INTELLIGENT GRINDING CONCEPT

INTELLIGENT GRINDING CONCEPT


Remes A.1), Karesvuori, J.2), Pekkarinen, H. 3), Jämsä-Jounela, S-L.1)


1) Helsinki University of Technology
Department of Chemical Technology
Laboratory of Process Control and Automation
P.O.Box 6100, FIN-02015 HUT, Finland
E-mail: Sirkka-l@hut.fi
2) Outokumpu Technology, P.O.Box 84, FIN-02201 Espoo, Finland

3) Outokumpu Chrome, Kemi Mine P.O.Box 172, FIN-94101 Kemi, Finland




Abstract: To enhance the operation of mineral grinding processes, a greater number of
monitoring services and control schemes are nowadays being offered by the equipment
manufacturers. In this paper an intelligent grinding concept is formulated and the
components of the concept for typical grinding processes are proposed. Furthermore, the
benefits of the process monitoring services are studied on the basis of a specific case
study - the Outokumpu Chrome Kemi concentrator. Finally, the results are discussed and
a new control scheme is outlined. Copyright © 2005 IFAC

Keywords: mineral grinding, particle size analysis, process monitoring, extended product,
process control, chromite concentration, gravity separation.




1. INTRODUCTION
et al., 1999). In addition, the particle size has

also been monitored using model-based soft-
In order to enhance the performance of mineral
sensors, see (Casali et al., 1998) and (del Villar
processing equipment, a greater number of
et al., 1996). Recently, the main interest in the
intelligent functionalities are being integrated
monitoring of mill feed has centered on the ore
into the equipment. The equipment suppliers can
type determination, see (Jämsä-Jounela et al.,
provide advanced operating, maintenance and
1998), and on vision-based ore size and texture
monitoring methods by adding these type determination (Guyot et al., 2004).
functionalities. The concept integrates the

equipment, instrumentation and service A number of authors have presented control
resources in order to perform the defined
strategies for the grinding circuits. Jämsä-
operations. Typically, the main parts of the
Jounela (1990) applied the inverse Nyquist array
intelligent grinding concept are the process
method in multivariable grinding control. Niemi
monitoring and control modules.
et al. (1997) simulated an industrial process

using model predictive control for particle size
In the past, several monitoring methods have
and slurry density. In addition, a control system
been developed for the grinding circuit,
based on the mill charge and the particle size on-
including monitoring of the feed, product and
line estimation in LKAB’s Kiruna iron ore
the mill operating conditions. Mill charge
concentrator is presented in Herbst et al. (1996).
position monitoring has recently gained interest.
Recently, Yianatos et al. (2002) showed
In this area Valderrama et al. (2000), Campbell
significant improvements in circuit throughput
et al. (2001) and Pax (2001) applied signal
using particle size rule based control. Laboratory
processing methods to interpret the mill surface
mill grinding simulations have also been carried
vibrations. There are three main industrial
out in order to compare the PI and MPC control
measurement techniques for performing the
schemes (Ramasasy et al., 2005). Elsewhere,
particle size analysis of mill product:
Radhakrishnan et al. (1999) applied the ball mill
mechanical distance detection, ultrasonic
and hydrocyclone models in order to develop a
attenuation and laser diffraction (Napier-Munn
model-based optimizing control. Fuzzy logic has

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been applied in the control of SAG mill feed

size variation in the Ok Tedi Mines, resulting in
RESOURCES
Equipment
Instrumentation
Services
+
+
higher throughput (McCaffery et al., 2002).
Hybrid neural network MPC control has been
INTELLIGENCE
INTEGRATED
INTELLIGENT GRINDING
GOALS
studied in Mathur et al. (1999), where a NN is
INTO THE
CONCEPT
EQUIPMENT
used for determining the grinding process state.
Further, Duarte et al. (2001) tested a combined
FUNCTIONS
Optimization
Monitoring and
NN-MPC control in the Codelco Andina
and control
operator support
grinding plant simulation.


Fig. 1. Structure of the intelligent grinding
The use of variable rotation speed control in
concept.
mineral grinding circuits is increasing. In

addition, high accuracy on-line particle size
In this project the first stage was to define the
distribution measurements enhance the concept components together with the
development of the optimizing control for
equipment manufacturers and the end-users.
grinding circuits. As an early study, Herbst et al.
Two web-based questionnaires were performed
(1983) showed that the mill speed is a major
and personal interviews were made worldwide.
manipulated variable for controlling the
Based on the results of the questionnaire survey,
circulating load. Recently, discrete element
the main mineral grinding operating goals are
simulations have been used to study different
described, new aspects for resource development
aspects of mill behavior. Cleary (1998)
are given and, finally, the main grinding
concluded that the lifter wear rates behave
equipment automation functions are summarized
nonlinearly when the rotation rate is increased. It
in the following.
has also been proposed that, in order to maintain

a steady throughput and to avoid grinding
2.1 Services for monitoring and optimization of
media-liner impacts, the total charge volume
the grinding process
should be continuously assessed (Brodie, 2003).

