Estimating Expected Variability of the Quality of a Commercial Concentrate on a Processing Plant of a Mining and Processing Enterprise upon Variation in the Mixing Bin Volume

The expected dynamics of the standard deviation of the quality indicator of a commercial concentrate upon variation in the volume of a mixing bin has been evaluated by simulation within a two-cell mixing model. At the first stage, the efficiency of averaging has been estimated using standard methods, including moving average calculation and the ideal mixing model. Computer modeling of the passage of concentrate batches through a bin has been carried out, which made it possible to estimate the averaging efficiency both under the current conditions and with a planned increase in the bin volume. At the second stage, the mixing model has been adjusted using a two-cell structure of the bin and the mixing efficiency under the current production conditions and upon variation in the bin parameters has been additionally estimated. Using the developed software, the bin volume required to achieve the desired standard deviation has been predicted. Together with the economic and engineering departments, recommendations on the selection of parameters of the mixing system have been formulated that provide the result optimum in terms of economic feasibility.