An intelligent control strategy for thickening process

• An intelligent control strategy for thickening process is proposed.
• The controller is based on the mass balance model and expert rules.
• Some guidelines concerning controller tuning are provided.
• Control software has been validated by industrial applications.

Through the online measurement of the thickener operation parameters including feed flow rate, mud bed level, and underflow concentration, an intelligent control strategy for thickener underflow and flocculant addition is proposed based on the mass balance model and expert rules. Based on the strategy, some guidelines concerning controllers tuning are provided. The application of thickener modeling and optimization software in the wastewater treatment plant of mineral processing illustrates an optimal control operation with stable underflow concentration.