Invensys Provides Advanced Process Control for Chile-Based Codelco

Invensys Provides Advanced Process Control for Chile-Based Codelco

Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the process and manufacturing industries, today announced that it has partnered with Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, on a corporate-wide development agreement to improve the performance and longevity of Codelco’s processing assets at the smelters areas, increasing the overall economic value of that company’s business through the use of advanced process control, advanced regulatory control, real-time business performance measurement, simulators and operator training systems.

After an extensive consulting effort in which Invensys Operations Management experts and Codelco senior management, led by Francisco Amiama, Codelco’s corporate GTICA assistant manager, examined all aspects of Codelco’s operations in the smelter process, Invensys Operations Management is implementing a range of multivariable advanced process control (APC) solutions targeted at generating optimal value from Codelco processes.

The current implementation has thus far improved product quality and consistency, reducing variability and shutdown frequency, thereby increasing Codelco’s asset utilization.

“As the world leader in advanced process management, we deliver patented techniques and methodologies that identify value-enhancing opportunities within a production enterprise, create operational improvement and integrate automation and IT systems to help improve overall business for our clients,” said Ramón Hernández, Invensys Operations Management Client Executive. “Codelco and we have a long and successful history together with distributed control at several of their processing sites, especially at the smelter areas, and we look forward to continuing to serve as their valued business partner.”

The program commenced with operations at the Codelco Norte Division’s concentrate smelter complex. There, APC has been implemented at the CT Converter to reduce slag temperature variability, reduce copper concentration variability in white metal and control other parameters more precisely.

“Invensys Operations Management solutions have generated good results so far and have met all our expectations,” said Mallen Gajardo Mendez, who is responsible for project development and implementation at Codelco. “We have implemented a successful model to gain optimal control of process variables in the area of smelting of copper concentrates. It is proving to be robust technology that we believe we can apply to other smelting processes across Codelco, and generally in any productive process within the corporation.”

“Using advanced process control enables us to improve the safety and efficiency of our critical operations with a system that optimizes the process and reduces costs without diminishing the quality of the product,” he added.

Invensys Operations Management will implement the solution at other Codelco facilities as part of Codelco’s broad asset improvement program, which was adopted by Codelco senior management to support the company’s broader business objectives.

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