An integrated model of an open-pit coal mine: improving energy efficiency decisions |
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Authors: | S.R. Patterson E. Kozan P. Hyland |
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Affiliation: | 1. Science and Engineering Faculty, Decision Science, Mathematical Sciences School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia;2. QUT Business School, Business and Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia |
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Abstract: | This article contributes an original integrated model of an open-pit coal mine for supporting energy-efficient decisions. Mixed integer linear programming is used to formulate a general integrated model of the operational energy consumption of four common open-pit coal mining subsystems: excavation and haulage, stockpiles, processing plants and belt conveyors. Mines are represented as connected instances of the four subsystems, in a flow sheet manner, which are then fitted to data provided by the mine operators. Solving the integrated model ensures the subsystems’ operations are synchronised and whole-of-mine energy efficiency is encouraged. An investigation on a case study of an open-pit coal mine is conducted to validate the proposed methodology. Opportunities are presented for using the model to aid energy-efficient decision-making at various levels of a mine, and future work to improve the approach is described. |
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Keywords: | integrated model mixed integer linear programming energy efficiency open-pit coal mining decision support |
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