Research on the intelligent control of the dense medium separation process in coal preparation plant

•We developed an intelligent control system for dense medium separation process.•We built new models to fit washability and the partition curves.•We developed a method to predict real-time density consist of raw coal.

The density of the dense medium separation used to be controlled according to the desired density given by the operators, which depended on the ash data assayed in each hour. Recently, it is indicated through research and practice that the density of the dense medium separation could be controlled intelligently. The control process is implemented through the procedure as follows. The property of the feed coal would be calculated firstly based on the scanned ash of raw coal on line, thus the process parameters, including the density of the dense medium separation, would be forecasted and optimized. The optimized desired density of circulatory medium would be transmitted to the control system. Similarly, the liquid level of the buckets and silo, the amount of the bypass flow, and the added medium would be calculated and controlled intelligently. The research result could reduce the effect of man's activity on the dense medium separation process, shorten the delay time of the process control, and enhance the efficiency of the dense medium separation. The key technology of the intelligent control of the dense medium process is the forecasting process parameters in the dense medium separation process.