Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining

Fazleena Badurdeen; Alperen Bal; Zach Agioutantis; Steve Hicks

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133

Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining

Fazleena Badurdeen, Alperen Bal, Zach Agioutantis, Steve Hicks

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Material excavated in underground mines must be hoisted to the surface level for processing and distribution. The capacity of these hoisting facilities, known as skips, can be a limiting factor that determines the rate at which excavated material can be removed to the surface. This paper presents the application of discrete event simulation to study the operations of an underground coal mining system to evaluate the impact of increasing skips capacity, together with adding buffers ahead of skips, and any bottlenecks that will be encountered. Different scenarios are considered to evaluate any variation in performance based on the area of the mine being excavated. The results reveal that adding a new skip facility can help increase monthly production output by more than 16% compared to the current levels, indicating a very favorable return on the investment. Findings also show that overall utilization of the skip facilities declines and that expected output is driven by the effective carrying capacity of the belt conveyors. Further research can be conducted to determine the effective buffer capacity and also the optimal effective belt conveyor carrying capacities to maximize production output.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing
Subtitle of host publication	Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023
Editors	Francisco J. Silva, Luís Pinto Ferreira, José Carlos Sá, Maria Teresa Pereira, Carla M.A. Pinto
Pages	1164-1171
Number of pages	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133
State	Published - 2024
Event	32nd International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2023 - Porto, Portugal Duration: Jun 18 2023 → Jun 22 2023

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
ISSN (Print)	2195-4356
ISSN (Electronic)	2195-4364

Conference

Conference	32nd International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2023
Country/Territory	Portugal
City	Porto
Period	6/18/23 → 6/22/23

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Simulation
belt conveyor
mining
skips

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Automotive Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133

Cite this

Badurdeen, F., Bal, A., Agioutantis, Z., & Hicks, S. (2024). Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining. In F. J. Silva, L. P. Ferreira, J. C. Sá, M. T. Pereira, & C. M. A. Pinto (Eds.), Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023 (pp. 1164-1171). (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133

Badurdeen, Fazleena ; Bal, Alperen ; Agioutantis, Zach et al. / Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining. Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023. editor / Francisco J. Silva ; Luís Pinto Ferreira ; José Carlos Sá ; Maria Teresa Pereira ; Carla M.A. Pinto. 2024. pp. 1164-1171 (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering).

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abstract = "Material excavated in underground mines must be hoisted to the surface level for processing and distribution. The capacity of these hoisting facilities, known as skips, can be a limiting factor that determines the rate at which excavated material can be removed to the surface. This paper presents the application of discrete event simulation to study the operations of an underground coal mining system to evaluate the impact of increasing skips capacity, together with adding buffers ahead of skips, and any bottlenecks that will be encountered. Different scenarios are considered to evaluate any variation in performance based on the area of the mine being excavated. The results reveal that adding a new skip facility can help increase monthly production output by more than 16% compared to the current levels, indicating a very favorable return on the investment. Findings also show that overall utilization of the skip facilities declines and that expected output is driven by the effective carrying capacity of the belt conveyors. Further research can be conducted to determine the effective buffer capacity and also the optimal effective belt conveyor carrying capacities to maximize production output.",

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Badurdeen, F, Bal, A, Agioutantis, Z & Hicks, S 2024, Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining. in FJ Silva, LP Ferreira, JC Sá, MT Pereira & CMA Pinto (eds), Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, pp. 1164-1171, 32nd International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2023, Porto, Portugal, 6/18/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133

Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining. / Badurdeen, Fazleena; Bal, Alperen; Agioutantis, Zach et al.
Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023. ed. / Francisco J. Silva; Luís Pinto Ferreira; José Carlos Sá; Maria Teresa Pereira; Carla M.A. Pinto. 2024. p. 1164-1171 (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Agioutantis, Zach

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Y1 - 2024

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AB - Material excavated in underground mines must be hoisted to the surface level for processing and distribution. The capacity of these hoisting facilities, known as skips, can be a limiting factor that determines the rate at which excavated material can be removed to the surface. This paper presents the application of discrete event simulation to study the operations of an underground coal mining system to evaluate the impact of increasing skips capacity, together with adding buffers ahead of skips, and any bottlenecks that will be encountered. Different scenarios are considered to evaluate any variation in performance based on the area of the mine being excavated. The results reveal that adding a new skip facility can help increase monthly production output by more than 16% compared to the current levels, indicating a very favorable return on the investment. Findings also show that overall utilization of the skip facilities declines and that expected output is driven by the effective carrying capacity of the belt conveyors. Further research can be conducted to determine the effective buffer capacity and also the optimal effective belt conveyor carrying capacities to maximize production output.

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Badurdeen F, Bal A, Agioutantis Z, Hicks S. Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining. In Silva FJ, Ferreira LP, Sá JC, Pereira MT, Pinto CMA, editors, Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems - Proceedings of FAIM 2023. 2024. p. 1164-1171. (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-38165-2_133

Simulation-Based Approach to Assess Impact of Increasing Skip Capacity for Underground Mining

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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