Computer Control Experiments at Lake Dufault
H. W. SMITH, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; C. L. lEWIS, Manager, Richvale Metallurgical laboratories, Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited, Thornhill, Ontario
A process control computer has been installed in the Lake Dufault concentrator to: (a) control the on-stream X-ray analyzer and convert chart readings to elemental percentages, (b) calculate the flow rates required for the most important flotation reagents, using the amount of material entering the process, the analyses and the slurry pH, and (c) set the reagent feeder to these flow rates automatically. Although this project was largely experimental, to gain knowledge and experience in flotation process control, the objectives have been met and fully automatic computer control is now the normal mode of mill operation.
Keywords:
Computer, Computers, Control, Controls, copper, PHASE, program, reagent, X-ray spectrometer, Feeders, Process, Processes, Reagents, Systems