How to use Excel as a flowchart simulation package.

Introduction

For over 10 years Dr Stephen Rayward has been providing courses in mineral processing simulation.?There are many simulation systems, but there is not a single system that is used by all mineral processors.?In contrast all mineral processors use Excel.?But Excel as-is is not a flowchart-based simulation system.?Consequently in order to teach the fundamental concepts of mineral processing simulation, Stephen developed a methodology to enhance Excel to enable flowchart simulation.?Yet very few mineral processors are taught Excel from a science/engineering viewpoint.?This led Stephen to also provide courses in Excel.

Course Content in brief

Stephen will be providing an overview course of Excel and flowsheet simulation in Finland.?This article provides some information about that course.?In brief, concepts and skills taught are:

1. Excel formatting skills.
2. Efficient use of named ranges and arrays.
3. Unit Model templates.
4. Flowcharting in Excel (including how to create a mineral processing flowsheet).
5. Redesigning Excel workbooks to make them:

• ?easy to understand,
• ?less error-prone and
• more automated

6. Linking unit models to flowcharts.

7. Mass Balancing in Excel.

8. Flowchart simulation.

9. Novel concepts in mineral processing analysis (information theory, machine learning).

Benefits

The benefits of the course are:

• Better utilisation of Excel, to make workbooks clearer, less error-prone and automated; and
• To provide a basis for mineral processing operational improvement.

The course is essential for any mineral processor wishing to enhance their analytical skills with a view to operational improvement.

Action

If your organisation or region are interested in such a course or related courses write to [email protected].