Efficient comminution operation (ECO)

Purpose and goal

The overall project goal has been to develop methods for online optimization of comminution chains (crushing and grinding). To reach this, many new technologies have been developed during the project, including improved technology for size-distribution measurement, dynamic models involving energy consumption of several unit processes in the chain, and online algorithms to optimize process operation. The models and algorithms are included in a flexible framework that will facilitate further developments in the area.

Expected results and effects

Some of the algorithms developed in this project are already coming to use by the involved industrial partners but the potential of optimizing comminution chains online is only beginning to emerge. It is expected that the framework and the building blocks developed during this project will lay the foundation for many future efforts in the development of algorithms of comminution process control to improve energy-efficiency, waste-minimization and flexibility towards varying ore-properties.

Planned approach and implementation

The collaboration between the partners has been very close as regular weekly meetings have been held on-line during most of the project time. This has enabled an agile work flow with new ideas quickly put into use and close follow-up of many threads. The pandemic has been hampering the work as no travelling was possible during the second half of the project when implementations were to take place. This, in combination with some problems in acquiring measurement data has made it necessary to develop most of the project results in simulation, rather than in on-site implementations.