Title

UTILIZATION OF THE SMARTDIVER TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF SETTLERS, WASHERS AND TAILINGS THICKENERS

UTILIZATION OF THE SMARTDIVER TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF SETTLERS, WASHERS AND TAILINGS THICKENERS

Authorship

Braz, Vitor M.; Morgan, Patrick; Morris, Stuart; Waugh, Nicholas; Longo, Paulo

Braz, Vitor M.

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Morgan, Patrick

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Morris, Stuart

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Waugh, Nicholas

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Longo, Paulo

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-32153

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Abstract

The key parameters for the effective control of settlers and washers are interface and mud level. Manual measurement of these is risky and labour intensive. Using SmartDiver, it is now possible to automatically track suspended solids and density within the entire profile of the vessel, providing more accurate measurement of interface and mud levels that are easily integrated with a control system. Using this data, control strategies of varying complexity from standard feedback to feed forward and model predictive control can be employed, resulting in significant reduction in overflow suspended solids with minimum flocculant consumption. Enhanced control of mud level can increase underflow density resulting in less liquor passing to washers in the case of settlers, whilst improving the efficiency of washers within a CCD circuit. Increased underflow density in tailings thickener will reduce the volume of slurry entering the tailings dam. Significant cost and environmental benefits can be achieved by optimizing the performance of settlers, washers and tailings thickeners with the use of SmartDiver.

The key parameters for the effective control of settlers and washers are interface and mud level. Manual measurement of these is risky and labour intensive. Using SmartDiver, it is now possible to automatically track suspended solids and density within the entire profile of the vessel, providing more accurate measurement of interface and mud levels that are easily integrated with a control system. Using this data, control strategies of varying complexity from standard feedback to feed forward and model predictive control can be employed, resulting in significant reduction in overflow suspended solids with minimum flocculant consumption. Enhanced control of mud level can increase underflow density resulting in less liquor passing to washers in the case of settlers, whilst improving the efficiency of washers within a CCD circuit. Increased underflow density in tailings thickener will reduce the volume of slurry entering the tailings dam. Significant cost and environmental benefits can be achieved by optimizing the performance of settlers, washers and tailings thickeners with the use of SmartDiver.

Keywords

Settlers, Washers, Tail Thickeners, Diver

Settlers, Washers, Tail Thickeners, Diver