the material
being broken as it moves through the comminution
machine. Usually models of this type have used dis-
crete size distributions and matrix techniques.
Selection for breakage, classification according to
size and breakage product distribution matrices to-
gether with stages of breakage have been used in
these models. Normally the effect of a distributed
residence time is not included and the contents of
the machine are not calculated. Typical examples
of this approach are given in Broadbent and
Callcott [ 11and in Lynch, Whiten and Draper [1 11.
The second type of model uses the solution of
the batch grinding equation and a residence time
distribution to determine the products from the
machine. The solution of the batch grinding equa-
tion either follows Kelsall and Reid[6] or uses di-
rect integration (Luckie and Austin[9]). Models of
this type describe the comminution machine pro-
duct as the combination of sections of the feed
which have been broken by an amount correspond-
ing to their residence time.
The third type of model describes in terms of the
contents of fixed regions of the comminution
machine. In the simplest case the model consists of
a well mixed volume where breakage occurs and
the discharge from this volume is not classified by
size or type. Sometimes, particularly in analogue
computer studies, a small number of these mixers
added classification to the last stage of a three stage
analogue computer model, and Loveday and
Tolmay [8] obtained (using continuous size distribu-
tions) special cases of some of the results in the first
section of this paper by introducing classification of
the discharge of perfect mixers. Horst and Freeh [4]
describe a diffusion mixing model with classifica-
tion but do not derive the boundary conditions.
This model was considerably simplified before
being solved for mill contents and products.
Models of the second and third types generally
use a rate of breakage per time function and both
continuous and discrete size distributions have
been used. Models of the third type can be con-
verted to the second type provided classification is
not present. Conversion to the first type of model
can become coniplex and differences in definitions
often preclude an exact conversion.
This paper takes models of the third type and de-
velops a general theory of comminution machines.
The first attempt to obtain such a theory is reported
in Lynch and Whiten[lO]. Matrix notation is used
because of its compactness, however, the corres-
pondence with continuous size distribution nota-
tion is given. The notation which follows that of the
earlier paper, was chosen to avoid possible misin-
terpretation and conflict with existing definitions
which have in the past been responsible for many
arguments.
PERFECT MIXING MILLS

are connected in series possibly with intermixing The contents of the mill are described by a vector
(e.g. Kelsall et a1.[7]). Classification effects are usu- s, each element of which gives the amount in the
ally omitted (e.g. Jowett [5] and Luckie and mill of one component of the mill contents. Nor-
589
590 W. J. WHITEN

mally, the elements of s contain the mass or volume as(x)

in each size fraction and the water content of the
mill, however if required, s may contain the size
-=
at I -4x,
I
Y)~(Y)s(Y) dy - r(x)s(x)

distribution of several types of particles, possibly - d(x)s(x)+f(x) (3)

even including particles of composite composition.
The rate of change of the contents of the mill is The relationship to the matrix elements is follows:
as/at. This can be equated to the sum of the effects Let xi, ,, xi be the upper and lower size limits of the
which are causing the contents of the mill to ith element of s.
change. These effects are: Then
1. Removal of material for breakage. Some of
this material may reappear in the same size fraction
after breakage. The rate of removal for breakage is
Rs where R is a diagonal matrix giving the break- 1 *i+ta@, dy dx,‘,+a

age rate of each component of s. The actual values

in R depend on the assumptions made about the
aii= -Xi21-xi I I
xi I]
Y)

