Industry snapshot: Mining

Given that one of the early researchers in process tomography – Professor Richard Williams - has a background in mining, it is not surprising that there are many potential applications of the technology in this sector.

Many of the unit processes in mining are readily addressable with tomographic techniques and there are a wide range of articles and chapters in books covering tomography in the sector.

Examples of applications include

• level detection in separators (foam / liquid and liquid / liquid)
• pneumatic and hydraulic conveying of solids
• optimising the distribution of liquor through a medium in heap leaching
• improving the mixing of coagulants for sludge thickening
• hydrocylone operation
• improved efficiency of crystallisation

The attraction of process tomography in the mining and minerals sector is similar to that in other high volume processes.  As processes are scaled up, they become harder to model, harder to operate and harder to control.

By “seeing” the process dynamics in a volume, process tomography can make a major impact.  The ability to improve the energy efficiency, reduce consumption of reagents or increase yield can have a dramatic impact.

View a recent article summarising a range of mining applications.

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