Taking Control With Artificial Intelligence

These robust machines are particularly useful in the management of mine tailings, where they represent an attractive alternative to tailings ponds and their associated dams and embankments. However, while the benefits of deploying filtration systems are considerable, tailings management is a demanding role for filter press equipment. Not only are there very high volumes of slurry to consider, but the abrasive nature of mining slurries is particularly hard on elements of the filter press, such as the filter cloths and plates. This leaves operators with complex decisions based on a host of parameters – especially when handling a complete filter press park.

Although tailings are a waste product that does not typically generate any profit, separating the solids can still offer considerable value to mining operators. For example, the extracted water may be reused in the mining process. This is a particularly valuable function in arid areas, or where there are limits on the available fresh water supply, representing a substantial cost saving. Separation also significantly enhances safety by enabling tailings to be stabilised as a relatively dry medium, saving space and largely eliminating the risk of contaminated water leaking into open or ground water sources.

This article will dive into an artificial intelligence (AI) specially developed to ease the operator’s work in filter press parks and will examine its impacts on filter press performance, as well as wash water recovery.

Filter press parks: A continuous dewatering process

Due to the often-large volumes of tailings, multiple filter press units are usually installed in banks, known as filter press parks. If one of the units requires a wash cycle, a cloth change, or some other type of servicing or maintenance, one of the other units will step in to execute the separation process by switching out of idle mode or increasing the throughput rate, thus ensuring a continuous process with no gap in mining operations.

Given the importance of the continuous separation process to mining operations in many applications, filter press parks are already being designed to reduce the need for operational staff. However, operations and maintenance requirements for filter presses still demand regular inspection. During these inspections, operators have to make complex decisions based on a host of parameters, such as the optimal timing for executing a wash down cycle or for changing a filter cloth and thus switching to an alternative filter press unit for handling the process slurry. The decision obviously affects critical aspects of the overall mine production process, as well as other factors such as water consumption. The kinds of operational conditions found in mining applications can also lead to higher operational expenditure, due to excessive filter cloth consumption. Operators therefore need to consider the efficiency of filtration operations as a whole, including any potential bottlenecks in throughput, the availability of water, and the operating status of both upstream and downstream equipment. Needless to say, the decision-making challenge becomes far more complex when multiple filter press units are in service at a single location.

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