Determination of the optimal transition point between a truck and shovel system and a semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying system

One of the most challenging aspects in semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying (SMIPCC) system design is determining the optimum depth at which to change from a purely truck-based haulage system to a conveyor-based haulage system. We used scenario analysis to determine the optimum transition depth between a truck and shovel (TS) system and a SMIPCC system. Traditional pit-limit algorithms were used to generate the final pit limit on a copper deposit, which was then divided into four pushbacks. The final operating pushbacks (phases) were designed for both TS and SMIPCC. The end depths for each phase are viewed as candidate transition points to switch from the TS to SMIPCC haulage system. Economic calculations were applied for five different scenarios, including adopting SMIPCC from the outset (pure SMIPCC), after the first, second, and third phases, and finally not using the SMIPCC system (pure TS) at all. The analysis indicates that the second scenario, at a depth of 335 m, results in the lowest cumulative discounted cost (CDC). In this case, the CDC is 17.6% lower than that for the pure TS scenario and 10.7% lower than for the pure SMIPCC system scenario.

Optimising Productivity and Safety of the Open Pit Loading and Haulage System with a Surge Loader

The open pit mining load and haul system has been a mainstay of the mining industry for many years. While machines have increased in size and scale and automation has become an important development, there have been few innovations to the actual load and haul process itself in recent times. This research highlights some of the potential productivity and safety benefits that the incorporation of a surge loader may bring to the load and haul system through an analysis of the system, discussion of component characteristics, and mine planning aspects. The incorporation of the surge loader into open pit loading and haulage operations also enables improved safety. This is a result of a reduction in shovel–truck interactions and the reduced likelihood of truck overfilling and uneven loading. This paper details the number of mine worker deaths that a surge loader may have prevented within the Peruvian and Chilean mining industries.

Improving the productivity of the cutter-loader

The task of the conducted research is to determine the dependence of the productivity of the cutter-loader on the parameters of the engagement of the teeth of the wheel-rack mover of chainless haulage systems. To solve this problem, the dependence of the influence of the parameters of the toothed gearing of the wheel-rack mover of the chainless haulage system on the performance of the cutter-loader is found using the mathematical apparatus. The equation of the balance of the power of the cutter-loader is made, taking into account the mechanical energy input for the destruction of the formation, loading the destroyed mineral mass onto the face conveyor (relevant for cutter-loaders for excavating thin flat-lying seams) and moving the cutter-loader. The theoretical performance of the cutter-loader depends on the redistribution of the mechanical energy of the drive electric motor, aimed at the destruction of the mineral and the translational movement of the cutter-loader. The correlation of the productivity of the cutter-loader with the parameters of the engagement of the teeth of the wheel-rack mover of chainless haulage system systems is revealed. The obtained dependences of the performance of the cutter-loader allow assessing the degree of influence of the parameters of the toothed gearing of the mover of the chainless haulage system on the performance of the cutter-loader. The possibility of increasing the minute productivity of the cutter-loader by up to 20% when using a wheel-rack mover of a chainless haulage system with an optimal tooth profile is established.

HAULAGE ANALYSIS IN THE AIM OF THE COMBINED SYSTEM APPLICATION ON THE LEAD AND ZINC MINE "SASE" SREBRENICA

One of the most important influencing factors on the economy of mines with surface and underground exploitation is the correct choice of haulage technology of ore and waste. The paper analyzes the haulage of ore and waste in the Lead and Zinc Mine "Sase" Srebrenica and determines the optimal haulage length on the four excavation blocks for the application of the new haulage system by using the mine trucks from the aspect of set criteria, increasing capacity and reducing haulage costs through the techno - economic analysis and optimization.The optimal haulage length is determined through the calculations of the loader capacity and the possible choice of the truck depending on the stated criteria.

WORLD TRENDS IN DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZA TION OF THE OPEN PIT HAULAGE SYSTEM

The analysis of international experience in increase of efficiency of open pit haulage system has been done. It is revealed that a new, rapidly developing and the most perspective direction in the world is to minimize and exclude human participation in the technological processes of mining. The development of technologies and equipment, allows gradually replacing the human driver in the transportation process and stepping into fully autonomous haulage system. The combination of sensors and detectors with the artificial intelligence of computer is able to analyze, evaluate and predict the traffic conditions with the generation of an adequate intellectual decision. The introduction of autonomous haulage system in open-pit mining is improved of the technical and economic performance of the rocks transportation and safety of mining. Outlined the directions for increasing the level of robotics and automation of production processes at the Russian mining enterprises to reduce the existing gap in this field between Russian and international mining companies.