appearance matrix A. This is discussed later. I,+,

2. Increase in the components of the mill con-
tents due to receiving the products of breakage.
The rate at which material appears from breakage is
ARs. Each column of the matrix A gives the rela-
tive distribution after the breakage of the corres-
ponding component of s. The values in A may be
derived analytically, derived experimentally under
various assumptions, or alternatively, approximate
values are often assumed.
3. Flow of material into the mill. The rate of new
material entering the mill is fi
4. Flow of material out of the mill. This material
is obtained from the contents of the mill, however a
classification of the mill contents can occur. Hence
the product from the mill can be written as p = Ds
where D is the diagonal discharge matrix which
gives the fractional rates at which the components
in the mill are discharged.
These effects are added to obtain the equations
of the perfect mixing mill:
$=(AR-R-D)s+f (1)
and
p=Ds. (2)
rii= - 1 r(x) dx,
Xii1- xi I :,
and
d(x) dx
where the left sides are the elements of s, A, R and
D respectively. The functions a(x, y), r(x) and d(x)
can be regarded as the more basic values describing
the mill however the matrix notation generally pro-
vides a more convenient notation and a more direct
relation to computational procedures. An integral
form exists either explicitly or implicitly for all of
the equations derived from Eq. (1).
In the case of constant coefficients, Eq. (1) can be
solved to give
, e-‘“-R-D”
f(T) d7) (4)
where so is the contents of the mill at time zero. Ap-
pendix 1 indicates the definition of functions of
matrices. If A, R and D are functions of time, the
expression (AR -R - D)t in Eq. (4) should be re-
placed by

In obtaining these equations, no assumptions have ’ (AR-R-D)dt.

been made about the quantities A, R, D and f. They
may be functions of time, the mill feed rate or the
mill contents as appropriate.
An integral equivalent of Eq. (1) can be obtained,
when s is a single distribution, by changing s to a
continuous distribution function of the particle size
x i.e. s(x). The summations in Eq. (1) become in-
tegrals using corresponding continuous functions
for A, R, D and f.
The integral form is:
I0
The second type of model mentioned in the intro-
duction calculates the product from a continuous
mill by taking the solution of the batch mill equa-
tion and applying a residence time function u(t).
This gives a mill product of the form
p(t)= m(T)q(t, 7) d7 (5)
I’0
where q(t, 7) is the description of the contents of a
corresponding batch mill which has been run for
 A matrix theory of comminution machines
time r after being filled with material described by
f(t - T). The solution of the batch mill equation is
Eq. (4) with f = 0 and D = 0. Hence (5) becomes
I’
P(t) = 0 U(T) ecAn-n)Tf(t -7) dr.
Equations (2) and (4) give, when the initial contents
can be neglected,
p(t) = D dAR-R-D’Tf(t- 7) dr.
I0
Equations (6) and (7) are the same provided
= D{I- DT +fD2~2- f(DAR - ARD)T’+O(T*)}.
This equation can only hold if D is a multiple of the
unit matrix, in which case Eq. (8) reduces to
CT(T) = ke-“.
Hence a solution of the form of Eq. (5) holds when
the initial contents of the mill can be neglected and
there is no classification of the mill discharge.
For steady state conditions Eq. (1) becomes
(D+R-AR)s=f.
In the case of constant A, R and D, this is a set of
triangular simultaneous equations for s and hence s
is easily calculated. Equations (2) and (9) may be
combined to give
p =D(D+R-AR)-‘f
which may be written
p=DR-‘(DR-‘+I-A)-‘f
and if D is non-singular
p =(I+RD-‘-ARF’)m’f.
Equations (11) and (12) show the interdependence
of D and R for steady state feed-product relations.
In the case of a constant volume mill D various
with the feed rate. If D = PI, p may be calculated as
591
where the function v is the volume or volume flow
of the argument as appropriate. The equation
D = (v(f)/(0.25 T d*1))D’ (13)
(6)
where D’ is a constant diagonal matrix, is often use-
ful for simulation. If D varies in a more complex
manner with the operating conditions (e.g. s) an
iterative solution to Eq. (9) and the relations de-
finining D may be required to obtain the steady
state behaviour.
(7)
The parameters of the perfect mixing mill can be
determined from steady state data as follows. DR-’
may be obtained from a mill feed and product from
the relation
p =DR-‘(I-A)-‘(f-p) (14)
(8) provided the value of A is known or assumed and
the submesh material has been omitted from the
matrices and vectors. Additional information is re-
quired to separate the values of D and R. If the mill
contents s are also measured D can be calculated
from Eq. (2) and then R from DR-’ or the following
equation
Rs = (I- A)-‘(f -p) (15)
where the submesh has again been omitted from the
matrices and vectors.
(9) If sufficient independent feed and product size
distributions are available, we can define the square
matrices
F= [fl, fi . . . . f”1,
S=[s,, sz.. . . s.1.
(10)
and
P=[PhPz....P.1. (16)
(11) Using Eq. (9) then Eq. (2) gives
R-AR=FS’-D
(12) =(F’F-I)D (17)
provided the inverse matrices exist. Equation (24)
derived under more general conditions eliminates
the matrix D from Eq. (17). In performing these cal-
culations, it is desirable to choose feed conditions
that allow accurate inverse matrices to be obtained.
The use of a tracer component in the feed is one
way of doing this, which also ensures a minimum
592 W. 3. WHITEN

