A Supervisory Expert System For Integrated Plant-Wide Control

In January 1993, Pyramid Resources began implementation of a supervisory expert control system at a U.S Cu concentrator. The objective of this control system was to improve plant profitability through unit operation optimization and integration. This paper documents the key aspects of the project, including: economic and associated benefits, system architecture, concepts of implementation, process control strategies, practical aspects of implementation and conclusions. The implementation of expert control at this concentrator has resulted in an estimated benefit of $50,500 per day. This is a net result of improved tonnage, reduced reagent consumption, improved concentrate grade and reduced energy per ton produced.