Neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method and system

Abstract

The application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method and system, comprising: generating target photon rays and target neutron rays through a ray conversion target; irradiating an ore with the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore; determining the grade of the ore according to the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore received by a detector, and the target photon rays and the target neutron rays; and determining the ore as a target ore for sorting when the grade of the ore meets a set condition. The application aims to efficiently and at low cost sort lithium ores according to grade.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of ore sorting, in particular to a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method and system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, the new energy field (such as electric vehicles, energy storage, etc.) has put forward huge demands for lithium, but the grade of lithium ore resources is low, the occurrence environment is poor, and the lithium extraction technology from high-magnesium brine has not been completely broken through, which makes it difficult to exploit resources, low yield, high cost, and difficult to break away from dependence on imports in the short term.

[0003] There are three kinds of traditional ore lithium extraction technologies at present: (1) flotation method; (2) dense medium ore dressing; (3) dense medium-flotation combined process. Among them, (1) is the most important method. For ore with a grade of about 1.5%, 3 tons of ore can produce 1 ton of lithium concentrate with a grade of about 5%, and the oxidation lithium recovery rate is about 80%, but the process is complex, the reagent consumption is large, and the beneficiation cost is between 120-140 yuan / ton. (2) is suitable for lithium spodumene with high crystallization strength. The process is simple, the overall investment is low, the beneficiation cost is low, and the comprehensive recovery rate of oxidized lithium is between 60%-80% according to the nature of the ore, and the beneficiation cost is between 30-40 yuan / ton. (3) plays a role in coarse tailings, pre-concentration, and comprehensive utilization of resources, and the comprehensive recovery rate can reach about 80%.

[0004] With the development of industry and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the traditional ore lithium extraction technology has problems such as high capital investment, serious environmental pollution, large water consumption, high operation cost, high energy consumption, and unstable product quality. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently, low-pollution, and low-energy to solve the grade sorting problem of ore lithium, so as to reduce the extraction cost of lithium ore. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method and system. The purpose is to efficiently and low-costly sort the grade of lithium ore.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method, which comprises:

[0007] Generating target photon rays and target neutron rays through a ray conversion target;

[0008] Irradiating the ore with the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore;

[0009] determine the grade of the ore according to the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore and the target photon rays and the target neutron rays received by the detector;

[0010] determine the ore as a target ore for sorting when the grade of the ore meets a set condition.

[0011] Optionally, the generating target photon rays and target neutron rays by the ray conversion target comprises:

[0012] bombarding the ray conversion target with electrons generated by an electron accelerator to generate the target photon rays and the target neutron rays;

[0013] performing a slowing-down process on the neutron rays to obtain the target neutron rays.

[0014] Optionally, the performing a slowing-down process on the neutron rays to obtain the target neutron rays comprises:

[0015] performing a first collision slowing-down process on the neutron rays to obtain first neutron rays;

[0016] performing a second collision slowing-down process on the first neutron rays to obtain the target neutron rays.

[0017] Optionally, the irradiating an ore with the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore comprises:

[0018] the target photon rays and the target neutron rays are incident from one side of a conveyor belt to irradiate an ore transported on the conveyor belt;

[0019] the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore are emitted from the other side of the conveyor belt.

[0020] Optionally, the determining the grade of the ore according to the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore and the target photon rays and the target neutron rays received by the detector comprises:

[0021] receiving the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays by a detector and measuring the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays respectively;

[0022] receiving the target photon rays and the target neutron rays by a detector and measuring the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays respectively;

[0023] determine the property factor of the ore according to the count rates of the target photon ray and the target neutron ray, and the count rates of the target photon ray and the target neutron ray respectively;

[0024] determine the ore grade according to the property factor and a preset corresponding relationship between the property factor and the ore grade.

[0025] Optionally, the detector comprises a neutron detector and a photon detector.