The advantages of rotation speed control include
In mineral grinding processes the production
better control of product size and downstream
goals, and thereby the operating strategies, vary
processes, power savings and longer liner life,
in each particular case. However, it is typical of
and as a consequence, lower maintenance costs.
grinding processes that the capacity should be

maximized, while keeping the total costs as low
In this paper an intelligent grinding concept for
as possible. The operating strategy should
typical grinding processes is presented and
therefore ensure maximal equipment
discussed. Furthermore, a case study with a
availability.
grinding circuit including variable speed control

mills and a particle size analyzer is presented in
It is recommended that the APQ (Availability,
Section 3.
Performance and Quality) measure index is

utilized to maximize equipment availability and

performance (Hagberg, et al., 1998). In a
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF
grinding circuit, the availability (A) is calculated
THE INTELLIGENT GRINDING CONCEPT
for each of equipment, taking into account mill

lining wearing, stoppages, and process
As a concept, intelligent grinding includes - in
interruptions. The performance (P) factor is
addition to the usual process instrumentation and
calculated from the basic mill feed and power
automation - functions that enable the
draw measurements. The quality (Q) is a
optimization, monitoring and operator support
measure of how accurately the process is kept in
services. The intelligent grinding concept
the product targets or within the desired
utilizes an extended product scheme, in which
constraints.
the additional functionalities and services are a

part of the physical product (Thoben et al.,
Hence, in order to monitor the equipment
2001). As categorized in Fig. 1, the operating
availability, Condition Based Maintenance
resources for grinding processes are the process
(CBM) methods are utilized to refine the process
equipment itself, and the related instrumentation
and maintenance data, and to predict the
and available services. Utilizing the integrated
remaining availability (Bengtsson, 2003).
intelligence in the equipment, the equipment
Furthermore, in order to construct an efficient
automation should meet the operating goals.
operator support tool, the equipment life-cycle
Based on the goals, the equipment automation
scale Product Data Management (PDM) or
functions are optimization and control, as well
Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) features
as monitoring and operator support.
will be included in the concept.

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In addition, in order to achieve the maximal
with respect to the process monitoring and
grinding circuit performance, the mill control strategy. Development was started with
throughput has to be maximized while, at the
process data analysis in accordance with the
same time, minimizing the total operating costs.
control strategy design, which is described in the
The constraints to be taken into account in the
following chapters.
optimization are typically the degree of mineral

liberation and the prevention of over- and under-

grinding. The capacity, as well as the target
3.1 Description of the Kemi concentrator and
values of the slurry properties, is eventually
the grinding circuit
dictated by the following process stages. The

optimization of throughput and operating costs
The Kemi chromium ore deposit is located in
requires estimation of the power curve of the
northern Finland. The ore reserves are 52 Mt
grinding process. Additionally, on-line particle
and the annual production of the Kemi
size distribution measurement and ore type
concentrator is 1.2 Mt of ore. The products are
information have been found to be beneficial for
upgraded lumpy ore with a grade of 35.0 %
grinding optimization. Finally, the goal of the
Cr2O3 and lumpy size of 12-100 mm, and the
intelligent grinding concept is to advise the
metallurgical grade concentrate with a grade of
operators in optimizing the grinding process as a
45.0 % Cr2O3 and average grain size of 0.2 mm.
part of the whole mineral processing chain.
After crushing, separation of the 12-100 mm ore

is carried out at the dense medium separation
As a result, monitoring and optimization are
plant. The undersize is further processed in the
provided as services within the process
concentration plant, where the ore is ground in
equipment. Additional services to be offered are
the grinding circuit. Concentration is
data-mining, control loops tuning, subsequently carried out using gravity and
circuit/equipment process audit, and magnetic separation.
maintenance, as well as training and operator

support services (Jämsä-Jounela et al., 2005).
The grinding circuit, shown in Fig. 3, consists of

a rod mill and a ball mill, with a maximum
Finally, as a summary of the defined
power consumption of 560 kW and 220 kW,
components of the intelligent grinding concept,
respectively. The classification is carried out
the components are categorized according to the
using Derric screens with a 0.8 mm aperture.
desired goals into capacity maximizing, usability
The mills have variable speed drives, which can
and total cost minimizing. These are presented
be used to control the product particle size
in Fig. 2.
distribution, which is measured from the screen

underflow using the laser diffraction based

PSI500 Particle Size Analyzer (Kongas et al.,
3. CASE STUDY: THE KEMI
2003). The size range of 1…500 µm is measured
CONCENTRATOR GRINDING CIRCUIT
to a precision of 1-2 %.


