Application of sampling theory to

optimal design of size distribution

measurement procedures

Within the framework of a plant survey, the calculation of the performance Stephane Brochot. Ca speo, France

of comminution circuits necessitates the determination of a full size distribu-

tion. For these measurements, a sampling campaign is generally performed
manually and it can necessitate heavy procedures when applied to coarse
material. The accuracy of the calculated performance parameters is directly
linked to the accuracy of the full size distribution measurements, for which
the sampling error is the main component.
Pierre Gy’s sampling theory allows the calculation of the fundamental
sampling error associated with the measurement of a particle size distribu-
tion. The mass of sample which needs to be taken to achieve a satisfactory
confidence level is mainly a function of the maximum particle size and of the
proportions of the coarsest particles. For crushers or autogenous mill feeds,
several hundred kilograms of sample are generally required. It is then neces-
sary to reduce the quantity of material to be analyzed by alternately sieving
and splitting the sample.
The current paper describes the method used to calculate the overall me-
asurement error of the full size distribution using such a sampling and analy-
sis procedure. A sensitivity analysis has been performed on the parameters
describing the intrinsic heterogeneity of the material and is discussed here.
This calculation method can also be used to design a sampling and analysis
procedure with the double objective of achieving a desired level of confidence
and minimizing the labor time and effort. It is illustrated by applying it to
actual plant surveys.


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