An Expert System for Shaking Table Diagnostics

An expert system, for fault diagnosis of shaking table operations, is presented. The system is designed as one element of an integrated, computer-based method for plant enhancement, for application in the mineral processing industry. The relationship between expert and conventional software techniques is discussed. The system is based on prod uc tion rule s and has been wri tten in the PROLOGlanguage. Diagnostics are at three levels: the first as"';3sing the known table set-up parameters and the deeper levels pr'Qvidillf. more detailed analysis in identifying the root cause of the prv~lem. The reaso~.ing, at each level, is developed making reference to ~ragMents of' PROLOGcode abstracted from the computer program. The syst.:Jm is '~apable of identifying over 120 faults in tabling operation .'.:1d has been deployed at two commercial productions plants. KeTwords Expert system; shaking table; diagnostics; heuristics; plant enhan~ement