Multivariable Control of Pulp Levels in Flotation Circuits

Abstract A system for exceptionally good control of pulp levels in a flotation circuit is described It produces fast and stable control that is much better than is achieved with conventional control loops. The control strategy eliminates the problem of cyclic or interactive disturbances that are commonly present in plants with connected stages and recycled streams. It has been implemented in Mintek’s FloatStar™ controller on industrial flotation plants in South Africa and Australia The strategy described is also applicable to the control of many processes in which material is transferred in one or both directions along a series of stages.