Search

EP-4736088-A1 - METHOD FOR SETTING UP AN ELECTRICAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE OF A MINE, METHOD OF MINING IN A MINE, AND A PLANNING SYSTEM FOR A MINE

EP4736088A1EP 4736088 A1EP4736088 A1EP 4736088A1EP-4736088-A1

Abstract

A method (2000) for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) of a mine (500, 500', 500'') is provided. The method includes receiving (2100) mining data for the mine, for different time periods (Δt j ) of a given mining time interval (Δt). The mining data includes respective expected source locations (S1, S2) of the mine, where a material is to be taken from, and a respective destination location (D1, D2), where the material is to be taken to. Using the mining data, a time-dependent 3D network of the mine is determined (2200), for each of the different periods. The time-dependent 3D network includes a respective network (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the destination location (D1, D2) during the respective time period (Δt j ) and/or a single network (G total ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during any of the different time periods (Δt j ). Using the time-dependent 3D network, a planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) is numerically determined (2300) a so that expected total costs of the mine over the given mining time interval are at least approximately minimized. The expected total costs of the mine include estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations and the destination location (D1, D2) during the given mining time interval (Δt) subject to mining constraints during the given mining time interval (Δt). Placing the electrical transportation infrastructure in the mine is initialized (2400) based on the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure.

Inventors

  • HALL, NICHOLAS
  • PRIMAS, Bernhard
  • LOSS, Theresa
  • SCHLEGEL, CHRISTOPH
  • BEUTLER, Nic
  • FOKKEN, Eike
  • HUEHNERBEIN, Ruben

Assignees

  • ABB SCHWEIZ AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240611

Claims (20)

