Grinding Ball Rationing

MUCH has been published on highly technical phases of grinding. Very little has been written on how a mill man can improve his operations by determining the optimum size assortment of grinding balls that should be added as a makeup charge. This ball rationing is not to be confused with the ball ration used as an initial charge when the mill is started up. Ball rationing is considered for one or more of the following purposes: 1) to increase throughput of the mill, 2) to reduce the power required per ton of ore ground to the desired size, 3) to reduce steel consumption per ton of ore ground, 4) to improve product size, and 5) to lower retention time of ore in the mill.