Optimising your copper process with the right measurement mix.

Process automation and instrumentation for the Cu industry are considered in relation to cost reduction, savings in energy and raw materials, reduced downtime and maintenance and improved environmental protection. Many processes in Cu production involve utilities such as steam, compressed air, air for ventilation, natural gas, water, electricity and industrial gases such as nitrogen and oxygen, and utility costs have increased considerably in recent years due to higher world-wide energy prices. Accurate measurement of gas consumption is required, but the potential for errors when wiring and commissioning devices is relatively high. An alternative is the use of multivariable meters such as the multivariable vortex meter which measures both volume and temperature and is able to read in an external pressure value digitally. Thermal mass flow meters measure flow using a different principle and do not usually require any external compensation. Coriolis meters measure mass directly and provide accuracies of up to 0.3 %. Mass flow measurement of compressed air can be carried out using t-mass thermal flow meters. Practical examples of cost reduction solutions by reducing downtime and maintenance include the use of magnetic flow meters with a highly abrasion resistant natural rubber in combination with a brush electrode for overload-resistant 99.9 % aluminium oxide/ceramic membranes for density measurement in thickeners, pH oxidation/reduction potential measurement systems for use in flotation cells, acids or tailings, pH electrodes which can be selected according to the application conditions, and tuning fork sensors for density measurements. Two flow meters can be employed for monitoring leakage of cooling circuits in flash furnaces. The first measures the flow rate at the inflow and the second at the return flow, and any difference between the two readings indicates leakage. The management of tailings involves three areas, determination of ore and mine rock characteristic
Process automation and instrumentation for the Cu industry are considered in relation to cost reduction, savings in energy and raw materials, reduced downtime and maintenance and improved environmental protection. Many processes in Cu production involve utilities such as steam, compressed air, air for ventilation, natural gas, water, electricity and industrial gases such as nitrogen and oxygen, and utility costs have increased considerably in recent years due to higher world-wide energy prices. Accurate measurement of gas consumption is required, but the potential for errors when wiring and commissioning devices is relatively high. An alternative is the use of multivariable meters such as the multivariable vortex meter which measures both volume and temperature and is able to read in an external pressure value digitally. Thermal mass flow meters measure flow using a different principle and do not usually require any external compensation. Coriolis meters measure mass directly and provide accuracies of up to 0.3 %. Mass flow measurement of compressed air can be carried out using t-mass thermal flow meters. Practical examples of cost reduction solutions by reducing downtime and maintenance include the use of magnetic flow meters with a highly abrasion resistant natural rubber in combination with a brush electrode for overload-resistant 99.9 % aluminium oxide/ceramic membranes for density measurement in thickeners, pH oxidation/reduction potential measurement systems for use in flotation cells, acids or tailings, pH electrodes which can be selected according to the application conditions, and tuning fork sensors for density measurements. Two flow meters can be employed for monitoring leakage of cooling circuits in flash furnaces. The first measures the flow rate at the inflow and the second at the return flow, and any difference between the two readings indicates leakage. The management of tailings involves three areas, determination of ore and mine rock characteristic