Promax2100

A Computer Programme for Design and Optimization of Mineral Processing Plant

Authors

  • E. O. Ajaka Federal University of Technology, Akure
  • O. C. Chukwuma Federal University of Technology, Akure

Keywords:

Process Stream iteration, Concentrate Dilution, Concentrate Blending, Process Engineering, Plant Design Criteria, Optimizer, ProMax

Abstract

This article presents the development of a software programme ProMax2100 for design of an efficient mineral processing plant. In developing this software package, flowsheets designed for concentration of some metallic minerals were used. A complete plant design criteria document which contains detailed information on process engineering including large volume of numeric and non-numeric data on ore properties, capacity or scale of operation, results of comminution tests, bench scale and pilot scale recovery tests, process and equipment selection, scheduling and proportioning, materials handling and analysis, waste treatment and disposal among others was developed. An entire plant was divided into stages and all information and input data required for each stage were compiled, sorted and converted (where necessary) to a programme developer's language for programme code development. The Visual Basic Programme was used with C-Sharp and other language editors to develop thepackage. The individual programmes for all stages were then linked to form a continuous string that can simulate an entire plant in part or whole. The results of simulations carried out with the package show that the programme mimics the plants flowsheets used for simulation close to 100%.

Author Biographies

E. O. Ajaka, Federal University of Technology, Akure

Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

O. C. Chukwuma, Federal University of Technology, Akure

Department of Mining Engineering

Downloads

Published

2019-01-02