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System dynamics and discrete event simulation of copper smelters

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Abstract

Discrete event simulation (DES) is an appropriate framework for the plant-wide analysis of copper smelters. These smelters apply a common set of chemical reactions: copper-iron sulfides are blasted with oxygen-enriched air, sending the iron into a slag phase and the sulfur into the offgas. Moreover, conventional copper smelters exhibit similar operational dynamics: a smelting furnace operates continually, feeding into an alternating set of converters that produce batches of blister copper. The thermochemical and operational commonalities of copper smelters are integrated within the DES framework. This serves as a common basis to begin evaluating the system dynamics of individual smelters. For complex problems, the simulation framework should be developed in phases, incorporating feedback from different personnel who have complementary perspectives. Sample computations are provided in this paper based on the Hernán Videla Lira smelter, whose production is constrained by meteorological conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Engineering Department, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile

    A. Navarra (Professor)

  2. Department of Industry and Business, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile

    H. Marambio (Graduate student) & F. Oyarzún (graduate student)

  3. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile

    H. Marambio (Graduate student) & F. Oyarzún (graduate student)

  4. Metallurgical Engineering Department, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    R. Parra (Professor)

  5. Mining and Materials Engineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    F. Mucciardi (Professor)

Authors
  1. A. Navarra
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  2. H. Marambio
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  3. F. Oyarzún
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  4. R. Parra
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  5. F. Mucciardi
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Paper number MMP-16-060.

Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to Nov. 30, 2017.

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Navarra, A., Marambio, H., Oyarzún, F. et al. System dynamics and discrete event simulation of copper smelters. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 34, 96–106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.19150/mmp.7510

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.19150/mmp.7510

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