The Pyrometallurgy Committee of the Extraction and Processing Division (EPD) is pleased to present four fascinating papers on process management in pyrometallurgy. Smelters are typically capital-intensive, so managing the pyrometallurgical processes occurring in them is of critical importance to maximize their economic performance. The various levels of process management systems are summarized in Figure 1. The bottom two levels are commonly referred to as "process control." Advances leading to reliable sensors, including soft sensors, are of critical importance for pyrometallurgical processes because the aggressive environment within a furnace makes it very difficult to obtain reliable information. An example of a new sensor technology that should significantly improve process management is a level gauge based on radio-wave interferometry offered by RWI of Sweden. The ability to accurately measure on-line the various interface levels in a furnace, including those submerged below molten slag or matte, and track changes with time should result in enhanced inventory as well as black-top and accretion build-up management.
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