IM 2017 November 17 | Page 30

FLOTATION
the DCS tags database and uses advanced
techniques to determine new operating set
points. With no action needed from the
operators, the set points maintain a required
product quality and help to achieve an increase
in capacity and product quality, as well as a
decrease in production costs.
HydroFloat
New Metso flotation cells and the VisioFroth
analysis system have greatly improved flotation
recovery for RTB Bor
from Metso, was installed between 2013 and
2015. As an integral part of the flotation plant,
Metso delivered a new Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC) system that collects all of the key
flotation data. OCS-4D © , Metso’s advanced
process control system, uses real-time operating
data provided by a Metso VisioFroth™ system,
other traditional sensors and online analysers to
achieve a further 3% recovery improvement.
“With the new automation, we can see in real
time what’s happening in flotation and react
quickly depending on the grade variations from
four different orebodies. It takes just minutes to
receive a chemical analysis, compared to the
several days it took previously,” comments Saša
Milić, Flotation Plant Manager. “As a result, we
have succeeded in increasing our copper
percentage in concentrate after flotation by more
than 20%, which is a good achievement and
sufficient for our new smelter.”
To help RTB Bor get the most out of their new
flotation assets, it was important to look at the
process from a holistic point of view, with each
component in the process chain carefully
selected. Metso’s solution entailed a full-scope
refurbishment process for RTB Bor’s flotation
plant, including the new flotation cells, a
Distributed Control Systems (DCS) automation
design and tuning, as well as integrating an on-
stream analyser. The solution involved pulling
from multiple Metso centres of expertise,
including hardware engineering, automation as
well as advanced flotation control, and was
supported through local coordination. A major
part of the solution was the installation of Metso
VisioFroth with an OCS-4D to collect the right
data and ensure that it was used to drive
performance.
28 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2017
Blagoje Spaskovski, General Manager of RTB
Bor Group, explains the boost in the old mine’s
production results achieved through the close
cooperation with Metso: “With my long career of
more than 40 years of experience in processing
and flotation and in opening and operating nine
different mine sites, I’m confident in saying that
Metso’s minerals processing solutions,
worldwide know-how, strong local footprint and
expertise in process integration make it a reliable
long-term partner and a global leader in this
segment,” he says.
VisioFroth, an image analysis system
(consisting of cameras for data capture and
lighting systems) for live measurement of
flotation froth properties, was installed above the
flotation cells and remotely connected to
computers for analysis. The system records and
transmits data on operating froth parameters,
such as bubble size distribution, colour, stability
and texture. Measurements are performed
continuously for each camera, making it possible
to ensure that each cell pulls froth as it should,
generating an increase in floated minerals and a
higher froth recovery.
Working in tandem with VisioFroth, Metso’s
OCS-4D (an advanced process control solution
using fuzzy expert control methodologies)
automatically reads information from the PLC or
The Eriez HydroFloat™ is an innovative fluidised-
bed separator that can substantially increase the
upper particle size that can be successfully
treated by flotation. Recent studies conducted
using laboratory, bench-scale and pilot-scale
equipment indicate that this technology can be
used to float coarse sulphide m