Underground mining fleet transport simulation study
An underground mining operation can be interpreted as a hauling system where material is moved ahead from one activity to another. The primary activities consist of: loading the materials from one or multiple sources (mining production areas), hauling the materials to one or multiple destinations (waste dumps, stockpiles or crusher) using one or multiple transportation systems interconnected by various materials handling methods. The size of the mining mobile equipment is a crucial factor to consider when analyzing the most suitable haulage system.
Summary
The mining transport optimization used discrete event simulations of a reputable software company to identify bottlenecks in the flow both underground and on surface. The mining vehicle tonnage payload was also looked at in order to optimize the mining vehicle fleet over the life of project.
Our challenges
Clearly communicate to the client the identified bottlenecks problems areas from third-party consultants underground mine design. Looking at the decline ramp maximum gradient and minimum width in order to have access to the underground mining areas and high productivity transport flow.
This project focused on the haulage system of an underground mining project in Sweden which assumed a fleet of Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) scooptram equipment’s and three vehicles capacity alternatives used to haul fragmented rock material. The following three truck alternatives were examined using ExtendSim simulation software: (i) Base Case: Scania 40 tonne vehicle; (ii) Alternative A: Scania 50 t vehicle; and (iii) Alternative B: Sandvik 60 t underground vehicle.
Our solutions
Single lane wide main decline underground at the exception of a few vehicle waiting bays with dual-lane width has demonstrated added productivity and lower capital expenditures to build the mine underground.
Lower payload tonnage vehicle fleet over the life-of-project was estimated has the lowest cost per tonnne for the project due to higher travel speed, lower cycle travel time and lower operating and capital expenses.
Project highlights
Our experts managed this project within the deadline and to the satisfaction of the client even though third party consultants did not like that we identified weaknesses in their recommendations. We help the client reduce their mining underground development costs by identifying only a few vehicle meeting segments to be dual-lane in the main decline without affecting the flow.
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