A Comparison Study on Using Fuzzy and Parametric Methods to Simulate Hydraulic Classifiers: The Case of Zarand Coal Washing Plant

This paper reports the successful application of fuzzy logic method to precisely predictcut size of a hydraulic classifier. The relationship between operation parameters includingfeed particle size, pulp flowrate and solid content with cut size was modeled and thepredicted values were compared with actual values measured in an industrialenvironment. The triangular fuzzy sets was selected as membership function pattern.Mamdani controller was considered as the inference engine to relate the consequences ofthe rule base with membership function values for the output variable quality groups. Acomparison study showed that the application of fuzzy logic approach gives betterpredictions with about 90% accuracy compared to parametric models. Results showedthat fuzzy logic system can be applied as a promising tool for precise prediction of cutsize of hydraulic classifiers.

Keywords:

Coal classifier , Modeling , Fuzzy logic , Operating parameters , Cut size