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Pekka Itävuo: Automation will end the stone age for crushing

Tampere University
LocationKorkeakoulunkatu 6, Tampere
Hervanta campus, Konetalo building, auditorium K1702 and remote connection
5.5.2023 10.00–14.00
LanguageEnglish
Entrance feeFree of charge
Ihmishahmo tohtorinhattu päässään, musta siluetti violetin kuultamalla taustalla.
Crushing of rocks, metals, and minerals is one of the few remaining industrial processes that is currently operated manually without the possibility to measure the effect of performed control actions. This practice makes crushing processes inefficient. In his doctoral dissertation, MSc (Tech) Pekka Itävuo revealed that performance and efficiency of crushing processes can be substantially improved by means of automatic process control.

Our modern infrastructure is built on rocks, metals, and minerals. These raw materials are very often produced by crushing. The crushing industry has a considerable environmental footprint. Just like others, it has to find new ways and practices to contribute to limiting the global warming to 1.5 ºC.

In his dissertation, MSc (Tech) Pekka Itävuo developed techniques that make it possible to measure the performance of crushing circuits online. He also introduced methods that ensure consistent and efficient long-term production.

The developed methods represent a major leap forward in the area of process control of crushing circuits. In practice, this can mean up to 10-40 % gains in the performance. That means more production, less waste, lower energy consumption, smaller environmental footprint, and of course higher profit.

“Developed methods can be expected to have a significant impact on how efficiently crushing plants will be operated in the future. It’s a win-win situation for the industry and the environment,” says Pekka Itävuo.

Pekka Itävuo is from Tampere, Finland and he currently works as a Manager, Digital Development at Metso Outotec.

Public defence on Friday 5 May 2023

The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. (Tech) Pekka Itävuo in the field of Automation Science and Engineering titled Process Control of Crushing Circuits will be publicly examined in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Tampere University on Friday 5 May 2023 at 13 o’clock at Hervanta campus in the auditorium K1702 of the Konetalo building (Korkeakoulunkatu 6, Tampere). Opponents will be Professor Andreas Johansson from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and Docent Jari Ruuska from University of Oulu. The Custos will be Professor Matti Vilkko from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Tampere University.

The doctoral dissertation is available online.

The public defence can be followed via remote connection.