Some industrial granulation systems can cost on the order of US$50.00/DFYT (Design First Year Ton). Current available technology can require from 500 to 1500 horsepower depending on the process chosen and on the tonnage processed.

HEPS installations are less capital intensive and electrical energy requirements are slashed compared to other method.

The low energy requirements combined with the small number of moving parts and low material velocities contribute towards low maintenance and operating costs.

The high temperatures of the molten materials (1150-1400° C) and the tonnages involved combined with heat capacities and conductivity of the various materials make solidification/granulation of molten materials a high exposure activity. Explosions resulting in equipment damage are common and designers must consider this variable when designing the systems to minimize the equipment damage and the exposure of operating/maintenance personnel.

HEPS is inherently safer than the traditional systems since it does not depend on large quantities of water in order to accomplish its solidification of the molten materials. For example, common copper matte granulation systems require water to matte ratios of between 10-20:1 while HEPS uses ratios of 0.4-0.7:1 depending on the molten material. Destructive testing has been carried out with HEPS and no explosions have been provoked. In order to control the high capital cost of a new installation, designers will often choose to install a minimal number of granulating units in a process. In the event of an equipment damaging explosion, the production of an entire plant can be impacted since the remaining units may be insufficient to handle the plant production until the damaged unit is repaired.

Since the capital cost of HEPS is lower and the risk of explosion is minimized, the number of units per plant can be optimized.

It is flexible and adaptable to the needs of existing plants as well as to new installations. HEPS can be designed to be portable, much as a portable crushing/screening unit. The footprint for HEPS is small and de-watering is made simple since up to 80% of the water used is evaporated. Thickener/clarifiers are not required. A unit for 40 tph of Cu or Ni/Cu matte for instance, can be installed under an existing launder and can accomplish the solidification of that matte in an area of less than 10 meters in length by 2 meters in width.

Some degree of particle size control is available with HEPS. Testing has shown that it is possible to produce continuous solid matte up to 3 inches thick that is completely dry and may yet have a semi-molten core.