Suite AGLOM: A Unique System to Support Decision-Making and Automation of the Agglomeration and Curing Process

摘要

This study presents the Suite AGLOM, a unique system to support decision-making and automation of the agglomeration and curing process, designed to maintain the copper production in optimal levels, impacting the increase of the recovery of copper, the reduction of impervious zones and the savings in water and acid. Suite AGLOM is composed of two modules which are a real-time images and signals monitoring system (SIMRIS) and a quality analyzer of agglomerated ore (ACMA). On one hand, SIMRIS is a tool that it is used to reduce the risk associated to the visual inspection of the agglomerated ore, through supervisory sensors in real-time of the mineral state. The system's signals refer to information obtained from a moisture sensor and a laser scanning which obtains the mineral profile on the belt, the images of the system correspond to a thermal camera and a video camera. On the other hand, ACMA processes in real-time the acquired information by SIMRIS and estimates the quality of the agglomerated ore. The estimated variables are moisture, size of agglomerates, percentage of cured agglomerates, temperature and angle of repose. Both modules converge in a smart sensor located at the end of the agglomeration drum above a conveyor belt. SIMRIS and ACMA provide information and data in real-time to an expert control system to support the operation for the hydrometallurgy plant named CEAH, which allows the reduction of variability of the quality of the agglomerated ore through appropriate control actions, that handle the addition rates of sulfuric acid and water or raffinate solution at the entrance of the agglomeration drum.