ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer for metals

A complete Advanced Process Controls solution for iron and steel-making focusing on stabilizing sintering, pelletizing and gas cleaning processes and reducing operator workload whilst seeking out opportunities to improve quality and output, reduce costs and SO2 emissions.

What we offer

After decades of providing ore processing, agglomeration, iron-making and steel-making control solutions we know your challenges. Now we have applied ABB's tried and trusted APC solution with a user-friendly interface to the metals industry letting your operator to optimize your entire process — at the push of a button.

ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer (EO) is a digital solution that provides advanced process techniques, including linear and non-linear model predictive control, fuzzy logic , neural networks and analytical AI  to make the best operational decisions accurately and consistently at all times. The latest product release introduces EO ML Edge Analytics: Machine learning models deployed directly at the edge for real-time virtual sensing of variables that are infrequently sampled, too costly or hard to measure.

The APC journey typically begins with a consulting service - Fingerprint analysis conducted by ABB in close collaboration with the plant’s engineering and operations teams - to evaluate the plant’s suitability for APC (base level health, instrumentation), understand unit operations (process constraints, plant economics) and elaborate a detailed roadmap (key applications identified based on ROI, project timeline & costing).  

After implementation, acting as an ‘autopilot’, EO coordinates the setpoints of the different stages of the process and immediately detects deviations among the various operation procedures, helping plant managers to reach set profitability and sustainability goals within significant payback time. Customers who chose EO experience a return of investment of less than one year. To sustain efficiency gains over time, we provide proactive support through software lifecycle service agreement, including competency development programs.


Expert insights

References

Raw material grinding
Raw material grinding optimization in steelmaking

APC was installed on a grinding circuit that included a roller-press with static V-separator and single chamber ball mill, improving control performance with a 4% productivity increase, 3% energy savings and 60% reduction of returns standard deviation.

Pellet plant indurating machine burners
Pellet plant indurating machine burners optimization in pellet plant

APC maintained the individual temperature profile, delivering a 15% reduction in standard deviation for the indurating machine temperature profile along the indurating machine burner zone, improving pellet quality and reducing burner fuel consumption by ensuring burn-out temperature is reached at the right location.

apc-for-pellet-plant-dryer
Iron ore dryer optimization in pellet plant

APC maintained the outlet temperature of the iron ore dryer at the desired setpoint despite intermittent disturbance in feed rate and process delays. APC now maintains the dryer temperature even with changes in feed rate and process delays, achieving a 10% reduction in the standard deviation of the temperature.

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