Numerical study on forced periodic oscillations in solvent extraction of metals using the object-oriented simulation methodology
Soto Afonso, Juan Calixto (2018)
Diplomityö
2018
School of Engineering Science, Kemiantekniikka
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2018080733463
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2018080733463
Tiivistelmä
The computational advances of the modelling and simulation tools in Chemical Engineering open up the possibility of studying in a general, robust and efficient way (avoiding the peculiarities and restrictions of analytical methods) the possible improvement of certain non-linear chemical systems switching from the steady state mode of operation to a dynamic one with forced oscillations that enable the emergence of complex behavior in these systems.
In this work, we propose to apply this idea to a case of interest in the industry, the single and multicomponent solvent extraction of metals in mixer-settlers, one of the main hydrometallurgical processes. To do so, following the latest trends, the process is modelled mathematically applying the modern object-oriented modelling and simulation paradigm, using the Simscape equation based language within the Simulink environment, which allows solving the complex DAE systems that arise from dynamic models. The fundamental and complex problem of determining the optimal value of the parameters of the inputs to oscillate (amplitude and frequency of the sine wave oscillations of the flowrates of the aqueous and organic streams) is addressed by a Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA), through statistical sampling with Monte Carlo simulations that explore the design space of the problem.
For the discussion of the results, obtained by means of simulation, a comparison between the steady state and the dynamic oscillatory modes of operation is carried out. In the case of the single component study, the variable to be optimized is shrinkage of metal, while in the multicomponent case, it is necessary to study together the productivity and purity of the process in the whole range of operation.
In this work, we propose to apply this idea to a case of interest in the industry, the single and multicomponent solvent extraction of metals in mixer-settlers, one of the main hydrometallurgical processes. To do so, following the latest trends, the process is modelled mathematically applying the modern object-oriented modelling and simulation paradigm, using the Simscape equation based language within the Simulink environment, which allows solving the complex DAE systems that arise from dynamic models. The fundamental and complex problem of determining the optimal value of the parameters of the inputs to oscillate (amplitude and frequency of the sine wave oscillations of the flowrates of the aqueous and organic streams) is addressed by a Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA), through statistical sampling with Monte Carlo simulations that explore the design space of the problem.
For the discussion of the results, obtained by means of simulation, a comparison between the steady state and the dynamic oscillatory modes of operation is carried out. In the case of the single component study, the variable to be optimized is shrinkage of metal, while in the multicomponent case, it is necessary to study together the productivity and purity of the process in the whole range of operation.