Semi-Autogenous Grinding Mill Liner Design and Development
Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill liners protect a grinding mill, impart motion to the charge, and control the contents in the mill. Mill shell liner design affects directly the interaction of the liner with the charge and the grinding performance of the mill. End liners (at the feed end and discharge ends of the mill) affect the flow of material in and out of the mill and indirectly the grinding action in the mill. As SAG mills have grown in size in recent years (now up to 40 ft in diameter drawing up to 20 MW of power), the importance of liners to ensure good mill operation and economic survival of liners has brought increased emphasis on liner design. This paper reviews developments in liner design in recent years and covers surrent experience with a particular emphasis on liners in large SAG mills.