Contact Details:

Festo (PTY) Ltd

18 - 26 Electron Ave
Isando
Kempton Park
Gauteng
1600
South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)8600 33786
Fax: +27 (0)11 974-2157

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Leading automation solutions provider, Festo, has helped improved the platinum recovery rate from flotation cells at a mine in North West province.

 

The mine uses flotation cells to extract the platinum from crude ore: By agitating a mixture of ore, water, frothing reagents and collecting reagents, the mineral particles rise to form a froth on the surface. The waste material (gangue) settles to the bottom. The froth is skimmed off, and the water and chemicals are distilled or otherwise removed, leaving a clean concentrate. 

 

When the fluid levels within the flotation cell are not accurately controlled, the mineral-rich foam doesn’t form or the concentrations are not optimal. The original design had all actuators controlled via an external positioner with feedback fed through a series of linkages. This type of system is inherently weak and needs regular maintenance and recalibration – a time-consuming process that was happening too often for the mine. In addition to this, the system needed to operate in a potentially corrosive environment with exposure to sulphuric acid.

 

Based on experience gained with Festo installations at mines across the world, Festo Sales Engineer, Koot Viljoen, offered the Festo DFPI cylinder: “The design of the DFPI is compact so the positioner and valves are situated inside the actuator barrel and are therefore protected from the environment.”

 

The specific model DFPI that Festo supplied also has an integrated position controller and a self-initialisation feature. The DFPI’s integrated position controller checks the position of the piston rod within the available stroke range in a self-regulating closed loop system. The actuator therefore requires no calibration and is effectively maintenance free. Control of the DFPI actuator is through the positioner via a 4 - 20 mA analogue signal, either from a master PLC/IPC, or manually on-site via an external setpoint generator. The integrated positioner of the DFPI and the removal of the linkages ensure accurate control of the flotation cell levels, allowing for improved platinum recovery.

 

The Festo DFPI further has a factory-defined safety position that is assumed if the operating voltage or the analogue setpoint value fails. In this case, a Fail to Extend action, which closes the Dart control valve in the flotation cell to minimize loss of valuable material.

 

As part of the solution supplied to the mine, Festo included an air service unit and signal generator for localised control.

 

The resulting improvement in control accuracy from the Festo solution has meant better platinum recovery and improved reliability. The self-calibrating, easy installation provided a speedy commissioning phase for the customer, minimising impact on productivity. “This is what Festo is all about, improving our customer’s productivity,” concludes Viljoen.