[0026] The neutron detector is close to the side of the ore, and the photon detector is away from the side of the ore.

[0027] Optionally, the target photon ray and the target neutron ray generated by the ray conversion target are emitted to the ore at a cone angle.

[0028] Optionally, the acceleration energy of the electron accelerator is greater than or equal to 1.67 MeV.

[0029] The granularity of the ore ranges from 100 μm to 5 cm.

[0030] The measurement accuracy of the ore grade is 0.1%.

[0031] The embodiment of the present application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method. The target photon ray and the target neutron ray are simultaneously emitted to the lithium ore, the target photon ray and the target neutron ray are transmitted through the lithium ore, and the transmitted target photon ray and the transmitted target neutron ray are transmitted through the lithium ore. According to the detected target photon ray and the target neutron ray, and according to the detected transmitted target photon ray and the transmitted target neutron ray, the content of lithium in the lithium ore can be determined, so that efficient and low-cost grade sorting of the lithium ore can be realized.

[0032] The target neutron ray is subjected to first slowing down processing to increase the speed of the neutron and the photon, so that the transmitted target photon ray and the transmitted target neutron ray can be detected by the detector respectively. Meanwhile, the target neutron ray subjected to the first slowing down processing is subjected to second slowing down processing again to increase the accuracy of the lithium ore grade sorting.

[0033] In a second aspect, the present application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting system, which comprises:

[0034] An electron accelerator is configured to accelerate electrons.

[0035] A ray conversion target is configured to be bombarded by the accelerated electrons to generate a target photon ray and a target neutron ray.

[0036] a detector configured to receive a transmitted target photon ray and a transmitted target neutron ray transmitted through the ore after the target photon ray and the target neutron ray irradiate the ore, and to receive the target photon ray and the target neutron ray, and to measure a count rate of each of the target photon ray and the target neutron ray, and to measure a count rate of each of the transmitted target photon ray and the transmitted target neutron ray;

[0037] an ore grade determination module configured to determine an attribute factor of the ore according to the count rate of each of the transmitted target photon ray and the transmitted target neutron ray, and the count rate of each of the target photon ray and the target neutron ray, and to determine the ore grade according to the attribute factor and a preset corresponding relationship between the attribute factor and the ore grade;

[0038] an ore sorting module configured to determine the ore as a target ore for sorting when the grade of the ore meets a set condition.

[0039] Optionally, the ray conversion target comprises:

[0040] a ray generation module configured to generate a neutron ray and a target photon ray by bombarding the ray conversion target with electrons generated by an electron accelerator;

[0041] a slowing-down processing module configured to perform slowing-down processing on the neutron ray to obtain a target neutron ray. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0043] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 2 is a principle diagram of a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 3 is a time structure diagram of a detector in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of neutron and photon attenuation in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the corresponding relationship between an attribute factor and an ore grade in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a detector in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0051] Figure 1 is a flowchart of a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 1 , the present application provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method, which comprises the following steps.

[0052] Step S11: generating target photon rays and target neutron rays by a ray conversion target;

[0053] Step S12: irradiating an ore by the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore;

[0054] Step S13: determining a grade of the ore according to the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore received by a detector, and the target photon rays and the target neutron rays;

[0055] Step S14: determining the ore as a target ore for sorting when the grade of the ore meets a set condition.

[0056] In the present embodiment, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the corresponding relationship between an attribute factor and an ore grade in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 , electrons are accelerated by an electron accelerator and then bombard a ray conversion target to generate target neutron rays and target photon rays.

[0057] The ore is conveyed on the conveying belt, the generated target neutron rays and target photon rays are emitted to the ore conveyed on the conveying belt from one side of the conveying belt, the target neutron rays and target photon rays transmitted through the ore are received by the detector, and the target neutron rays and target photon rays transmitted through the ore are also the transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays.

