XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 999
APC system can review all measured variables simultane-
ously and determine which action is necessary according
to the defined control strategy. By stabilizing the “base
layer,” Aware ® creates a suitable baseline for optimizing
key parameters such as Feed Flow through the autoclaves.
The success observed in the performance of the autoclave
is a consequence of the success of a world-class control
strategy. With the updated control strategy, the APC sys-
tem can leverage the Feed Flow, Total Oxygen Flow, Total
HPCW Flow, Oxygen distribution per compartment, and
the HPCW per compartment controllers to help manage
the Autoclave Vent Temperature, Vent Valve Opening,
Autoclave Pressure, Autoclave Overpressure, Oxidation
Efficiency, and the individual Compartment Temperatures
of each autoclave. This has resulted in the ability to increase
the Feed Flow, while managing the dynamics of the auto-
claves, allowing for improved performance overall.
CONCLUSION
Working systemically, starting with a control review to
identify the challenges and opportunities for improvement
within the Autoclave Circuit, Pueblo Viejo, along with
Woodgrove Technologies, was able to successfully optimize
their POX circuit. The focus of the integration was on opti-
mizing the performance of the autoclave circuit, a critical
component of the mineral processing plant. The integra-
tion aimed to enhance stability, increase throughput, and
improve overall control of the autoclaves.
The efforts carried out in the autoclave circuit have
resulted in substantial reduction in variability of the main
process and an increase in overall throughput for each
autoclave. This was accomplished by creating an optimized
autoclave control strategy, incorporating autoclave Feed
Flow control, total Oxygen addition per autoclave, Oxygen
distribution throughout the autoclave, as well as HPCW
Table 2. Process parameters of AC250 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process Parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 305.9 327.8 7.2 28.9 32.3 11.8
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.0 221.3 –0.3 1.9 1.1 –42.1
Vent Valve Opening (%)4.7 2.9 –38.3 8.5 3.7 –56.5
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3077 3091 0.5 36 19 –47.2
Autoclave Level (%)70.3 70.2 –0.1 2.9 2.3 –20.7
Oxidation Efficiency (%)95.9 95.6 –0.3 1.5 2.1 40.0
Table 3. Process parameters of AC350 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process Parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 319.2 339.7 6.4 31.7 31.8 0.3
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.2 221.4 –0.4 2.2 1.3 –40.9
Vent Valve Opening (%)6.2 3.1 –50.0 9.1 3.1 –65.9
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3099 3099 0.0 8 6 –25.0
Autoclave Level (%)71.1 71.0 –0.1 1.5 1.2 –20.0
Oxidation Efficiency (%)95.2 94.5 –0.7 2.4 2.1 –12.5
Table 4. Process parameters of AC450 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 298.9 305.9 2.3 31.6 31.1 –1.6
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.7 221.4 –0.6 2.6 1.5 –42.3
Vent Valve Opening (%)4.8 3.0 –37.5 5.2 2.7 –48.1
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3091 3092 0.0 21 18 –14.3
Autoclave Level (%)77.0 75.8 –1.6 4.5 4.1 –8.9
Oxidation Efficiency (%)96.2 95.6 –0.6 1.2 1.2 0.0
APC system can review all measured variables simultane-
ously and determine which action is necessary according
to the defined control strategy. By stabilizing the “base
layer,” Aware ® creates a suitable baseline for optimizing
key parameters such as Feed Flow through the autoclaves.
The success observed in the performance of the autoclave
is a consequence of the success of a world-class control
strategy. With the updated control strategy, the APC sys-
tem can leverage the Feed Flow, Total Oxygen Flow, Total
HPCW Flow, Oxygen distribution per compartment, and
the HPCW per compartment controllers to help manage
the Autoclave Vent Temperature, Vent Valve Opening,
Autoclave Pressure, Autoclave Overpressure, Oxidation
Efficiency, and the individual Compartment Temperatures
of each autoclave. This has resulted in the ability to increase
the Feed Flow, while managing the dynamics of the auto-
claves, allowing for improved performance overall.
CONCLUSION
Working systemically, starting with a control review to
identify the challenges and opportunities for improvement
within the Autoclave Circuit, Pueblo Viejo, along with
Woodgrove Technologies, was able to successfully optimize
their POX circuit. The focus of the integration was on opti-
mizing the performance of the autoclave circuit, a critical
component of the mineral processing plant. The integra-
tion aimed to enhance stability, increase throughput, and
improve overall control of the autoclaves.
The efforts carried out in the autoclave circuit have
resulted in substantial reduction in variability of the main
process and an increase in overall throughput for each
autoclave. This was accomplished by creating an optimized
autoclave control strategy, incorporating autoclave Feed
Flow control, total Oxygen addition per autoclave, Oxygen
distribution throughout the autoclave, as well as HPCW
Table 2. Process parameters of AC250 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process Parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 305.9 327.8 7.2 28.9 32.3 11.8
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.0 221.3 –0.3 1.9 1.1 –42.1
Vent Valve Opening (%)4.7 2.9 –38.3 8.5 3.7 –56.5
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3077 3091 0.5 36 19 –47.2
Autoclave Level (%)70.3 70.2 –0.1 2.9 2.3 –20.7
Oxidation Efficiency (%)95.9 95.6 –0.3 1.5 2.1 40.0
Table 3. Process parameters of AC350 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process Parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 319.2 339.7 6.4 31.7 31.8 0.3
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.2 221.4 –0.4 2.2 1.3 –40.9
Vent Valve Opening (%)6.2 3.1 –50.0 9.1 3.1 –65.9
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3099 3099 0.0 8 6 –25.0
Autoclave Level (%)71.1 71.0 –0.1 1.5 1.2 –20.0
Oxidation Efficiency (%)95.2 94.5 –0.7 2.4 2.1 –12.5
Table 4. Process parameters of AC450 for AwaRE® OFF and AwaRE® ON periods
Process parameter
Average Standard Deviation
OFF ON Difference (%)OFF ON Difference (%)
Feed Flow (tph) 298.9 305.9 2.3 31.6 31.1 –1.6
Vent Temperature (°C) 222.7 221.4 –0.6 2.6 1.5 –42.3
Vent Valve Opening (%)4.8 3.0 –37.5 5.2 2.7 –48.1
Autoclave Pressure (kPa) 3091 3092 0.0 21 18 –14.3
Autoclave Level (%)77.0 75.8 –1.6 4.5 4.1 –8.9
Oxidation Efficiency (%)96.2 95.6 –0.6 1.2 1.2 0.0