To establish the design and the capacity of the Stanwell Magnesium Plant, Australian Magnesium Corporation Ltd (AMC) with Fluor Australia has modelled the operation of the magnesium plant using ARENA Simulation Modelling._x000D_
The reliability model has been used to evaluate: surge capacities required between different sections of the plant; critical equipment requiring standby capacity; the number of trains required for different sections of the plant; and potential capital cost reduction options._x000D_
The reliability model was established using the detailed Process Flow Diagrams, reliability information from literature and maintenance, operation and start-up experience from the Demonstration Plant._x000D_
The model was run with different plant configurations to assist AMC in determining the most effective configuration to provide the production capacity at the lowest capital cost. The model was not only able to confirm the plant capacity to the independent technical expert but was able to minimise quantitative risk by minimising the quantities of hazardous materials on site._x000D_
Fluor Australia provided the ARENA simulation expertise and has used this software for optimising new plant design and to establish improvements in operating plants._x000D_
Reliability modelling is a normal feature of chemical plant design but is rarely used in the resource industry. The experience gained by AMC in the modelling system has indicated that metallurgical plant design can be improved by the application of reliability modelling.