[0058] Meanwhile, the detector receives the target neutron rays and target photon rays when the generated target neutron rays and target photon rays are not blocked by the ore on the conveying belt. It should be understood that the generated target neutron rays and target photon rays not being blocked by the ore on the conveying belt includes that before the conveying belt starts, the ore on the conveying belt has not been conveyed by the conveying belt to the emission path of the target neutron rays and target photon rays, or that during the conveying of the ore on the conveying belt, there is a time gap between two ores that does not block the target neutron rays and target photon rays.

[0059] According to the transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore and the target photon rays and target neutron rays received by the detector, the grade of the ore can be determined by calculation.

[0060] When the grade of the ore meets the preset set condition, the ore is determined as a target ore, and the target ore is selected from the conveying belt for subsequent ore extraction.

[0061] In this application, the generation of the target photon rays and target neutron rays by the ray conversion target includes: bombarding the ray conversion target with the electrons generated by the electron accelerator to generate the neutron rays and target photon rays; and performing a slowing-down process on the neutron rays to obtain the target neutron rays.

[0062] In this embodiment, the speed of the photons in the photon rays is constant, although the speed of the neutrons has a significant difference compared to the speed of the photons, but the speed of both is very fast, and the distance between the ray conversion target emitting the photon rays and neutron rays and the detector receiving the transmitted photon rays and transmitted neutron rays cannot be set too far. Therefore, in the case that the distance set between the ray conversion target and the detector cannot be guaranteed to be far enough, the detector cannot conveniently receive the transmitted photon rays and transmitted neutron rays separately. At the same time, the electron pulse accelerated by the electron accelerator has a time width, therefore, the first photon and the last photon of the photon rays emitted by the ray conversion target will differ by a period of time, which will also cause the detector to receive the photon rays mixed with the neutron rays and the neutron rays mixed with the photon rays, so that the transmitted photon rays and transmitted neutron rays cannot be received separately.

[0063] As the ray conversion target generates both neutron rays and photon rays, the neutron speed is 1 cm / ns and the photon speed is 30 cm / ns, although the speed difference between the two is 30 times, in the case where the ray conversion target and the detector cannot be set far enough apart, the neutron rays will reach the detector immediately after the photon rays reach the detector, and the detector cannot easily separate the received transmitted photon rays and transmitted neutron rays. At the same time, the electron pulse accelerated by the electron accelerator has a time width, such as 5 us wide, that is, the first photon in the photon rays is emitted and the last photon is emitted, and the generated photon pulse is 15000 m long. In the case where the ray conversion target and the detector cannot be set far enough apart, the neutron will reach the detector soon after the first photon reaches the detector, and many neutrons will have reached the detector before the last photon reaches the detector, at which time the detector cannot separate the received neutron rays and photon rays.

[0064] Therefore, after the electron bombarding ray conversion target generated by the electron accelerator generates neutron rays and target photon rays, the generated neutron rays are subjected to collision moderation processing to reduce the speed of the neutron rays, thereby obtaining target neutron rays.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the speed between the neutron rays and the target neutron rays obtained after the collision moderation processing of the neutron rays will be reduced by at least 4 orders of magnitude to separate the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target photon rays, thereby ensuring that the detector can receive the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target photon rays, respectively, and further determining the grade of the ore based on the detector receiving the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target photon rays, respectively.

[0066] In the present application, the neutron rays are subjected to the moderation processing to obtain target neutron rays, including: subjecting the neutron rays to first collision moderation processing to obtain first neutron rays; and subjecting the first neutron rays to second collision moderation processing to obtain target neutron rays.

