Application Of Simulation And Optimization In Tongkuangyu Copper Flotation Process

With the advantages of nondestructiveness, repeatability, economic, no limit of the climate and space, computer simulation will bring a profound transformation to the exploiting process of traditional mineral resources.This paper researches application of simulation in flotation process with parametric model and nonparametric model.On one hand of parametric model, taking certain unit operation, or process composition of mineral processing or even a mineral processing plant as a black box, the inputs of which are the ore properties and various operating variables, through the separation of the black box, the mineral particles with different characteristics will move to different location, and they have a re-distribution when reaching the output of the black box, we treat the re-distribution as the output and construct the model between the input and the output of the box. The model is successfully applied in tongkuangyu copper flotation process. According to the model, flotation system simulation model was developed, which was utilized to test the concentrate indexes of tongkuangyu plant, the results show that the simulation values are in good agreement with the experimental values. Based on the simulation test, we optimize the flotation process from two angles, one is to improve the concentrate grade by one rank in condition of the same total flotation time, the other is to reduce the total flotation time without concentrate quality degradation.On the other hand of nonparametric model, establishing the flotation concentrate indexes prediction model with RBF neural network, simulation results show that the model has high prediction accuracy, it is of practical value, which lays the foundation of developing the intelligent prediction system for flotation indexes for the next phase and the methods of flotation indexes prediction.The simulation results of parametric model and nonparametric model accord with the objective rule of flotation process, which shows application of computer simulation in flotation is valid.