Determining the Benefit of Air Receivers in South African Deep-Level Mines Using a Genetic Algorithm

The South African deep-level mining industry is characterised by high operating costs and narrowing profit margins. Compressed air is commonly the largest consumer of energy in these mines, and any inefficiencies reduce profitability. Various methods aiming to optimise the compressed air networks ha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Minerals & metallurgical processing 2022-10, Vol.39 (5), p.2083-2093
Main Authors: Harmse, Michael David, van Laar, Jean Herman, Pelser, Wiehan Adriaan, Schutte, Cornelius Stephanus Lodewyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Compressed air
Conversion
Engineering
Genetic algorithms
Materials Engineering
Metallic Materials
Mineral Resources
Mining industry
Profitability
Underground storage
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Summary:The South African deep-level mining industry is characterised by high operating costs and narrowing profit margins. Compressed air is commonly the largest consumer of energy in these mines, and any inefficiencies reduce profitability. Various methods aiming to optimise the compressed air networks have been implemented without an ideal economic dispatch strategy due to the lack of compressed air storage. In this study, a genetic algorithm was developed to evaluate the financial benefit of converting underground haulage to act as an air receiver (compressed air storage). By converting inactive haulage of 1.17 km in length into a volumetric air receiver, an annual monetary benefit of R2.5 million ($163 200) can be achieved, with a payback period of fewer than eight months. However, implementing the ideal size air receiver would result in an annual monetary benefit of R7.67 million ($500 700).
ISSN:2524-3462
2524-3470
DOI:10.1007/s42461-022-00640-x