[0067] In the embodiment, the ore at least includes lithium ore. The reaction cross section of lithium element with neutron is larger than that of other elements with neutron. The count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector is ultimately affected by the lithium element. In order to improve the calculation accuracy of the grade of the lithium ore, the application amplifies the influence of the lithium element and reduces the influence of other elements on the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector, so that the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector is affected by the lithium element as much as possible. At this time, based on the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector, the grade of the lithium ore can be determined more accurately. In the specific embodiment of the embodiment, the reaction cross section of an element with neutron is inversely proportional to the neutron speed, and the reaction cross section of neutron is proportional to 1 / v (v is the neutron speed). Therefore, reducing the neutron speed (i.e. the energy of the neutron) can increase the reaction cross section of the element with the neutron. Since the reaction cross section of the lithium element with the neutron is larger than that of other elements, by reducing the neutron speed, the reaction cross section of the lithium element with the neutron can be made larger than that of other elements, that is, the analysis sensitivity difference between the lithium element and other elements is larger, so that the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector is more affected by the neutron reaction cross section of the lithium element. Based on the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector, the grade of the lithium ore can be calculated more accurately.

[0068] For example, the 25.3 meV neutron reaction cross section of oxygen is 1.7 x 10 -4 The target, the 25.3 meV neutron reaction cross section of lithium is about 940 targets, and the difference is about 10 million times. After increasing by the same multiple, the cross section difference between lithium and other elements becomes larger.

[0069] Therefore, the application performs first collision slowing down processing on the neutron rays to obtain first neutron rays, so as to separate the neutron rays and the photon rays, so that the detector can receive the transmitted neutron rays and the transmitted photon rays respectively. After the first collision slowing down processing is performed to obtain the first neutron rays, the second collision slowing down processing is performed on the first neutron rays to obtain target neutron rays. The lithium ore is irradiated by the target neutron rays to increase the analysis sensitivity difference between the reaction cross section of the lithium element with the neutron and the reaction cross section of other elements with the neutron, so that the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector is more affected by the neutron reaction cross section of the lithium element. Based on the count rate of the detected transmitted neutron rays finally received by the detector, the grade of the lithium ore can be calculated more accurately.

[0070] In the embodiment, Figure 3 is a time structure diagram of a detector in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to Figure 3, the time width of the electron pulse is Δt, the time when the first photon is detected by the detector is t1, the time when the last photon is detected by the detector is t2, at this time, the time length between t2 and t1 is just equal to the time width of the electron pulse Δt (the typical value of t2-t1 is 5 μs). The time when the first neutron is detected by the detector is t3, and the time when the last neutron is detected by the detector is t4. The sensitivity of lithium ore to neutrons is better when the energy of the neutrons is reduced to the energy region below eV, and therefore the flying speed of the neutrons is slower, at the level of several hundred μs to 10 ms. After the neutron rays are subjected to the two collision slow-down processes, the neutron rays and the photon rays can be separated, so that the detector can detect the transmitted neutron rays and the transmitted photon rays respectively, and at this time, the sensitivity of the neutron rays to lithium ore is greatly improved.

[0071] In the embodiment, after the electron pulse is accelerated by electron acceleration, the ray conversion target is bombarded, the electrons generate target photon rays by bremsstrahlung in the ray conversion target, the photons in the target photon rays generate neutrons by photonuclear reaction, and the generated neutrons are subjected to the first collision slow-down process and the second collision slow-down process in the ray conversion target to obtain target neutron rays.

[0072] In the application, the irradiation of the ore by the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore includes: the target photon rays and the target neutron rays are incident from one side of a conveying belt to irradiate the ore transported on the conveying belt; and the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore are emitted from the other side of the conveying belt.

[0073] In the embodiment, referring to Figure 2 , the lithium ore is transported on the conveying belt, the ray conversion target fixed on one side of the conveying belt emits target photon rays and target neutron rays, and the detector fixed on the other side of the conveying belt receives the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the lithium ore. In this way, the determination of the grade of the lithium ore can be completed directly in the process of transportation of the lithium ore, and the determination efficiency is high.

[0074] In the present application, the grade of the ore is determined according to the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays received by the detector, and the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, comprising: receiving the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays by the detector, and measuring the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays respectively; receiving the target photon rays and the target neutron rays by the detector, and measuring the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays respectively; determining the attribute factor of the ore according to the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays respectively; determining the grade of the ore according to the attribute factor and the corresponding relationship between the attribute factor and the grade of the ore.

