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CRITICAL MINERALS

RF DIRECT HEAT FOR CRITICAL MINERALS PROCESSING

AXE Technologies is working with mining companies and industry partners on RF heating applications for mineral processing and drying. RF Direct Heat is being developed to address some of mining's most energy-intensive processes.

Why RF Direct Heat?

Mining operations consume enormous amounts of energy for drying, heating and mineral processing.

 

RF Direct Heat uses RF energy to generate heat directly within the target material, enabling economic electrification.  

Rocks

Current Projects

IMII Potash & Potash Fines Drying

RF heating for potash drying through a program supported by Saskatchewan's International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII). IMII's members include BHP, Nutrien and Mosaic Company.

 

The project is evaluating how RF heating can be applied to energy-intensive drying processes used throughout the mining industry.

Partner: IMII (BHP, Nutrien, Mosaic Company)

Stage: Development Program, Stage 3A

Location: Saskatchewan

BHP Chile Copper Heap Leaching

Conducting a paid feasibility study for BHP on the application of RF heating in copper heap leach operations in Chile. The study evaluates using RF energy to elevate and maintain heap temperatures, including direct ore heating, solution heating, or a combination of both.

Partner: BHP

Stage: Feasibility Study

Location: Chile

BHP Australia Iron Ore Drying

Conducting a paid feasibility study for BHP Australia on the use of RF heating for iron ore drying in the Pilbara region. The study is focused on reducing ore moisture levels and assessing how RF heating could be integrated into existing processing operations.

Partner: BHP

Stage: Feasibility Study

Location: Australia

RF Direct Heat For Ore Drying

Combustion Dryer:

  • Multiple heat transfer stages lose energy:

    • fuel combustion & exhaust (~ 5%)

    • flame heats air (~3%)

    • Losses to equipment, surroundings, exhaust (~42%)

~ 50% of energy delivered as useful heat

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RF Direct Heat:

  • Minimal heat transfer losses as heat is created in target molecules as they absorb RF energy

    • Electricity conversion to RF loss (~ 2%)

    • Losses to equipment, surroundings, exhaust (~10%)

~ 88% of energy delivered as useful heat

RF Direct Heat For Heap Leach Heating

  • Heats the ore directly: RF energy passes through the bulk of the heap material and is absorbed directly by water and copper-bearing minerals, no intermediate step of heating solution first

  • Even heat throughout: because of the long wavelengths, RF is able to penetrate bulk materials and heat volumetrically rather than have heat conducted from the top down, it creates even heat through the full volume of the targeted zone

  • Precise control: power into the heap (and therefore temperature) is set directly, not dictated by a burner or the weather

  • Scalable: capacity increases by adding units to pads already in operation

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