O_BLEND

Based on on-line/at-line analyzers (e.g. PGNAA, at-line XRF, PFTNA, LIBS, NIR, Raman, particle analyzers), process measurement devices (e.g. scales, GPS), and off-line analyzers (e.g. lab XRF, GC, HPLC),
O_Blend helps

• visualize the tonnage and quality of subpiles,
• sort incoming material feeds onto subpiles,
• optimize the quality of a blend batch (blendpile, train, ship, silo/bin) or a blend tonnage window by adjusting the proportions of the material feeders or reclaimed materials

in food processing/chemical/biotechnological/pharmaceutical plants, mines, ports, cement plants, power stations, where the quality can be a vector of product concentrations, moisture, grain size, CV, ash content, etc.

O_Blend is available for various industries such as:

• O_Blend Cement for the cement industry,
• O_Blend Coal for coal-fired power stations, coal mining, and terminals,
• O_Blend Mineral for ore mining and metallurgical plants (iron, copper, phosphate, nickel, manganese, etc.),
• O_Blend Food for the food industry,
• O_Blend Glass for the glass industry.

• 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 reclaimed materials
• Handle large unknown variations of the material qualities with no need to update the qualities by the user
• No need for maintenance contract or on-site expert as O_Blend 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.

O_Blend has been successfully implemented worldwide.

”We have used O_Blend 24h/day 7days/week. After commissioning in 2009, the quality of our production has increased. In conclusion, we are very happy.”

”We consider O_Blend as an excellent system.”