[0075] In the present embodiment, the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays are received by the detector, and the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays are measured, the count rate of the transmitted target photon rays is I x , and the count rate of the transmitted target neutron rays is I n . The target photon rays and the target neutron rays are received by the detector, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays are measured, the count rate of the target photon rays is I n,0 , and the count rate of the target neutron rays is I x,0 .

[0076] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of neutron and photon attenuation in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 4 , with different Li2O content in lithium ore, the attenuation characteristics of neutrons and photons are different, and with the increase of Li2O content in lithium ore, the photon almost has no attenuation, and the attenuation of the neutron almost presents linear decrease.

[0077] Among them, the target photon rays and the target neutron rays obey the following exponential attenuation law:

[0078]

[0079]

[0080] Among them, N is the atomic number density (1 / cm 3 , unknown quantity) in the ore, D is the thickness (unknown quantity) of the ore, σ n and σ x are the reaction cross sections of the ore to neutrons and photons (cm 2 , also unknown quantities) respectively.

[0081] According to the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays respectively, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays respectively, the attribute factor F of the ore is determined.

[0082] The attribute factor F is calculated as follows:

[0083]

[0084] A corresponding relationship between the attribute factor F and the grade of the lithium ore is established in advance. After the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays respectively, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays respectively are measured by the detector, the value of the attribute factor F of the lithium ore is determined by the above calculation method of the attribute factor F. The grade of the lithium ore corresponding to the value of the attribute factor F of the lithium ore determined is obtained by querying the corresponding relationship between the attribute factor F and the grade of the lithium ore established in advance, so that the grade of the lithium ore is determined.

[0085] In the embodiment, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a corresponding relationship between an attribute factor and a grade of an ore in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application. Refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 To establish the corresponding relationship between the attribute factor F and the grade of the lithium ore in advance, it is determined that the value of the attribute factor F of the lithium ore is 2.2, and the grade of the lithium ore corresponding to the value of the attribute factor F of the lithium ore determined is obtained by querying Figure 5 The corresponding relationship between the attribute factor F and the grade of the lithium ore is established in advance, and it is determined that the grade of the lithium ore is 2, that is, the content of lithium dioxide in the lithium ore is 2%.

[0086] It should be understood that with the difference of the origin of the lithium ore, the difference of the mining depth of the lithium ore, etc., the corresponding relationship between the attribute factor of the lithium ore and the grade of the lithium ore will also change to a certain extent. Therefore, in the present application Figure 5 The corresponding relationship between the attribute factor F and the grade of the lithium ore in the present application is only an exemplary description and does not limit the present application.

[0087] The method for establishing the correspondence between the attribute factor F and the lithium ore grade includes calibrating the correspondence between the attribute factor F of the lithium ore and the lithium ore grade based on the lithium ores produced in different production places. For example, a plurality of lithium ores are mined in a production place. The attribute factor F of each lithium ore is measured, and the lithium content in each lithium ore is detected by other detection equipment. The correspondence between the attribute factor F of the lithium ore and the lithium ore grade is calibrated according to the attribute factor F of each lithium ore and the lithium content in each lithium ore. The correspondence curve is determined as the pre-established correspondence between the attribute factor F of the lithium ore and the lithium ore grade of the production place. Alternatively, since the lithium element has a large reaction cross section compared to other elements, the reaction cross section of different matrix materials in the lithium ore is not greatly affected. The reaction cross section of the neutrons is mainly affected by the lithium element in the lithium ore. Therefore, the pre-established correspondence between the attribute factor F and the lithium ore grade corresponds to a range of the lithium ore grade for each attribute factor F. For example, the correspondence between the attribute factor F of the lithium ore and the lithium ore grade is F = a + bx ± c, where x represents the upper and lower limits of the range of the lithium ore grade. Therefore, the value of one attribute factor F of the lithium ore corresponds to a range of the lithium ore grade.

