Control system has special tools for metallurgical processes

July 2007 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

StarCS is an open, plant-wide, control platform with a wide-ranging and versatile set of tools aimed at process stabilisation and optimisation in the mining and metals industry. Using the latest technology in both software and advanced process control, the control system integrates all of Mintek's process-specific control systems (FurnStar, MillStar, FloatStar and LeachStar). Although StarCS was developed specifically for the metallurgical process industry, it can be used to control any industrial process. The control system's layered approach enables implementation of a wide range of controllers, while the use of OPC communication means that the system can interface to most plant control scada, PLC and data acquisition systems.

The MillStar mill feed controller helps to address the large conveyor transport lags in the solids feed stream of milling circuits. It incorporates an advanced algorithm using time delay compensation techniques to overcome the effect of these delays. To accommodate the various disturbances such as varying input, the mill feed controller includes a feed coarseness controller which calculates the overall coarseness of the feed and uses this as a process variable to control the feeder size, by manipulating the fine and coarse feeder speeds relative to each other. Improved throughput and product size control are achieved by minimising disturbances propagating from varying input.

In addition to the various process-specific controllers, the system has other specialised modules such as Autotuner, Advanced Control Package, Model Predictive Control, Simulator and Fuzzy Logic.

The StarCS Autotuner automatically adjusts controller parameters of the control loops on a plant online to reduce the time required for the commissioning and ensure ongoing optimal plant operation.

For more information contact Hans Alink, Mintek, +27 (0)11 709 4379, [email protected], www.mintek.co.za

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