Dynamic Simulation and Model-based Control System Design for Comminution Circuits - Advanced Control and Supervision of Mineral Processing Plants - page 245

5.7 Conclusions

This chapter has presented a dynamic simulator for comminution circuits. The im-
plemented models are standard simplified models of the main equipments found
in a comminution circuit, representing the main temporal features of the variables
involved. A modular approach allows for future model upgrades, as well as the pos-
sibility of adding new ones. The use of this type of simulator simplifies the develop-
ment and testing of complex control strategies. Two case studies have demonstrated
the flexibility of the simulator and the potential of a simulation environment for
blending different types of models. This tool not only enables the design of model-
based controllers, but it can also be used for testing and debugging other types of
control strategies such as those based on expert systems.
Real-time integration of this dynamic simulator with industrial control systems
is also possible via object link embedding for process control. This standard spec-
ifies the communication of real-time plant data between different control devices
and provides new opportunities for process and control engineers to improve plant
knowledge and control strategies.

Acknowledgements This chapter would not have been possible without the diligent work carried
out by my former students Johnatan Barriga, Fabian Urzua and German Palma. Special thanks to
Miguel Maldonado and Cesar Garrido for their help in writing this chapter. I would also like to
thank Andre Ribet for taking care of the figures.

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