Model to improve the copper concentrate production process in a mine at Panama

Abstract

This research presents the design, procurement, installation, commissioning of the implementation of frequency converters for the motor control [1] of a copper concentrate thickener agitator system, where one of the main problems was that the solids settled (decanted). ) and hardened at the bottom of the tanks, so that the agitator propeller itself could not remove them, so production was stopped to extract the water and enter the interior of the tank and remove and eliminate the solids using manual labor and additional manual tools. The present study allowed an improvement in production by 33% equivalent to 175,200 metric tons of copper concentrate, improving the operation of the equipment, minimizing downtime or shutdown due to failures and lack of motor speed control, and allowed compliance with the commitment to annually export 700,800 metric tons of copper concentrate to China, a world record as one of the largest world-class mines at Panama.