Empirical modelling of a dewatering process using multivariate data analysis

A method is described for relating operating variables and dewatering parameters of Thunes disc filters, in the LKAB pelletizing plant at Malmberget in Sweden, via empirical mathematical models. Near orthogonal experimental design was used: all independent variables were allowed to span their domain of variation and pseudorandomly distributed among the experiments. The dewatering parameters are dependent on many variables and an empirical model based on multivariate data analysis was chosen rather than a traditional mechanistic model. The relationships are expressed by regression coefficients obtained from partial least square regression. Two empirical models were generated. The models were validated and parameters were related to design variables by experiment. Userfriendly response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal conditions.