Software development for balance calculations of ilmenite concentrate processing

The aim is to develop dedicated software for automating the calculation of material flow balances in the process flow diagram of ilmenite concentrate processing in order to optimize titanium production, reduce raw material losses, and enhance the efficiency of process management. Material flow analysis is used to comprehensively monitor materials flow at all stages of titanium-containing raw material processing. The stages include reduction smelting, slag chlorination in the melt, titanium tetrachloride extraction and purification, magnesiothermic metal reduction, and vacuum separation. The software package developed in Python consists of four modules. Each module calculates the material balance for a specific technological process stage. Interaction with the user is implemented through MS Excel for the convenience of data entry and visualization of results. The software package ensured the calculation of com plete material balances with a deviation of less than 0.2%. The analysis revealed technology-related titanium losses at the level of 21.4% compared to the initial amount of metal in the concentrate. It was shown that the most substantial Tilosses occurred at the stages of reduction smelting (6.63%, mainly into dust and cast iron) and titanium tetrachloride (IV) purification (12.92%, into by-products). Smaller losses were recorded during slag chlorination (0.33%), titanium tetrachloride (IV) reduction (2.50%), and reaction mass separation (0.51%). The designed programs were published in the official Rospatent Bulletin Computer Programs. Databases. Topology of Integrated Circuits. The developed software package enables the automation of material balance calculations in titanium production from ilmenite concentrate. The key areas for improving the technological process include modernizing the reduction smelting and titanium tetra chloride purification stages where maximum losses of the target metal are observed.