[0088] In the present application, the detector includes a neutron detector and a photon detector. The neutron detector is close to the ore side, and the photon detector is away from the ore side. The target photon rays and the target neutron rays generated by the ray conversion target are emitted to the ore at a cone angle.

[0089] In the present application, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a detector in a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 6 , the present application can directly sort the grade of large-sized lithium ores. The sizes of the lithium ores conveyed on the conveyor belt after mining are different. In order to ensure that all mined lithium ores can be sorted in grade, it is necessary to sort the grade of as small lithium ores as possible. Therefore, the present application emits the target photon rays and the target neutron rays emitted by the ray conversion target to the lithium ore at a cone angle. At this time, the distance D SD from the detector to the source (that is, the distance from the detector to the ray conversion target) is greater than the distance D SO from the lithium ore to the source. There is a magnification mechanism during imaging, so that the imaging resolution of the lithium ore will be increased. For example, the position resolution of the detector itself is R D , and the corresponding position resolution of the sample is R D × D SO / D SD . When R D = 3 mm and D SD = 3DSO At that time, the positional resolution at the lithium ore site can reach 1mm, which means that lithium ore with a size of 1mm can be sorted. This will be beneficial for grade sorting of more refined ores.

[0090] At the same time, the neutron detector (that is) Figure 6 In 3 He or 10 The BF3 proportional counter is placed at the front, closer to the lithium ore, to absorb neutrons first. Because photons have stronger penetrating power, the photon array detector is positioned behind the neutron detector, away from the lithium ore. The photons then pass through the neutron detector and are measured by the subsequent photon array detector. This arrangement improves the accuracy of the detectors in receiving both the transmitted target photons and neutrons.

[0091] It should be understood that the above embodiments, which can sort lithium ore with a size of 1 mm, are merely illustrative examples illustrating that by directing target photon rays and target neutron rays at lithium ore in a cone-shaped manner, this application can improve the imaging resolution of ore grade sorting, which will be beneficial for grade sorting of finer ores. This does not mean that this application can only sort lithium ore with a size of 1 mm, and this is not a limitation of this application.

[0092] In this application, the accelerating energy of the electron accelerator is greater than or equal to 1.67 MeV; the particle size of the ore ranges from 100 μm to 5 cm; and the grade measurement accuracy of the ore is 0.1%.

[0093] In this embodiment, to enable the X-ray conversion target to simultaneously generate neutrons and photons, the energy of the electron accelerator must be ≥1.67 MeV. When the electron accelerator energy is ≤7 MeV, beryllium or heavy water is used as the conversion target material. When the accelerator energy is ≥7 MeV, tantalum, tungsten, and other materials are selected as the conversion target material. When the lithium ore particle size is ≤1 cm, a neutron-sensitive microchannel detector can be used to simultaneously measure neutron and photon rays. When the lithium ore sample particle size is >1 cm, a neutron-sensitive microchannel detector can be used... 3 He or 10 BF3 detectors are used to measure neutrons, while scintillation or semiconductors, including CsI, CZT, and CdTe, are used to measure photons. This application enables lithium ore to be graded with a particle size range of 100 μm to 5 cm, while achieving a ore grade separation accuracy of 0.1%.

[0094] In the embodiment, the setting condition includes a specific value of the lithium dioxide content in the lithium ore specified by the user. When the user wants to sort out the lithium ore with a lithium dioxide content of 2% or more, the lithium ore is sorted out when it is determined by the attribute factor of the lithium ore that the lithium dioxide content in the lithium ore is greater than or equal to 2% for subsequent ore extraction.

