Investigating the potential benefit of an online particle size analyser on the feed to a primary milling circuit

Abstract:

Tumbling mills are utilised around the world for particle size reduction. Efficient operation of a milling circuit is vital due to its high-power consumption and influence on the downstream beneficiation process. 

It is well known that the feed size distribution (FSD) has a significant impact on the performance of a mill. Image processing on the feed material has made it possible to monitor this data in an on-line manner. Several applications have been reported in literature where the FSD was used as a disturbance variable in an advanced controller. Little has been done however, to determine the contribution of the FSD to the performance of the controller. 

In order to quantify the benefit of this disturbance variable the controller will be run in a state where the variable alternates between being enabled and disabled. Controller performance will also be assessed by an LQG benchmark that incorporates the effect of a measured disturbance.