change in the operating conditions. A degree of

$=(AiR,-RikT Q+T Ckisi (19)
freedom exists in each column when the compo-
nents of R-AR are separated for we have
for the feed
(1 - ajj)ci = (R-AR),

and (18) f =7 C”J”,

- a;,ri,= (R-AR)ii for i#j
and for the discharge
where (R-AIQii is the ij element of R-AR. It can be
seen that once u,~ is chosen, r,, and aii are deter-
mined. A convenient choice is ai,= 0, which corres- (21)
ponds directly with data from screening analysis.
Another useful approach is to choose uii so that the In the general case of steady state conditions we
more basic continuous function a(x, y) is smooth. have
Equation (18) provides the method of converting
between appearance matrices derived under these asj_O
different assumptions. at-
When insufficient data is available to calculate
the complete A matrix, it is usual to assume that the and A, R and C are not functions of time. Now,
appearance distribution is similar for all particle summing Eqs. (19) for i = 1 to II gives
sizes. This distribution may be determined experi-
mentally or is often assumed to be of a standard
T (I-Ai)Rist=f-p (22)
form (Broadbent and Callcott [ 11).

and if Ai and Ri are constant over i then

MULTIPLE SEGMENT COMMINUTION
MACHINES
Any comminution machine may be assumed to
be divided into segments, each of which is perfectly
mixed. However in some cases a large number of
small segments may be required to obtain an accu-
rate approximation. Using this assumption a model
of the comminution machine may be constructed
using the perfect mixing mill model of the previous
section.
If the comminution machine has n segments and
the content of the ith segment is si, then the trans-
fer of material from the ith segment of the jth seg-
ment is Ciisi where Cii is a diagonal matrix giving the
fraction of s, to move to the jth segment in unit
time. The C, may, of course, be a function of sev-
eral variables e.g. s, or t. Two additional segments
are introduced for the feed and the product to pro-
vide a uniform notation. The contents of these seg-
ments are calculated from
f=IsO and p=Is,+,
where I is the unit matrix having units l/time.
Now, the equation for the ith segment can be
derived in the same manner as the perfect mixing
mill equation was derived. Hence the equation for
the ith segment is
R 2 si=(I-A)-‘(f-p)
where the submesh material has been removed
from the matrices and vectors. Equation (23) re-
lates the contents of the comminution machine (Es,)
to the feed and product. It assumes only steady
state and constant A and R and hence applies to
many comminution machines. Equation (23) pro-
vides a method of calculating R which is indepen-
dent of classification effects. If a notation similar to
Eq. (16) is introduced we have
R-AR=(F-P)S-’ (24)
which provides a method of calculating R - AR in-
dependent of classification effects.
RELATION BETWEEN ENERGY CONSUMFI’ION
MODELS AND BREAKAGE MODELS
The energy consumption ‘laws’ of comminution
assume that the energy required to produce a cer-
tain size x from a standard size is some function of
the size say w(x). Hence, an energy vector
w’ = [w(x,), w(xz) . . w(xJ1
may be defined.
 A matrix theory of comminution machines 593

