'Artificial intelligence' is being built into coal processing plants, giving controlling systems the capacity to monitor and adjust operations 'intuitively' to improve operational efficiencies. The technology, still under development, will allow all computer-controlled functions in a processing plant to measure, in real time, operating performance against predetermined optimums.

The project is part of 'The Intelligent Plant' program being developed by CSIRO's Division of Energy Technology with support from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).

According to research group leader Dr Bruce Firth, the plant will also be programmed to know the current condition of its equipment and predict when it needs attention.

"Clearly this will improve efficiencies and long-term operating costs in coal production plants," he says.

Achieving incremental efficiency gains in an industry the size of Australia's $14 billion coal sector is a significant factor in maintaining its competitiveness. Jim Craigen, of ACARP, says the research is laying the groundwork for more automated coal processing plants that have the ability, for example, to anticipate when equipment will break down and be able to take remedial action before it does.

"The complete benefits of The Intelligent Plant are still two to three years away, however, we are continually producing and testing components - measurement tools - that are being trialled at a number of sites, to see if they improve plant efficiency," says Mr Craigen.

One such tool is electrical impedance spectroscopy, a technology already used in medical fields to non-invasively study biological systems. It is now being adapted to a mineral environment to study the flow and mix of liquids and solids and to find interactions that can be altered to improve efficiency.

The tools are being designed to allow a plant to run at the highest possible rate, without compromising the recovery of clean coal.

For further information contact:
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Last Updated: May 4, 2005
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