MULTI-VARIABLE PREDICTIVE CONTROLLER FOR BAUXITE MILLING

Rio Tinto Yarwun refinery has developed a multi-variable predictive controller (MPC) for optimising our bauxite milling circuit. The controller was initially developed prior to commissioning Yarwun Refinery’s major expansion in 2012 in response to the greatly increased milling capacity utilisation requirements of the expanded refinery. Configured using Honeywell’s Profit platform, the application has proved an effective way to control mill rates and operation so that the plant can be operated up to constraints at all times.

In addition to delivering higher milling throughput, the MPC has been further developed to deliver additional layers of optimisation. This has included optimisation between bauxite mills, assisting in refinery volume management, and optimising the use of different bauxite grades.