For the three laws of comminution Hence, the energy relations can in this case be re-
expressed in terms of the rate function.
Kick’s law gives The power for an overflow ball mill is closely
proportional to d*“i hence Eq. (26) implies
w(x) = - hs (x),
R a tiR’ (28)
Bond’s law gives
where R’ is a constant diagonal matrix.
w(x)= l/G, However, for ball and rod mills even though ap-
proximate power-breakage relations are known to
and Rittinger’s law gives exist, it may be more appropriate to calculate
power consumption directly from mill dimensions
w(x) Q l/x. and the mill contents.

The energy required for comminution is RELAXED CONDITIONS FOR PERFECT

MIXING MILL EQUATION

‘&= w’p - w’f. (25) Summing Eq. (19) we find that the perfect mixing
mill equation holds provided:
Hence, from Eq. (23)
c (I-Ai)R,si=(I-A)R c s, (29)
% = w’(G A)Rs.
and
If R 0: R’ this equation can be used to calculate c Ct.. tlsk = D 2 si. (30)
k
the magnitude of R. Alternatively, for a given solids
and water content in a tumbling mill, the power can Hence, we require from (29), either Ai and/or Ri
be expected to remain almost constant, regardless independent of i or the mill contents to be well
of the size distribution of the mill contents. For this mixed, and from (30), discharge with equal proba-
to happen, we require bility from all segments of the mill.
These relaxed conditions are often satisfied ap-
w’(l-A)R x [l, 1 . . . 11. (26) proximately and hence the perfect mixing mill can
serve as an accurate approximation to a more com-
This equation provides a link between energy rela- plex model over a limited range.
tionships and breakage relationships.
If we can now assume the appearance function is BATCH MILLS
similar for all sizes [i.e. a(x, y) = a(xly)l the pro- For a batch mill f = p = 0. Hence, summing Eqs.
duct w’(l- A) can be simplified provided sufficient (19) for i = 1 to n gives
size fractions are introduced below the size being
considered to make the effect of the submesh ma-
terial negligible. This is done to overcome the prob- % = Z(A;R, - R~s;. (31)
lem of determining the energy vector component
for the submesh material. From Kick’s law we ob- As above, this equation reduces to the following,
tain provided either A, and Ri are independent of i or the
w’(l-A) m [l, 1.. l] (27) mill contents are well mixed.

and hence
$=(AR-R)s (32)
r,, = constant.

From Bond’s law we obtain where s = Zsi. The solution to Eq. (32) for A and R
functions of time only can be written
rii m fi,
s(t) = exp U’ (AR-R)dts(O) (33)
and from Rittinger’s law I

rii m xi. where s(O) is the distribution of the total mill con-

CES Vol. 29 No. 2-R

594 W. J. WHITEN

tents at time 0. A form of this equation usually with negative exponentials the fitting of which is an ill-
constant A and R and one size distribution has conditioned problem, the use of two components
been considered by many authors. If we put f = s(O) should give a close fit in almost all cases.
and p = s(t) and use the notation of Eqs. (16)

TUMBLING MILLS AND VIBRATING MILLS

I’ (AR
0
-R) dt = log (RF-‘) (34) Tumbling and vibrating mills can be regarded as a
single path from the feed to the discharge with
and if A and R constant breakage occurring at all points along this path. The
material in the mill may move in both directions
along this path. The equations for multiple segment
AR-R=+log(PF-‘). (35) machines can be applied and allow the following
simplifications to be made.
If the batch mill contains material with a range of 1. If the mill is divided into n segments so that
breakage properties, it will be shown that average each segment is contained between two cross-
breakage properties do not always adequately de- sections perpendicular to the mill axis, each seg-
scribe the overall behaviour. For simplicity, a ma- ment can exchange material with only the two adja-
terial with two components will be considered. If cent segments.
2. Since there is a continuous variation along the
4 mill axis, the n segments can be converted to a
S=
[Iu continuous representation along the mill.
The n segments are each of length Sa = l/n
and A and R are partitioned to match the compo- where 1 is the length of the mill and a the distance
nents of s, i.e. from the mill feed. Then from Eq. (19) for i = 2 to
n-l

