Computer-Assisted Decision-Making System of Optimal Control over the Energy and Resource Efficiency of a Chemical Energotechnological System for Processing Apatite–Nepheline Ore Wastes

Abstract

Some multilevel decision-making algorithms have been developed to provide optimal control over the energy and resource efficiency and environmental safety of a chemical energotechnological system designed for processing apatite–nepheline ore wastes and composed of a grinder, a granulator, a roasting conveyor machine, and an electric ore-smelting furnace (EOSF). The mutually dependent set of parameters of wet granules at the outlet from the tray granulator, roasted granules at the outlet from the roasting conveyor machine, and granules loaded into the EOSF and the characteristics of initial finely dispersed technogenic raw materials is taken into account alongside the effect of these waste-processing indices on the quality and purity of the finished product, namely, yellow phosphorus. Descriptive and mathematical formulations are given for the problem of optimal control over the energy and resource efficiency of a complex multistage chemical energotechnological system for processing apatite–nepheline ore wastes with the production of yellow phosphorus with consideration for the spatial and temporal interdependence between the chemical and energotechnological processes occurring in this system. One complex energy and resource efficiency criterion is the prime cost of electrical and heat energies, water, and coke spent on processing apatite–nepheline ore wastes in the considered chemical energotechnological system. It has been established that the optimal system functioning regime intensifies all the chemical energotechnological processes, decreases the energy and coke consumption, and increases the quality and purity of the finished product (i.e., yellow phosphorus). This study has resulted in a solution for the urgent scientific and practical problem of improving the energy and resource efficiency and environmental safety of a complex system for processing technogenic apatite–nepheline ore wastes via intensifying the chemical energotechnological processes occurring in this system.