Glencore Know-how says it’s positioning the Jameson Cell for the following technology of mineral processing, highlighting how flotation circuit design can unlock the total potential of AI-driven superior course of management (APC).
As mining corporations more and more discover AI and automation, the dialog is commonly centred on software program. Nevertheless, Glencore Know-how believes the actual alternative lies within the underlying course of and the standard of the info that drives it.
“AI has huge potential for mineral processing, however software program alone gained’t ship it,” Dr. Chris Anderson (pictured), Principal Metallurgist, Glencore Know-how, says. “The standard of the management technique will all the time rely upon the standard of the underlying course of and the info accessible to it. That’s the place we see the Jameson Cell providing a real benefit.”
Standard flotation circuits usually comprise dozens of cells working throughout a number of levels, with residence instances of a number of hours between a course of adjustment and the ensuing metallurgical response. This complexity makes it tough for each operators and AI techniques to quickly consider course of modifications and optimise circuit efficiency, in line with the corporate.
By comparability, the Jameson Cell’s compact circuit, quick residence time and simplified working surroundings present the situations wanted for efficient APC and future AI-enabled optimisation, it claims.
Anderson says: “The benefit of the Jameson Cell is its simplicity. With residence instances of simply 5 to 10 minutes and a way more compact circuit, you get speedy suggestions on course of modifications. That offers superior course of management techniques the chance to study quicker, reply quicker and frequently optimise the circuit.”
Past quicker response instances, the Jameson Cell additionally creates alternatives for direct course of measurement by way of on-line analysers, flowmeters, densitometers, particle measurement analysers and automatic sampling techniques, Glencore Know-how says. Collectively, these applied sciences present a real-time circuit mass steadiness and direct measurement of grade and restoration, decreasing reliance on inferred measurements corresponding to froth cameras and mushy sensors generally utilized in typical flotation circuits.
As extra operations examine AI and superior automation, Glencore Know-how believes AI readiness should be thought-about throughout circuit design somewhat than launched after commissioning.
Anderson concluded: “If the trade needs to grasp the total potential of AI, we first want to maneuver past typical flotation pondering. Simplicity is essential. The choices made throughout circuit design at this time will decide how successfully operations can use AI tomorrow.”
