The Use of Mathematical Modeling in Developing Advanced Control Systems for Mining lndustry Processes
J. H. C. SCRIMGEOUR, R. E. HAMILTON and T. TOONG, lndustrial Process Analytical Engineering, Canadian General Electric Company Limited, Peterborough, Ontario
The principles involved in the use and application of mathematical models as an aid to the development of advanced process control computer systems are described briefly. This is followed by a brief survey of known models of this kind for the simulation of mining industry processes. The main part of the paper describes a dynamic mode! of the flotation process developed by Canadian General Electric. U sing flotation rate constants for each species of mineral and gangue, the mode! provides a numerical solution of the differential equations describing cell behaviour. The cell mode] is used repeatedly as a subroutine in the over-all- plant model. The features of the cell and plant inodels are described. Simulation runs from the plant mode! show stream .assays and other indications of plant behaviour printed typically in 1- to 10-minute steps for several hours of Operation following typical disturbances such as changes in feed rate or reagent addition rate. The simulation can :Show expected behaviour for both uncontrolled and computer- controlled plants.
Mots Clés:
chalcopyrite, flotation process, Gangue Ore Ore, process control, sphalerite, Control, Controls, Model, Models, Process, Processes, Simulation, Simulations
