State and parameter estimation of a dynamic froth flotation model using industrial data

This paper investigates an observable dynamic model of froth flotation circuits aimed at online state and parameter estimation and model-based control. The aim is to estimate the model states and parameters online from industrial data. However, in light of limitations in the plant data, additional model analysis is conducted. It is shown that without online compositional measurements, only the states and parameters of a reduced model can be estimated online. The reduced model lumps all recovery mechanisms into a single empirical equation. The reduced model is used to develop a moving horizon estimator (MHE) which is implemented on the industrial data. The state and parameter estimates from the MHE are used to evaluate the model prediction accuracy over a receding control horizon as would be done in model predictive control (MPC). Given the uncertainty of the available data, unmeasured disturbances and missing online measurements, the estimation and prediction results are reasonably accurate, at least in a qualitative sense. If accurate and reliable online measurements are available for estimation, the reduced model shows potential to be used for long-term model-based supervisory control of a flotation circuit. •The model of a flotation plant is evaluated for state and parameter observability.•Without online compositional measurements only a reduced model is observable.•The states and parameters of the reduced model are estimated from industrial data.•The reduced model shows potential for use in long-term supervisory control.