A = [;:: $1
$= (AR - R)s;+ Ci_,,g-, - i&,si - CLi+,si

+ ci+,.isi+ I. (37)
1
R’ 0
R= o Rz For i=l
[

then Eq. (32) becomes, after summing the two com-

%=(AR-R)s,+f-Cl,zs,+Cz.,s2. (38)
ponents of s,

and for i=n

v=(A”+A”-I)R’q+(A2’+A”-I)R’u.

(36) g=(AR-R)s.+CL.wC n.n_,S.-P (39)

The right side of Eq. (36) cannot be put into the
form where

(A*R*-R*)(q+u) p = & Ds..

unless A* or R* is allowed to vary with q and K.

The interchange of material between the (i- 1)th
Since in general the ratios of the elements of q, u
and the ith segment of the mill is
and q + u change with the amount of grinding, no
mean matrices can be found to describe the break-
ci_,.isi_, - ci.i_,si = (CiM.i - c,,i_,)S,_,
age properties of the combined material for both
large and small amounts of grinding. However a - ci.i-!(Si_ S,?l) (40)
mean matrix can give a good fit over a limited
range. The first term, as it is the component derived from
Since the amount of material in a size fraction the contents of the preceding segment, is the flow
during breakage is typically described by a sum of of material through the mill and can be written
 A matrix theory of comminution machines 595

& Gsi-, $=(AR-R)u--&Gu+$H$ (41)

