Proper Process Control Components Increase Processing Efficiency

With technology and equipment used for mineral processing well established and generally highly automated, slurry control valves manufacturer eDART is focused on the efficient use of energy and the improved reliability of components.

- Marleny Arnoldi

The company, based in Boksburg, Gauteng, is also focused on achieving a high-quality final product in the mineral processing control loop.

However, eDART director Richard Rule says it is often difficult to convince plant opera tors that good levels of control, as a result of correctly sized control valves that respond accurately to signal changes, will improve plant performance significantly.

“No amount of sophisticated control software can adequately compensate for poorly performing valves.”

The company has completed valve resizing projects for diversified miner African Rainbow Minerals and platinum producer Impala Platinum’s Two Rivers mine, in Steelpoort, and platinum miner Anglo American Platinum’s Amandelbult mine, both in Limpopo, and for Royal Bafokeng Platinum’s Rasimone mine, near Rustenburg, in the North West.

These projects have allowed for marked improvements in the plants’ control operations, affirms Rule.

Meanwhile, eDART is developing practical process sampling systems that allow for better plant management using more accurate information and, subsequently, improved efficiency.