[0095] The neutron-photon fusion ore sorting method provided in the application can efficiently and at low cost sort the lithium ore by grade. The sorting accuracy can be effectively improved by two times of neutron ray slowing down processing. The target photon rays and target neutron rays emitted by the ray conversion target are emitted to the lithium ore in the form of a cone angle, which can improve the fineness of ore sorting. The neutron detector is placed on the side close to the lithium ore in front to absorb the neutrons, and the photon ray array detector is arranged behind the neutron detector, which is more conducive to the accuracy of the target photon rays and target neutron rays received by the detector, so that the grade of the lithium ore determined subsequently is more accurate.

[0096] In another aspect, the application also provides a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting system 700, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a neutron-photon fusion ore sorting system according to an embodiment of the application. Referring to Figure 7 , the system 700 includes:

[0097] An electron accelerator 701 is configured to accelerate electrons.

[0098] A ray conversion target 702 is configured to be bombarded by the accelerated electrons to generate target photon rays and target neutron rays.

[0099] A detector 703 is configured to receive transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays transmitted through the ore after the target photon rays and the target neutron rays irradiate the ore, to receive the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, to measure the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, and to measure the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays.

[0100] An ore grade determination module 704 is configured to determine an attribute factor of the ore according to the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, and to determine the ore grade according to the attribute factor and a preset corresponding relationship between the attribute factor and the ore grade.

[0101] The ore sorting module 705 is configured to determine the ore as target ore for sorting when the grade of the ore meets a set condition. A conveyor is configured to convey the lithium ore.

[0102] Each of the embodiments in the specification is described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0103] Optionally, the ray conversion target comprises:

[0104] The ray generation module is configured to generate the neutron rays and the target photon rays by bombarding the ray conversion target with the electrons generated by the electron accelerator.

[0105] The slowing processing module is configured to slow down the neutron rays to obtain target neutron rays.

[0106] Although the preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art can make further changes and modifications to the embodiments once they know the basic inventive concept. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0107] Finally, it should be noted that, in this document, the terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between the entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprise", "contain" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or terminal device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article or terminal device. Without more limitations, the element defined by the statement "comprises a" does not exclude the presence of another identical element in the process, method, article or terminal device comprising the element.

[0108] The above describes in detail the method and system for sorting ore by fusing neutrons and photons provided by the present application. The principles and implementation manners of the present application are described by using specific examples. The above description of the embodiments is only used to help understand the method and core idea of the present application. Meanwhile, for those skilled in the art, the specific implementation manners and application scope can be changed according to the idea of the present application. In conclusion, the content of the specification should not be understood as a limitation of the present application.