where G is the diagonal classification matrix for the

flow of material through the mill. The second term
in Eq. (40) is a multiple of the difference between
the contents of the two segments and is tending to
bring the contents of the two segments closer to-
gether. This is the mixing term and can be written
as
--!-HZ
if terms of order &Y*are neglected. The diagonal
matrix I-I is the mixing classification matrix.
If we put
II(u;)=& s,
so that u(a) is the distribution of material along the
mill and oi the distance of the ith segment from the
mill feed, Eq. (40) becomes
C,-,.isi-,-C_1si = Gu(u,-J-H?.
When this term is regarded as the flow rates
through a cross-section of the mill it is clear that the
right side is independent of &X.Equations (37)-(39)
can now be written
f= Gu(O)- Hz,
and
p = D*u(l) = Gu(l)- H$$? (43)
Note that A, D*, R, G and H may be functions of t,
u or (Y as may be appropriate.
Steady state conditions are obtained when
au/at =0 and the coefficients are independent of
time. In this case making the substitution
q=Ru
allows Eqs. (41)-(43) to be expressed in terms of
GR-‘, HR-’ and DR.’
each of which is a classification over a breakage
rate constant term and hence, the mill product can
be expressed without separating the effects of clas-
sification and breakage rate constant. This is the
same as was found for the perfect mixing mill.
Also, under steady state conditions, an equation
corresponding to Eqs. (15) and (22) may be ob-
tained by integrating Eq. (41) from 0 to /, i.e.

~~~~i)_(AR_R)u(n3_G~(~i))~(ai-~) - “’ (AR-R)uda =f-p.

I
H --
au(W) H ___
WC%)
For constant coefficients and steady state, Eq.
sol aa
+ (41) becomes
Sa ’

Hg-Gg+(Al-R)u=O. (44)

and Eqs. (42) and (43) remain as the boundary con-

ditions. If there is no mixing, i.e. H = 0, Eq. (34) has
the solution
and
u((y) = G-1 e&nR@f
(45)
sa -=
au@“) So(AR -R)u(cY.)+ Gu((Y.-,)
at
provided D* = G and then we have

I(A-WfG-~
p=e f. (446)

where D* = ID. Note that when G = H Eq. (46) is the same at the
Letting &Ygo to zero gives the partial differential solution of the corresponding batch equation.
equations and boundary conditions for tumbling Otherwise an apparent breakage rate constant RG-’
and vibrating mills, i.e. exists that will predict the same results in the batch
596 W.J. WHITEN

mill equation. Using this apparent breakage rate an and the values vizi and pi are obtained from
equation corresponding to Eq. (35) can be obtained.
An explicit solution to Eqs. (42)-(44) has been
(55)
obtained when H is a multiple of G (Whiten [ 141)
but is too complex to be of practical use. The fol-
lowing obtains a similar solution using factored vi = ci+vi++ c,- vy (56)
matrices and is suitable for numeric computation.
i-l
We put
pi = bi c lijv,+ b,v,. (57)
j=l
H=mG’,G=gG’,(I-A)RG’-‘=LEL-’ (47)
The subscripts indicate the elements of the cor-
where E is a diagonal matrix and L is lower trian- responding vector or matrix. Using Eqs. (53)-(57)
gular with unit main diagonal. Putting v+v- and p can be determined starting from the
coarsest element. The mill content can then be de-
v = L-‘G’u (48) termined from Eqs. (48) and (50). The solution of
Eqs. (42)-(44) can be shown to reduce to Eq. (46)
in Eq. (44) gives when the mixing goes to zero and to Eq. (10) when
the mixing goes to infinity. Numerical calculation
* has confirmed this.
m$-$--gg-Ev=O (49)
Corresponding to Eq. (13), a mill of approxi-
mately constant volume can be obtained by putting
which has the solution
g = v(f)/(0.25rd2) (58)
v =e~Q+v++e"Q-v- GOI
and
where D” = gD’ (59)

EXAMPLE

(51) A rod mill is considered to have internal classi-

fication and a different discharge classification
Q- = -A E(Q+)-’
(Meyers and Lewis[ 121). The simplest model to in-
clude these effects is Eq. (44). Table 1 shows how
and v+ and v- are constant vectors which must be Equations (42)-(44) together with Eqs. (58) and (59)
chosen to satisfy the boundary conditions (42) and can reproduce rod-mill data extracted from Meyers
(43), i.e. and Lewis [ 121. To obtain a complete model of rod-
mill behaviour it is necessary to relate the model
parameters to the operating conditions using
L-‘f=gv(O)-rn?
techniques similar to those described in
Whiten[lS]. The classification effects in a rod mill
