SHORT COURSES

Many if not most operating plants generate a wealth of operating data, but using this data to benefit the operation is far from trivial. The short course before the International Conference on Computational Analysis in Hydrometallurgy will take the form of a two day workshop on the tools commonly used to examine real-world process data. Basic understanding of these tools has enabled many plant managers, analysts and engineers to cope with complex multivariate data that cannot be analyzed one or two variables at a time. Theory will be limited to the minimum necessary for a basic understanding of the techniques. Part of the course will be "hands on", in that the participants will use software that will be provided to analyze typical hydrometallurgical plant data. (Bring your laptop.) Emphasis will be placed on practical application via hydrometallurgical case studies, to give participants a thorough background in the use of the methods concerned. Participants will leave this workshop with a new appreciation of the topic and a foundation on which to build a capability in the effective analysis of operating plant data.

The envisaged course outline is as follows (emphasis on application and theory limited to the absolutely necessary).

• Basic Concepts: Geometrical interpretation of data. Simultaneous visualization of many variables. Interpretation of data structures in terms of process behaviour, EDA vs. classical data analysis.
• Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares Methods: PCA/PLS concepts, screen plots, building PCA/PLS Models, biplots. Application to hydrometallurgical systems.
• Cluster Analysis: Definition of a cluster, k-means methods, hierarchical methods of cluster analysis, use of cluster analysis to interpret and design diagnostic systems.
• Linear Regression: Data preparation, least squares principles, dealing with missing variables, transformation of variables, interpretation of models, diagnostics of model residuals, dummy variables.
• Hands-on Case Studies: Step-by-step construction of a process condition monitoring system in liquid-liquid extraction, hotelling's T2 and SPE statistics, contribution plots, dealing with autocorrelation, nonlinear systems.

• Classification and Regression Trees: The basic ideas behind classification and regression trees, developing expert systems, extracting behaviour and control rules from process data. Examples: Fault diagnosis on a metallurgical plant with classification trees.
• Neural Networks: The basic idea, simple feedforward neural networks, building process models with neural networks, interpretation of data.
• Exploratory Analysis of Time Series Data: What to look for in time series data, spectral analysis, autocorrelation functions and lag plots, building predictive models from plant data.
• Hands-on Case Studies: Building predictive models from process data: Step-by-step analysis of time series data, data filtering, model identification and application.
• Final Comments: The big picture, continuous process improvement, software.

The workshop will be presented by Professor Chris Aldrich of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Chris has been involved in the development and application of this technology in industry and academia over the last ten years.

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This course will cover the fundamental aspects and latest developments of gold extraction in:

• mineralogy,
• gravity separation,
• leaching,
• processing of refractory gold ores and
• solution purification/treatment.

The objective of the course is to promote technology transfer and bridge the gap between research and plant practice. The lectures will focus on metallurgical principles and their recent practical applications. The lecturers are all international experts in their fields and have many years of experience.

• Morning
  
  -Mineralogy of Gold Ores
   Stephen Chryssoulis, AMTEL, Canada
   Rolando Lastra, CANMET, Canada
  
  -Gravity Separation and Refining
   André Laplante, McGill University, Canada
   Jennifer Abols, Gekko Systems, Canada
  
  
• Afternoon
  
  -Cyanidation
   Guy Deschênes, CANMET, Canada
  
  -CIP/RIP/Elution/Electrowinning
   Chris Fleming, SGS Lakefield, Canada
  
  -None-cyanide Lixiviants
   Bill Staunton, AJ Parker COOP Research Centre, Australia
  
  

• Morning
  
  -Pressure Leaching/Roasting
   John Pekrul, Barrick Gold Corporation, United States
  
  -Effluents Treatment
   Leon Lorenzen, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
  

Participants will learn about the practical applications of metallurgical principles, methods and case studies from knowledgeable speakers, and will have the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge of the extractive metallurgy of gold.

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This half-day course will provide an overview of fuel cells, including a description of the major types of fuel cells and their applications in different energy sectors, and the fundamental principles governing fuel cell operation (e.g., their thermodynamics and electrochemistry). A more detailed description of the two most commonly used fuel cell types, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), will then be provided. The presentation will then focus on the engineering issues related to integrated system operation (fuel conditioning and delivery, water management, internal vs. external reforming and direct oxidation of multiple fuels, etc.). The last sections of the course will be devoted to socio-economic repercussions of a new energy infrastructure (e.g., fuel production and refueling).

• Technology Rationale: Energy services. Electrical and chemical domains, renewable sources, justification for electrochemical energy conversion technologies
• Electrochemical Energy Conversion: Fuel cell thermodynamics, ideal cell potentials, thermodynamic efficiency
• The Polarisation Curve. Overall fuel cell efficiency.
• Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)
  - Operation. The polymer membrane
  - Water and heat management
  - Hydrogen generation and storage
  - Applications- Transportation, stationary, micro fuel cells
  
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)
  - Materials and their impact on performance
  - Internal reforming and direct oxidation
  - Applications- Co-generation and combined heat and power systems, auxiliary power unit (APU), remote power
  
• Hydrogen infrastructure
  - Refueling stations
  - Production by electrolysis with electricity from renewable energy sources
  - Production by fossil fuel reformation
  

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