Outotec St. Petersburg (Russia):

Romanenko S. A., Leading Process Engineer, sergey.romanenko@outotec.com
Olennikov A. S., Process Engineer, anton.olennikov@outotec.com

The article considers the FrothMaster video system introduction experience practice in flotation of copper-pyrite ores from the named after the 50th October anniversary deposit. Air flow rate computerized control based on the FrothMaster video system, monitoring froth products discharge rate, was accomplished for the first time in the CIS processing industry practice. Computerized control is provided in all flotation cycle operations. Problems that arose in the video system introduction are discussed. Comparative examples of manual and computerized control of flotation process are given. A priority of froth layer regulation through air flow rate variation in flotation cells is substantiated on the basis of flotation process neuronet modeling. It is shown, that froth layer formation process is subject to many factors; and impossibility of specific actions to be continuously performed by an operator in manual control of air flow rate, is proved. Air flow rate computerized control, based on the FrothMaster video system monitoring, provides for process stability and allows for its optimization. The integration of air flow rate computerized control on the basis of the FrothMaster video system provided for a steady copper recovery increase in the course of three years, reaching to 88–90 % in 2013

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