Modelagem e Sintonia de Malhas de Controle de uma Correia ...

Abstract
In this ”Final Year Project”, an analysis of the Capitão do Mato’s crushing plant
processes, from Vale Company, has been made, starting from the dumping of iron ore
extracted on the pit till the delivery of treated material to the next plant unit. An
engineering design has been suggested to Vale for optimizing these crushing
processes. Problems that more significantly affect the throughtput loss have been
selected for assessment during this work. As an engineering solution, methodologies of
dynamic systems modeling and controller design have been applied.
The chosen process for optimization consists of four feeders and one conveyor belt
that shall keep as high as possible a constant mass flow rate, being therefore a MISO
(Multiple Input Single Output) system. This process has been modeled with the aid of
step responses, with real data collected by an OPC solution integrated to a database
and developed specifically for this purpose.
PI controllers have been designed using the Direct Synthesis and Internal Model
Control methods. Classical controllers and Smith Predictors have been applied and
compared. The models and controllers obtained have been validated by means of
simulation with real data and the results are then analyzed.
Finally, some control strategies were suggested in order to achieve a better global
performance of the process herein studied.