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Exergy of comminution and the Thanatia Earth's model

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  • Valero, Antonio
  • Valero, Alicia

Abstract

The exergy assessment of the mineral capital on Earth has been usually calculated as the minimum and actual exergy required for replacing the minerals in composition, concentration and quantity from a completely degraded state where all resources have been extracted and dispersed to the conditions found currently in Nature, i.e. from what we call Thanatia or the Crepuscular Planet to the mine conditions. In this evaluation, we have assumed that the concentration exergy is calculated as the minimum energy involved in concentrating a substance from an ideal mixture of two components, which is only strictly valid for ideal mixtures. When there is not chemical cohesion among the substances, it remains valid for solid mixtures. But the cohesion energy is always present in any mineral. Hence, the aim of this paper is twofold: 1) it explain show to calculate the comminution exergy for any mineral or rock as a function of the comminuted size, and 2) what should be the reference level for the average size fragment in the Crepuscular Planet. The results of the study indicate that the comminution exergy term is very low compared to the concentration exergy and can be neglected when assessing the exergy of naturally comminuted minerals found in mines having Thanatia as reference. Nevertheless, as industry requires in most of cases very fine grain sizes, industrial comminution consumes very large amounts of exergy and cannot be neglected.

Suggested Citation

  • Valero, Antonio & Valero, Alicia, 2012. "Exergy of comminution and the Thanatia Earth's model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 1085-1093.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:44:y:2012:i:1:p:1085-1093
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2012.04.021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valero, Alicia & Valero, Antonio & Gómez, Javier B., 2011. "The crepuscular planet. A model for the exhausted continental crust," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 694-707.
    2. Alvarado, Sergio & Algüerno, Jorge & Auracher, Hein & Casali, Aldo, 1998. "Energy–exergy optimization of comminution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 153-158.
    3. Valero, Antonio & Agudelo, Andrés & Valero, Alicia, 2011. "The crepuscular planet. A model for the exhausted atmosphere and hydrosphere," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 3745-3753.
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    1. Valero, Antonio & Palacino, Bárbara & Ascaso, Sonia & Valero, Alicia, 2022. "Exergy assessment of topsoil fertility," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 464(C).
    2. Valero, Alicia & Domínguez, Adriana & Valero, Antonio, 2015. "Exergy cost allocation of by-products in the mining and metallurgical industry," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 128-142.
    3. Domínguez, Adriana & Czarnowska, Lucyna & Valero, Alicia & Stanek, Wojciech & Valero, Antonio, 2014. "Thermo-ecological and exergy replacement costs of nickel processing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 103-114.
    4. Valero, Alicia & Valero, Antonio & Stanek, Wojciech, 2018. "Assessing the exergy degradation of the natural capital: From Szargut's updated reference environment to the new thermoecological-cost methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1140-1149.

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