Short-lived radioactive tracer methods for the dynamic analysis and control of continuous comminution processes by the mechanistic approach

An approach to the analysis of continuous comminution processes commonly called the mechanistic approach is presented which includes the development of suitable mathematical models. The present paper reviews this approach and describes the development of a short-lived radioactive tracer method for obtaining the model parameters on full-scale, industrial mills without interruption of the process. The work to date on the development of mathematical models is reviewed; the mathematical and experimental techniques previously developed for evaluation of model parameters is reviewed; and the present short-lived radioactive tracer method is developed, discussed and evaluated with preliminary feasibility experimental results. (author)