have been shown by Draper and Lynch[2] to vary
L-‘D*G’-‘Lv(l) = gv(l)-rn$$. (52)
with the feed rate to the mill.

Taking the ith component of these CONCLUSIONS

Most of the equations presented in this paper are
(53) suitable for simulation of comminution plants and
hence will find use in the optimisation of existing
i-l i-l plants and the design of new plants. The perfect
bi C
j=!
li++- C liizi = (g - mq; -
i=,
bi)cTvi mixing model with discharge function is as simple
as any breakage model and yet the relaxed condi-
+(g - mqii - bi)ci-vi- (54) tions for its application show that it applies over a
limited range to many types of comminution
where machines. For example Wickham [ 171used it to pre-
dict the product from an industrial pebble mill and
bi = dtJg{, ,-: = elq:i, ci_= e14T’ Whiten [lo] used it (expressed in different terms)
 >
Table I. Comparison of measured and calculated rod mill data (m = 5.8) 3
Size Feed Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Product A D G’ .g.
(w) (%I Data talc. Data Calc. Data Calc. Data Calc. Data Calc. column diag. diag. difg.
!Z
9400 48.5 7.0 9.3 0.0 1.8 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1980 0.0 3.8 273.0 s
4699 27.4 13.0 10.5 5.4 3.6 1.7 1.1 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3308 0.0 3.9 215.0 0,
2362 7.9 11-4 9.7 7-o 5.5 2.2 ;:: :.;: 1.4 0.0 0.1 0.2148 0.2 3.9 155.0
1168 3.3 11.9 11.6 11.3 9.7 5.7 5-o 1.6 2.1 0.1225 1.4 4.0 86.0 /$
589 2.0 11.5 13.9 13.8 15.8 12.6 14.5 13.3 13.5 10.3 11.2 0.0654 3.3 4.0 37.0 _.
295 2.0 13.4 13.8 16.1 18.5 21.3 20.3 22.5 20.6 22.5 20.8 0.0338 4.3 4.1 15.0 3
c
147 2.4 12.4 11.2 18.1 16.0 20.2 18.8 20.8 19.7 23.6 21.4 0.0172 4.8 4.1 8.0 5

0
74 4.8
1.7 12.6
6.8 12.6
I.4 19.1
9.3 18.2
10.9 24.5
11.7 22.8
13.4 24,3
12.0 25.0
14.4 28.3
13.7 28.4
16.0 -
0.0086 5.0
4.9 4.2 -
5.0 ;
p:
&
Measured data is abstracted from Meyers and Lewis[l2].
P

- .- -
598 W. J.
for industrial cone crushers. The solution for the
tumbling mill, Eqs. (42 - 44) require less computa-
tion than many less general models and if the mat-
rix factors (L and E) can be kept the computation
involved is of the same order as the matrix models
of Lynch et a/.[1 11.
It is not always easy to obtain samples of the
contents of an industrial comminution machine,
however such samples provide very useful infor-
mation. Residence time data (which may be equally
difficult to obtain) provide similar information in
the absence of classification effects but otherwise,
are not so easily related to the model parameters.
When the contents are not available, the models
can be expressed in terms of the ratio of classifica-
tion and breakage effects.
The general equation for multiple segment com-
minution machines can be used to derive a partial
differential equation in three dimensional space and
boundary conditions in a similar manner to the
equation for tumbling mills. At the current state of
grinding theory it appears that this partial differen-
tial equation is of little practical use unless it is
considerably simplified and, in this case, the result-
ing equation could equally well be derived directly
from the results in this paper.
Acknowledgements--Several persons helped in the de-
velopment of this work. Dr. A. J. Lynch and Dr. T. G.
Callcott provided many useful discussions on this work
and Dr. T. G. Callcott assisted with the choice of notation.
Dr. Austin provided useful criticism of earlier work.
Financial assistance was provided by Mount Isa Mines
Limited and the Australian Mineral Industries Research
Association.
NOTATION
A appearance distribution matrix (or breakage
matrix). The ith column gives the average
distribution, in terms of the components
of the material, of the ith component
when it reappears after it has been
selected for breakage
Ai appearance distribution matrix for the ith
segment
c, transfer factor matrix. A diagonal matrix
giving the fractional rate of transfer of ma-
terial from the ith segment to the jth seg-
ment
d diameter of tumbling mill
D discharge factor matrix. A diagonal matrix
with dii giving the fraction of the mill con-
tents going to the mill product
D* the discharge matrix for a tumbling mill
(= ID)
D a proposed constant part of the D matrix
$ the power used in comminution
