O_Blend Coal

Based on on-line/at-line analyzers (e.g. PGNAA, at-line XRF, PFTNA, LIBS), process measurement devices (e.g. scales, GPS), and off-line analyzers (e.g. lab XRF, calorimeter),
O_Blend Coal helps

• visualize the tonnage and quality of subpiles,
• sort incoming material feeds onto subpiles,
• optimize the quality of the fuel mix (blendpile, train, ship, bunker) or a blend tonnage window
  by adjusting the proportions of the material feeders or reclaimers
• automate stackers and reclaimers for fully-automatic sorting and blending

in coal-fired power stations, coal mines, terminals and ports, where the quality can be a vector of fuel concentrations, moisture, CV, ash content, etc.

• Visualize tonnage and quality maps of stacked (sub)piles
• Assist in selecting the sources of the incoming material feeds
• Assist in optimizing the subpile cuts to reclaim by predicting the quality of the reclaimed materials

• Automatically sort or assist in sorting an incoming feed from a truck, train, ship, quarry or mine onto subpiles with distinct grades

• To reduce the variability of blend quality, automatically blend or assist in blending several material feeders or reclaimers
• Handle large unknown variations of the material qualities with no need to update the qualities by the user
• Optimize the blend mix flowrate within min/max limits
• Handle large unknown variations of the manually added materials such as direct feeds
• No need for maintenance contract or on-site expert as O_Blend Coal is based on novel measurement-based optimization (MBO) technology
• Compensate for large time delays (40 min and more) between feeder/reclaimer actions and off-line analysis in the absence of an on-line/at-line analyzer
• Apply customized strategies to reduce the effects of silo or pile changes and large perturbations in the feeds
• Use alternative feeds when a feeder/reclaimer reaches a limit
• Apply customized strategies e.g. to handle feeders/reclaimers with a nonzero minimum flowrate or when a feeder/reclaimer deviates from its setpoint
• Compute an optimal raw material or subpile for each feeder/reclaimer
• Use transparent feeder/reclaimer actions

• Reduce the need for recalibrating on-line/at-line analyzers
• Fast commissioning thanks to a dynamic simulator
• Maximize the throughput of mills
• Connect easily to a customer PLC (ABB, Rockwell, Schneider-Electric, Siemens, Yokogawa, etc.)
• Plant automation and SCADA available such as server/client set-ups with operator panels and manager PCs for reporting.