Simulating operational improvements on mine compressed air systems

Abstract

Compressed air systems are one of the most significant energy users on mines, with a contribution of about 20 per cent to the total electrical energy consumption on a mine. Research has shown that these compressed air networks are systemically inefficient. Improving the efficiency of these systems would result in a significant reduction in energy costs. A simulation methodology was developed and investigations were conducted into compressed air systems. A compressed air system was subsequently modelled, and a proposed means of improvement was simulated, analysed, and quantified. A South African gold mine was used as a case study. The results showed that, by reducing air usage at refuge bays, an average power reduction of 0.9 megawatts could be achieved. The improvement in efficiency could potentially lead to R6.3 million in annual energy cost savings. The study shows how simulations can help to improve efficiency and profitability in the mining industry

Druklug stelsels is een van die grootse energieverbruikers op myne en beslaan ongeveer 20 per sent van die totale elektriese energie verbruik van ʼn myn. Navorsing toon dat hierdie druklug netwerke ondoeltreffend is. ʼn Noemenswaardige vermindering in die energiekostes is moontlik deur hierdie stelsels meer doeltreffend te maak. ʼn Simulasie metodologie is ontwikkel en ondersoeke is geloods oor druklug stelsels. ʼn Druklug stelsel is gemodelleer en ʼn voorgestelde metode van verbetering is gesimuleer, geanaliseer en gekwantifiseer. ʼn Suid-Afrikaanse goudmyn is gebruik as ʼn gevallestudie en die resultate toon dat, deur die lugverbruik by skuilinhamme te verminder, ʼn gemiddelde vermindering van 0.9 megawatt moontlik is. Hierdie verbetering kan lei tot ʼn jaarlikse besparing van R6.3 miljoen. Die studie wys hoe simulasies kan bydra tot die verbetering van die doeltreffendheid en winsgewendheid van die mynindustrie