Rising demand for strategic minerals and metals,depleting ore deposits, and stricter environmental regulations call forinnovative system-level thinking in minerals processing. In response, Metso islaunching the Sustainable Flowsheet Explorer (SFX) enabling the assessment,simulation, and comparison of technological alternatives on circuit and fullflowsheets within minutes instead of weeks.
This innovative digital solution provides valuableinsights on energy consumption, water usage, GHG emissions, costs,metallurgical performance, and much more.
“For our mining customers, the SustainableFlowsheet Explorer streamlines the evaluation and comparison of technologicalalternatives with a focus on the Metso Plus solutions. Itsignificantly reduces the time needed for initial flowsheet assessments, providingcomprehensive flowsheet evaluation of metallurgical performance, environmentalfootprint, and other relevant indicators that support informed decision-making.By centralizing key performance indicators on a single platform and providingclear visualizations of results, SFX enables more informed decision-making fromthe outset of a project,” explains Rodrigo Grau, Vice President, ProcessPerformance, Minerals Digital at Metso.
SFX employs a validated Life Cycle Assessment(LCA) methodology to ensure accurate and reliable evaluations. The robustmethodology used in SFX integrates Metso’s extensive know-how in thedevelopment of technology and process solutions across the entire value chain,from ore to metal. It is powered by Metso's proprietary process simulationsoftware, HSC Chemistry®.
SFX’s web-based platform offers an intuitive andvisually appealing 3D visualization of circuit or full process flowsheets, frommine to metal. SFX analyses are done in close collaboration with Metsoexperts.
Besides assessing technological alternatives, SFXcan also assess the impact of different levels of automation in a concentratingplant, leveraging the Metso Plus portfolio to improve energy consumption, wateruse, and CO2 emissions. In addition, SFX can be used toevaluate the impact of different tailings dewatering configurations, includingvarious thickening technologies and advanced filtration systems.