EXTREMUM SEEKING CONTROL OF GRINDING MILL CIRCUITS BASED ON GRIND

Mineral processing plants include several operations to liberate the valuable minerals within raw ore material to produce a concentrate, which is processed into a usable product by a metallurgical refinery. A significant aspect of this process is the comminution stage, which greatly affects the operational costs and efficiency of the plant. This study aims to develop a control framework to optimize the performance of grinding mill circuits through the use of extremum seeking control based on grind curves. The methodology involves establishing a model that assesses the throughput and power consumption of the grinding stage while minimizing the loss of valuable minerals to the tailings. The results indicate that the proposed control strategy enhances the efficiency of the grinding process, ensuring that the ore material is adequately prepared for effective separation in subsequent stages. By automating the control of the grinding mill circuits, the study demonstrates a marked improvement in operational performance, providing plant operators with a robust tool for optimizing mineral processing operations.