Claims

1. A neutron-photon fusion method for ore sorting, characterized in that, The method includes: Target photon rays and target neutron rays are generated through a ray conversion target; By irradiating lithium ore with the target photon beam and the target neutron beam, transmitted target photon beam and transmitted target neutron beam that have passed through the lithium ore are obtained; wherein, by irradiating lithium ore with the target neutron beam, the analytical sensitivity difference between the reaction cross section of lithium with neutrons and the reaction cross section of other elements with neutrons is increased, so that the count rate of transmitted neutron beams received by the detector is more affected only by the neutron reaction cross section of lithium. The grade of the lithium ore is determined based on the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays received by the detector that have passed through the lithium ore, as well as the target photon rays and the target neutron rays. When the grade of the lithium ore meets the set conditions, the lithium ore is identified as the target lithium ore for sorting. The grade of the lithium ore is determined based on the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays received by the detector, as well as the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, including: The detector receives the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays, and measures the count rate of each of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays. The detector receives the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, and measures the count rate of each of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays. The property factors of the lithium ore are determined based on the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, respectively. The grade of the lithium ore is determined based on the correspondence between the attribute factors and the preset attribute factors and the lithium ore grade. The grade of the lithium ore characterizes the lithium oxide content in the lithium ore. The pre-defined relationship between attribute factors and lithium ore grade is established according to the following steps: For multiple lithium ore blocks in the mining site, the property factors of each lithium ore block were measured, and the lithium content of each lithium ore block was detected. Based on the attribute factors and lithium content of each lithium ore, a correlation curve between lithium ore attribute factors and lithium ore grade is calibrated, and this correlation curve is determined as the preset correlation between attribute factors and lithium ore grade for the mining site.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The generation of target photon rays and target neutron rays through a ray conversion target includes: The electron bombardment rays generated by the electron accelerator are converted into a target to generate neutron rays and target photon rays; The neutron beam is slowed down to obtain the target neutron beam.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The process of slowing down the neutron beam to obtain the target neutron beam includes: The neutron beam is subjected to a first collision slowdown process to obtain a first neutron beam; The first neutron beam is subjected to a second collision slowdown process to obtain the target neutron beam.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of irradiating lithium ore with the target photon rays and the target neutron rays to obtain transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays that have passed through the lithium ore includes: Target photon rays and target neutron rays are incident from one side of the conveyor belt to irradiate the lithium ore being transported on the conveyor belt; Transmitted target photon rays and transmitted target neutron rays that have passed through the lithium ore exit from the other side of the conveyor belt.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detector includes a neutron detector and a photon detector; The neutron detector is located closer to the lithium ore, while the photon detector is located further away from the lithium ore.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The target photon beam and target neutron beam generated by the ray conversion target are directed at the lithium ore at a cone angle.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The accelerating energy of the electron accelerator is greater than or equal to 1.67 MeV; The lithium ore has a particle size range of 100 μm to 5 cm; The grade measurement accuracy of the lithium ore is 0.1%.

8. A neutron-photon fusion ore sorting system, characterized in that, The system includes: An electron accelerator is used to accelerate electrons. A beam conversion target is used to receive accelerated electrons to generate target photon beams and target neutron beams. A detector is configured to receive transmitted target photons and transmitted target neutrons that have passed through the lithium ore after the target photon beam and the target neutron beam have irradiated the lithium ore; to receive the target photons and the target neutron beam; to measure the count rate of each of the target photons and the target neutron beam; and to measure the count rate of each of the transmitted target photons and the transmitted target neutron beam. The lithium ore is irradiated with the target neutron beam to increase the difference in analytical sensitivity between the reaction cross section of lithium with neutrons and the reaction cross section of other elements with neutrons, so that the count rate of the transmitted neutron beams received by the detector is more significantly affected only by the neutron reaction cross section of lithium. The ore grade determination module is used to determine the attribute factors of the lithium ore based on the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, and to determine the lithium ore grade based on the attribute factors and the correspondence between the attribute factors and preset attribute factors and lithium ore grade; wherein, the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays are received by a detector, and the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays are measured; the target photon rays and the target neutron rays are received by a detector, and the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays are measured; the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays are determined based on the count rates of the transmitted target photon rays and the transmitted target neutron rays. The lithium ore's property factors are determined by the count rates of the target photon rays and the target neutron rays, respectively. The grade of the lithium ore is determined based on the property factors and the corresponding relationship between preset property factors and lithium ore grade, whereby the lithium ore grade characterizes the lithium oxide content in the lithium ore. The corresponding relationship between preset property factors and lithium ore grade is established according to the following steps: for multiple lithium ore samples in the mining area, the property factors of each sample are measured, and the lithium content in each sample is detected; based on the property factors of each sample and the lithium content in each sample, a corresponding relationship curve between lithium ore property factors and lithium ore grade is calibrated, and this curve is determined as the corresponding relationship between preset property factors and lithium ore grade for the mining area. The ore sorting module is used to identify the lithium ore as the target lithium ore for sorting when the grade of the lithium ore meets the set conditions.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The radiation conversion target includes: The ray generation module is used to convert the electron bombardment rays generated by the electron accelerator into targets, generating neutron rays and target photon rays; The moderation module is used to moderate the neutron beam to obtain the target neutron beam.

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