Integrated Potline Control and Improvement (IPC-Im)

The purpose of this Advanced Supervisory Control System is to integrate energy, composition, alumina feed and operational control systems with smelter improvement plans, in order to minimise energy consumption and smelter emissions, while maximising productivity, and a clean working environment over time. This is achieved through continuously reducing and removing variation in the process by scientific problem solving approaches.

IPC-Im is meant to be a decision making support tool, aiming to provide meaningful information and guidelines to better decision making and problem solving. It seeks to provide a framework based on the following three step control model:

•      Observing the Process
•      Understanding the Variation, its root causes and effects
•      Making control decisions for lower long-term variability

IPC-Im, unlike existing systems, also brings an "open" approach to control, informing the users on how it reaches its conclusions and recommendations and thus improving the users' understanding of the process. The users are also able to add their own observations and experiences into it over time, which will allow both to better include human input in the decision making and implementing improvements that make the system "learn" over time.

IPC-Im also includes advanced statistical tools and modules, that allow non-conventional approaches to process control and a better ability to "predict" rather than merely "react" to what is occurring.  

To download IPC-IM flyer, please click here.  For more information please contact: Professor  .