calculation of variance and covariance of sampling errors in complex mineral processing systems, using state-space dynamic models

摘要

This paper presents a method to calculate thevariance and covariance matrix V of the integration errors of themeasured flow species in a complex mineral processing unit. Theintegration error is due to the interaction between the samplingand the dynamic variance of the stream properties. First, ageneral formula is developed to relate V to the autovariancematrix Vyy of the flow species in the different streams of the unit.Then Vyy is estimated using a dynamic model of the process. Thisdynamic model is obtained by assembling summators, separatorsand transfer functions into a state-space formulation. Twoexamples of the model are given: one for a flotation circuit andone for a leaching tank.