THE DEVELOPMENT OF DYNAMIC MODELS FOR A DENSE MEDIUM SEPARATION CIRCUIT IN COAL BENEFICIATION

Dense medium separation (DMS) plants are crucial for the beneficiation of run-of-mine (ROM) coal in metallurgy, where maintaining the quality and yield of production poses significant challenges due to variations in ROM quality. This study aimed to develop a first principle dynamic mathematical model for a DMS circuit to aid in enhancing control systems that can effectively manage product throughput and quality. The methodology involved modeling individual unit operations and integrating them into a comprehensive system, leading to the simulation of the DMS process. It was identified that previous models predominantly focused on steady-state analysis, with limited literature addressing dynamic models in DMS operations. The paper discusses the complexities in validating metallurgical models, particularly due to insufficient measurement points and difficulties in capturing certain variables. The application of Runge-Kutta approximation in simulating DMS processes is explored, emphasizing the importance of intermediate online measurements for improving simulation accuracy. Additionally, the challenges of parameter estimation in non-linear state-space relationships were presented, along with a method for parameter identifiability, thereby offering insights into effective parameter estimation techniques. The findings contribute valuable knowledge to the field of coal beneficiation and dynamic modeling.