Modeling tools for improving energy efficiency of water drainage complexes at iron ore underground mines

Abstract

The natural presence of water in underground mining processes creates significant difficulties and requires constant water drainage, i.e. pumping water to the day surface into special reservoirs. The so-called main drainage complexes are used for performing these operations. Mine water drainage is an energy-consuming process. Therefore, the need to reduce energy intensity of water drainage complexes is a relevant task, which is so far unsolved to a level that is fully adequate. To solve the above-mentioned problem on a systemic basis, it is of primary importance to assess tools of improving energy efficiency of water drainage complexes according to their efficiency levels. It is vital for further formatting the scientific search for options that possess sufficient efficiency. For such technology-intensive types of consumers as underground mines, modeling of power consumption is an effective and affordable method of obtaining preventive results, which are close to real-life conditions. Of course, the level of adequacy of the modeling results obtained depends on compliance of input parameters of a model with real values. Such a model of the electric power system as a complex of groundwater drainage to the day surface can be used as a supporting option for modeling in order to get the required results for both developing energy-efficient control measures for drive electromechanical complexes and designing an effective structure of the entire drainage complex. It is in this perspective that the research methodology is built, the results of which are outlined in the article. Modeling the levels of efficiency in the use of some modern trends in improving the operation of drainage complexes of iron ore underground production made it possible to rank them according to the levels of implementation, starting with the use of controlled electric drives and ending with the optimization of their operating modes.