Control strategy for a Teniente Converter

A diagnosis of the actual distributed control and measurements system for a Teniente Converter, processing copper concentrates, is presented. Besides the importance of this converter in Caletones Smelter, there is a number of unsolved problems related to lack of instrumentation, lack of process knowledge, odd operating practices, and lack of procedures to process data to aid management and operating decisions. In general, process control of some local objectives are frequently achieved. A proposal to implement a supervisory control strategy for Teniente Converters, in harmony with other process units in the smelter, is presented.