Fuzzy logic based on-line efficiency optimization control of a ball mill grinding circuit

Grinding circuit must provide stable particle size distribution and should also operate in a way to maximize mill efficiency. Fuzzy logic based on-line optimization control integrated in an expert system was developed to control product particle size while enhancing mill efficiency in a ball mill grinding circuit. In the supervisory level, fuzzy logic control determined the optimum set-points for the controllers in the regulatory level. The whole system not only ensured a long-term stableness of particle size even ore hardness has changed but also increased the mill efficiency more than 8 percent in practical application compared with conventional control. More than half a year's industrial operation demonstrates the practicality, reliability and effectiveness of the suggested control strategy.