38
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World Coal
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September 2014
The Mining-Calculator software
offers opencast mining and
earthmoving projects, a technical,
economic and environmental
evaluation, integrating various machine
types and both discontinuous and
continuous haulage systems. One
project can be simulated with different
loaders and haulage systems, leading to
a user-defined comparison of variants
and providing a solid base for strategy
and investment decisions.
Data input
To start, basic project data, such as
material type and characteristics, as
well as annual production, is requested.
The program database offers a large
variety of different mineral
commodities with specific properties,
e.g. solid and bulk densities. Those
values can be edited by the user to
adjust the values individually to
practice.
The most important basic value for
dimensioning of equipment is the
requested total annual or hourly
production, usually composed of
production at several loading points.
The calculation methodology of the
program is based on the individual
performance calculation for each
loading point and the following
combination of those individual results.
For the purpose of material loading,
hydraulic shovels, electric rope shovels
and wheel loaders are available. As the
software works independently from
equipment manufacturers, no brand or
model names are displayed. Machine
classes are used instead, orientated at
the product portfolio of the actual
market. The name of each type consists
of the abbreviation of the loader type,
the machine weight and the standard
shovel volume. Performance data, such
as bucket fill factor or availability of
loaders can be adjusted to meet the
user’s individual requirements.
The program integrates
discontinuous and continuous haulage
systems, off-highway and articulated
trucks, as well as belt conveyors.
In principle, two different project
types can be developed:
n
n
Truck: discontinuous haulage only.
n
n
Belt: a combination of
discontinuous and continuous
haulage.
As for loaders, the software works
with machine classes for haulage
systems as well. The name of each
hauler type consists of the abbreviation
of the truck type and the regular
payload. The name of a belt conveying
system provides information about belt
width, speed and type.
The given number of loading points
results in a corresponding number of
haul roads, which must be defined by
entering different sections or uploading
a predefined track. The track profiles
are interactively visualised for a better
control of the data input (Figure 1). The
procedure for the definition of the belt
sections is identical.
Equipment selection and
filtering
Based on the input values, the
performance data of the different
systems and internal calculations, all
adequate equipment combinations are
computed and displayed in tables. To
avoid excessive data in further
calculation steps and the final
visualisation of results, the user may
preselect, and thereby reduce, the
number of equipment combinations
considered (Figure 2).
Furthermore, an initial analysis of
the calculation results for the selected
equipment combinations is offered by
charts and tables. Each preselected
combination of loaders and trucks can
be displayed at all loading points
Figure 1.
Visualisation of haul road track and speed profile.
Figure 2.
Selection of relevant equipment combinations.