The aims of the Kemi concentrator case were, in
the first phase, to develop the concept modules

OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL
MONITORING AND OPERATOR SUPPORT
PROCESS
MAINTENANCE
State
Calculation
Avaialbility Performance Quality
Information
Goals and conditions estimation
of variables
Control
A
P
Q
Data analysis indices
management
CAPACITY MAXIMIZING
Calculating the
degree of
Degree of mineral liberation
mineral
liberation
Fault states,
common
Costs
Power curve
Production
operating
Kwh/ton
efficiency
manners
Preventing over- and under-
Optimizing
grinding
expert system
USABILITY
Quality
Monitoring
Machine-
boundaries,
operation
Equipment,
Efficiency measurement
specific
Measuring
difference from situations,
control loops,
utilization rate
power and input optimum
auditing
CBM
PDM, guiding
Product Data Management
support system
TOTAL COST MINIMIZING
Instrument-
Maintaining instrumentation
Instrument
Quality of
specific
PDM, problem
and control
utilization rate
Cost-efficiency
functioning
monitoring
solving system
Maintaining
control and
Equipment- and
Optimization
instrumentation
circuit-specific
vs. the benefit
process
gained
improvements

Fig. 2. Main functions of the intelligent grinding concept.

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related to the changes in product particle size
fractions and, subsequently, which variables are
significantly inter-related together. To describe
the width of the particle size distribution and
thus the amount of fine fractions, the slope of
the steepest part of the cumulative size
distribution was determined. This variable was
also included into the PCA study.

Fig. 3. The Kemi grinding circuit with rod and
The PCA analysis showed that the mill rotation
ball mills and screen classification.
speed and the ball mill power (indicating the

amount of circulating load) have the most

significant inverse effect on the size distribution.
3.2 Input variables and training data for the
The greater these variables are, the lower is the
PCA, PLS and SOM models
cumulative size distribution slope value,

meaning a higher production of fines.
The aim of the process study was first to

determine how the mill operating variables
The data were further examined using the partial
affect the product particle size distribution. This
least square analysis. The aim of the partial least
information was subsequently utilized to
squares projections to the latent structures (PLS)
develop new control strategy for the grinding
is to define a linear multivariate model between
circuit. The PCA and PLS methods were
the operating variables and the process output
selected to be tested first. Finally, the SOM
variables. In this case, the goal was to study how
method was also applied.
the particle size distribution is affected by the

operating variables, and which variables
The analyzed process data included the
contribute the most to the product particle size
following mill operating variables: circuit feed
fractions
rate (t/h), mill power draws (kW) and rotation

speeds (rpm), and consequently the grinding
The PLS model was made for the variables -10,
energy per ton. The -10, -32, -74 and -125 µm
-74 and -125 µm. From those results it was
particle size fractions where chosen as output
deduced that the rod mill rotation speed and
variables. A total of six data sequences
power draw have the most significant effect on
containing approximately 12 000 rows of minute
the product size fractions. A higher speed
data were analyzed. The data were median
produces more fine material, while the higher
filtered to remove the outliers. The time delays
primary mill power – indicating a higher mill
were determined and taken into account by
charge – reduces the amount of fine material.
shifting the data appropriately. To describe the

ore hardness, a grindability index was

calculated, proposed by Tano et al. (2005),
3.4 SOM analysis
which takes into account the amount of fine

material produced per grinding energy used as
Finally the self-organizing map (SOM) was
follows:
applied to get more insight into the process
behavior. The aim of the self-organizing map
32 m
?
32 m
F
GI
?


(1)
(SOM) is to classify a high dimensional process
1 = ( S
? S
) ?
D
F
P
data and to compress the information into a two-
where 32 m
S ? and 32 m
S ? are the portions of dimensional plane. In this case the goal was to
D
F
material finer than 32 µm in the circuit discharge
determine which process operating conditions
and the feed, F is the feed (t/h) and P is the total
cause a coarse/fine grinding product.
mill power draw (kW). The amount of fine
Consequently, the method provides information
material is assumed to be negligible and
about the process by classifying the data,
considered as a constant in the feed stream.
especially when the combined PCA-SOM

method is applied.


3.3 PCA and PLS analyses
The SOM analysis showed that the process has

clearly two clusters, separated mainly according
The aim of the principal component analysis
to the milling power. The high milling power is
(PCA) is to reduce the number of variables and
correlated with a high rotation speed and a low
detect structures between the variables, and
grindability, whereas the rod mill feed does not
thereby to classify the variables. In this case the
affect the clustering significantly.
goal was to study which process variables are

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5. CONCLUSIONS

Utilization of the intelligent grinding concept
enables the addition of operational intelligence
into the process equipment, thereby increasing
the performance of the process. In this paper
definitions for the components and functions of
the concept were proposed. Furthermore, a case
study on the particle size measurement based
monitoring of the Kemi concentrator grinding
circuit was carried out. In the case study, the
mill rotation speed made a significant

contribution to the grinding product size

distribution. The results encourage further
Fig. 4. Combined PCA-SOM, the U-matrix with
development of the control strategy and
a PCA similarity coloring.
monitoring methods for the Kemi process.


To visualize the process data and to determine

the process conditions causing a fine and a
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