WHITEN
E a factor of (I - A)RG’-’ ( = LEL-‘)
f the feed flow rate vector. Each element gives
the flow rate of one component of the feed
into the mill
F a matrix with f vectors as columns
scalar flow factor (G = gG’)
: the flow factor matrix. A diagonal matrix
containing the flow factors for each com-
ponent for the calculation of the flow
along vibrating and tumbling mills
G’ a proposed constant part of the G matrix
H the mixing factor matrix. A diagonal contain-
ing mixing factors for each component for
the calculation of mixing in vibrating and
tumbling mills
k a constant
1 the length of the vibrating or tumbling mill
L a factor of (I - A)RG’-’ ( = LEL-‘)
m scalar mixing factor (H= mG’)
P the product flow rate vector. Each element
gives the flow rate of one component out
of the mill
P a matrix with p vectors as columns
R breakage rate constant matrix. A diagonal
matrix with riigiving the fractional rate at
which the ith component in the mill is
being broken
Ri breakage rate constant matrix for the ith
segment
R’ a proposed constant part of the R matrix
s the mill contents vector. Each element gives
the amount of one component in the mill
the mill contents vector for the ith segment
; a matrix with independent s vectors as col-
umns
t time
u(a) the distribution of mill contents vector. Each
element gives the distribution along the
mill of one component of the contents of a
vibrating or tumbling mill
V transformed contents of tumbling mill =
L-‘G’u
w(x) the weighting factor for size in power calcu-
lation
W the weighting vector for power calculation
a the distance from the feed end of a vibrating
or tumbling mill
V volume or volume flow (as appropriate) of
the vector argument
m the residence time distribution function
REFERENCES
Ill BROADBENT S. R. and CALLCOTT T. G., J. Inst.
Fuel 1956 29 524, 1957, 30 13.
 A matrix theory of comminution machines 599

PI DRAPER N. and LYNCH A. J., Proc. Aust. Inst. e.g.

Min. Met. 1965 213 89.
]31 GANTMACHER F. R., The Theory of Matrices. e” =Z+A+hA’...
Chelsea, New York l%O.
]41 HORST W. E. and FREEH E. J., Trans. Am. Inst.
Min. Engrs 1972 252 160. holds for all A.
]51 JOWET? A., Mineral Sci. Engng 1971 3 33. If A = LEL-’ where E is a diagonal matrix (see Appen-
]61 KELSALL D. F. and REID K. J.. Inst. Chem. Ennrs: dix 2) then
Symp. Ser. No. 4, paper 4.2. Inst.‘Chem. Engng Len-
don 1965. f(A) = Lf(E)L-‘.
r71 KELSALL D. F., REID K. J. and STEWART P. S.
B., ZFAC Symposium, Sydney pp. 205-218, 1968. A function of a diagonal matrix can be obtained by taking
@I LOVEDAY B. K. and TOLMAY A. J., Chemica 70 that function of the diagonal elements i.e.
141-152, Melbourne 1970.
r91 LUCKIE P. T. and AUSTIN A. J., Minerals Sci.
Engng 1972 4. 24.
HOI LYNCH A. J. and WHITEN W. J., 34th Annual
Meeting Am. Chem. Sot., 1%7. L f(e.3.l.
1111 LYNCH A. J.. WHITEN W. J. and DRAPER N..
Trans. Znst Min. Met. 1967 76 C 169. Further details are given in Gantmacher[3].
1121 MEYERS J. F. and LEWIS F. M., Mining Technol.
1946 T.P. 2041.
APPENJMX 2
]I31 STEWART P. S. B. and RESTARICK C. J., Proc.
Aust. Inst. Min. Met. 1971 239 81. FACTORING A LOWER
[14] WHITEN W. J., Theory of comminution machines. TRIANGULAR MATRIX
Internal report Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research
Centre (unpublished) 1971. If X= LEL-’
[15] WHITEN W. J., Symposium on Automatic Cintrol
Systems in Minerals Processing Plants. pp. 129-148, where X and L are lower triangular matrices, L has ones
1971 (Aust. Inst. Min. Met. Southern Queensland on the principal diagonal, and E is a diagonal matrix then
Branch: Brisbane). L and E are calculated from
[16] WHITEN W. J., .Z.S.A. Inst. Min. Met. 1972 72 257.
[17] WICKHAM P., Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research
Centre Technical Report Jan.-June 1972 (unpub-
lished).

APPENDIX 1
provided eii# e,#.For comminution calculations, if ei,= eii, it
FUNCTIONS OF MATRICES seems sufficient to make a slight symmetric adjustment
If a power series expansion of the function exists, a to the breakage rates of the offending rows. Alternatively,
matrix may be substituted in that series provided the re- the limit, as this adjustment goes to zero, of the calculated
sulting series converges. vectors can be found numerically.