WEIGHTED MEDIAN METHOD FOR PST CONTROL SIGNAL DETERMINATION

• US 20190308204A1
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, Inc.
• Inventors: DAVIS, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,814,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/00 Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/40; cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; arrangements for separating lubricants from refrigerants F25B43/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/267 by using a cyclone
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 11/00 Accessories, e.g. safety or control devices, not otherwise provided for , e.g. regulators, valves in inlet or overflow ductingwith electrostatic precipitating arrangements B03C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/0018 controlling the stock preparation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/29 Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/02 Investigating particle size or size distribution by measuring osmotic pressure G01N7/10; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0053 in liquids, e.g. trouble
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0288 Sorting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A controller for controlling a slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, featuring a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled, median control signaling {tilde over (x)} of all of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i), a scale factor A_i and a number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled; and determine/provides primary control signaling C containing information to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration by taking the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} and adding a correction factor, where the correction factor is determined by taking a sum of a respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)}, applying the scaling factor A_i to each respective difference, and normalizing the sum by the number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled, based upon the signaling received.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling a slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, comprising:

a signal processor configured to

receive signaling containing information about respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled, median control signaling {tilde over (x)} of all of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i), a scale factor A_i and a number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled; and

determine primary control signaling C containing information to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration by taking the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} and adding a correction factor, where the correction factor is determined by taking a sum of a respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)}, applying the scaling factor A_i to each respective difference, and normalizing the sum by the number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled, based upon the signaling received.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine the primary control signaling C using the following equation:

3. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to provide the primary control signaling C to control the flow rate and pressure of the slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones.

4. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the correction factor may takes the form of the equation:

5. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) contains information about the particle size P(i) of particles passing through each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled;

and the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) are generated by individual cyclone sensors arranged on each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

6. A controller according to claim 5, wherein the individual cyclone sensors are arranged on individual overflows of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

7. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) received from one or more out-of-class hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, and determine the primary control signaling C to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration based upon this removal.

8. A controller according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove all out-of-class hydrocyclones that deviate from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

9. A controller according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove any out-of-class hydrocyclone where the respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} deviates from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

10. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller forms part of a particle size tracking (PST) system that is configured to give a particle size indication of the slurry that is passed from individual hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, including from one or more overflow pipes of the individual hydrocyclones.

11. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to combine the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled into the primary control signaling C determined.

12. A particle size tracking (PST) system for controlling a slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, comprising:

hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration having an incoming pipe for passing a slurry to the hydrocyclones, and also having one or more overflow pipes for providing a processed slurry from the hydrocyclones; and

a controller having a signal processor configured to

receive signaling containing information about respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone in the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration being evaluated and controlled, median control signaling {tilde over (x)} of all of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i), a scale factor A_i and a number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled; and

determine primary control signaling C containing information to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration by taking the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} and adding a correction factor, where the correction factor is determined by taking a sum of a respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling X(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)}, applying the scaling factor A_i to each respective difference, and normalizing the sum by the number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled, based upon the signaling received.

13. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine the primary control signaling C using the following equation:

14. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the signal processor is configured to provide the primary control signaling C to control the flow rate and pressure of the slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones.

15. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the correction factor may takes the form of the equation:

16. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) contains information about the particle size P(i) of particles passing through each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled;

and the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) are generated by individual cyclone sensors arranged on each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

17. A PST system according to claim 16, wherein the individual cyclone sensors are arranged on individual overflows of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

18. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) received from one or more out-of-class hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, and determine the primary control signaling C to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration based upon this removal.

19. A PST system according to claim 18, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove all out-of-class hydrocyclones that deviate from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

20. A PST system according to claim 18, wherein the signal processor is configured to remove any out-of-class hydrocyclone where the respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} deviates from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

21. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the controller forms part of a particle size tracking (PST) system having that is configured to give a particle size indication of the slurry that is passed from individual hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, including from one or more overflow pipes of the individual hydrocyclones.

22. A PST system according to claim 12, wherein the signal processor is configured to combine the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled into the primary control signaling C determined.

23. A method for controlling a slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, comprising:

receiving, with a signal processor, signaling containing information about respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled, median control signaling {tilde over (x)} of all of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i), a scale factor A_i and a number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled; and

determining, with the signal processor, primary control signaling C containing information to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration by taking the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} and adding a correction factor, where the correction factor is determined by taking a sum of a respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)}, applying the scaling factor A_i to each respective difference, and normalizing the sum by the number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled, based upon the signaling received.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises determining with the signal processor the primary control signaling C using the following equation:

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises providing with the signal processor the primary control signaling C to control the flow rate and pressure of the slurry flowing from incoming piping and entering hydrocyclones.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the correction factor may takes the form of the equation:

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) contains information about the particle size P(i) of particles passing through each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled;

and the method comprises generating the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) by individual cyclone sensors arranged on each of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the method comprises arranging the individual cyclone sensors on individual overflows of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled.

29. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises removing with the signal processor the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) received from one or more out-of-class hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, and determine the primary control signaling C to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration based upon this removal.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises removing with the signal processor all out-of-class hydrocyclones that deviate from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises removing with the signal processor any out-of-class hydrocyclone where the respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} deviates from a predetermined median by a certain amount or a certain number of standard deviations away from the predetermined median before an average calculation is performed.

32. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises forming the controller as part of a particle size tracking (PST) system having that is configured to give a particle size indication of the slurry that is passed from individual hydrocyclones in the battery configuration, including from one or more overflow pipes of the individual hydrocyclones.

33. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises combining with the signal processor the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled into the primary control signaling C determined.

34. Apparatus comprising

means for receiving signaling containing information about respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) for each individual cyclone being evaluated and controlled, median control signaling {tilde over (x)} of all of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i), a scale factor A_i and a number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled;

and

means for determining primary control signaling C containing information to control the slurry flowing from the incoming piping and entering the hydrocyclones arranged in the battery configuration by taking the median control signaling {tilde over (x)} and adding a correction factor, where the correction factor is determined by taking a sum of a respective difference of each of the respective individual cyclone control signaling x(i) and the median control signaling {tilde over (x)}, applying the scaling factor A_i to each respective difference, and normalizing the sum by the number N of the individual cyclones being evaluated and controlled, based upon the signaling received, consistent with that set forth herein.