Modeling an industrial flotation process: A case study at the mining company Boliden AB

We present results of modeling dynamics of a copper flotation process, for which conventional system identification methods are applied. To this end, experimental studies are performed at an open pit mine belonging to the Swedish mining company Boliden AB. The main idea is to identify linear plants, that approximate dynamics of the process around neighborhoods of cost efficient working conditions. These models are intended to be applied for the design of model based control strategies, and to assess better studies of performance optimization. The results of simulation tests show a satisfactory agreement in between the identified models performance and the measured variables.