  1. Claims: 1. A method (2000) for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) of a mine (500, 500’, 500’’), the method comprising: - receiving (2100) mining data for the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), for different time periods ( ^t j ) of a given mining time interval ( ^t), the mining data comprising respective expected source locations (S1, S2), where a material is to be taken from, and at least one respective destination location (D1, D2), where the material is to be taken to; - determining (2200), using the mining data, a time-dependent 3D network of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), the time-dependent 3D network comprising at least one of: o for each of the different time periods ( ^t j ), a respective network (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during the respective time period ( ^t j ); and o a single network (G total ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during any of the different time periods ( ^t j ), and information (I j , I 1 , I 2 , I 3 ) during which of the time periods ( ^t j ) each path is present; - numerically determining (2300), using the time-dependent 3D network (G 1 , G 2 , G 3, G total ), a planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) so that expected total costs (C) of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) over the given mining time interval ( ^t) are at least approximately minimized, the expected total costs (C) of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprising estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations (S1, S2) and the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during the given mining time interval ( ^t) subject to mining constraints during the given mining time interval ( ^t); and - initializing (2400) placing the electrical transportation infrastructure in the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) based on the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI).
  2. 2. The method (2000) of claim 1, wherein the expected total costs (C) of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprise capital expenditures, CapEx, of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) and operating expenses, OpEx, of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’).
  3. 3. The method (2000) of claim 1 or 2, wherein numerically determining (2300) the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure comprises using (1300, 1310) a placement algorithm, the placement algorithm at least approximately minimizing the estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations (S1, S2) and the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during the given mining time interval ( ^t) for a given budget (B) of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI).
  4. 4. A method (1000) for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) of a mine (500, 500’, 500’’), the method comprising: - receiving (1100) mining data for the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), for different time periods ( ^t j ) of a given mining time interval ( ^t), the mining data comprising respective expected source locations (S1, S2), where a material is to be taken from, and at least one respective destination location (D1, D2), where the material is to be taken to; - determining (1200), using the mining data, a time-dependent 3D network of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), the time-dependent 3D network comprising at least one of: o for each of the different time periods ( ^t j ), a respective network (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during the respective time period ( ^t j ), and o a single network (G total ) of paths connecting the expected source locations (S1, S2) with the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during any of the different time periods ( ^t j ), and information (I j , I 1 , I 2 , I 3 ) during which of the time periods ( ^t j ) each path is present; - numerically determining (1300, 1310), for a given budget (B) of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) and using the time-dependent 3D network (G 1 , G 2 , G 3, G total ), a planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI), using a placement algorithm, the placement algorithm at least approximately minimizing estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations (S1, S2) and the at least one destination location (D1, D2) during the given mining time interval ( ^t) subject to mining constraints during the given mining time interval ( ^t); and - initializing (1400) placing the electrical transportation infrastructure in the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) based on the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI).
  5. 5. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) is determined such that expected total costs of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) over the given mining time interval ( ^t) are at least approximately minimized, wherein the expected total costs of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprise capital expenditures, CapEx, of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), and operating expenses, OpEx, of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’), and wherein the CapEx of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprise CapEx of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) provided by a first portion of the estimated environmental costs, and the OpEx of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprise OpEx of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) provided by a second portion of the estimated environmental costs.
  6. 6. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 5, comprising varying the given budget (B) to at least approximately minimize the expected total costs of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) over the given mining time interval ( ^t).
  7. 7. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the given budget (B) comprises the CapEx of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI), and the OpEx of the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) during the given mining time interval ( ^t) such as expected energy costs for transporting the material using the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI).
  8. 8. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 7, wherein the OpEx of the mine (500, 500’, 500’’) comprises expected energy costs for transporting the material without using the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI).
  9. 9. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the preceding of claims, wherein the electrical transportation infrastructure comprises an electric power supply for vehicles transporting the material.
  10. 10. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the preceding of claims, wherein the electrical transportation infrastructure comprises conductor rails and/or power lines, in particular trolley lines.
  11. 11. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental costs refer to greenhouse gas, GHG, emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, CO 2 , emissions.
  12. 12. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the mining constraints refer to at least one of: a transportation time for the material, a production schedule of the mine, a production capacity of the mine, a production efficiency of the mine, and a cost information.
  13. 13. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 12, wherein the placement algorithm is an optimization algorithm comprising respective penalty terms for the given budget (B) of the electrical transportation infrastructure and the environmental costs, in particular the GHG emissions.
  14. 14. The method (1000, 2000) of claim 13, wherein the placement algorithm comprises determining a respective placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure for different given budgets (B).
  15. 15. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the time-dependent 3D network is a time-dependent 3D road network, and/or wherein the placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure is fixed for the given mining time interval ( ^t).
  16. 16. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 15, wherein the placement algorithm is a heuristic algorithm for numerically determining the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure.
  17. 17. The method (1000, 2000) of claim 16, the placement algorithm comprising at least one of the following steps: a. assigning (1311) a weight (w ij ) for each edge (e ij ) of the respective networks (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ), the weights (w ij ) indicating how desired it is to transport the material on the edges using a respective electrical transportation infrastructure of the edge; b. determining (1312) an overlay of the respective networks (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ); c. using (1313) the weights (w ij ) to select an edge of the overlay which is most desired to be equipped with a respective electrical transportation infrastructure; d. updating (1314) the expected total costs (C) or costs (C B ) of building the electrical transportation infrastructure in accordance with costs for installing the respective electrical transportation infrastructure at the selected edge; and e. repeating (1315) steps c and d until the expected total cost (C) at least reaches a total budget or the costs (C B ) of building the electrical transportation infrastructure at least reaches the given budget (B).
  18. 18. The method (1000, 2000) of claim 17, wherein the weights (w ij ) depend on at least one of: a length of the edge, a slope of the edge, an elevation profile of the edge, the time periods ( ^t j ), an expected energy consumption and/or emitted amount GHG for using the electrical transportation infrastructure of the respective edge, and an expected energy consumption and/or emitted amount GHG for using an alternative energy source for transporting the material along the respective edge, in particular a respective fossil fuel consumption, for example a diesel consumption.
  19. 19. The method (1000, 2000) of any of the claims 3 to 15, wherein the placement algorithm uses mixed integer linear programming, MILP.
  20. 20. The method (1000, 2000) of claim 19, comprising at least one of: - for each of the different time periods ( ^t j ), determining, for each edge of a graph representing the time-dependent 3D network during the respective time period ( ^t j ), costs (C B ) of building the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) at and/or along the edge; - for each of the different time periods ( ^t j ), determining, for each edge of the graph, respective costs (C E ) referring to an emitted GHG amount resulting from transporting the material along the edge when the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) is used and when a non-electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) is used such as a diesel truck, in particular a respective emitted CO 2 amount; and - using a MILP solver to minimize a function comprising the costs (C B ) of building the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) and the costs (C E ) referring to the emitted GHG at the constrain that a given budget (B, C) for the electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) is not exceeded.

Description

Method for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure of a mine, method of mining in a mine, and a planning system for a mine Aspects of the invention relate to a method for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure (TI) of a mine, in particular a mine with more than one source location of the material to be mined, and even more particular, a respective open pit mine, a corresponding computer program product and/or a computer-readable medium, a planning system for the mine, and a method of mining. Technical background: In a mine, material is dug out of the ground and moved to specific locations. From there the material may be transferred to a processing plant where the minerals can be extracted. The mining process is comparatively energy-intensive and associated with a corresponding ecological footprint. Currently, the mining industry is responsible for several percent of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular CO2 emissions. Any reduction in the emission of these gases due to mining can be very beneficial for the climate. Accordingly, not only customer increasingly request CO2-neutral value chains but there are already legal requirements for compensating CO2 emissions. Accordingly, further improving mining processes is desired. Summary of the invention In view of the above, and for other reasons, there is a need for the present invention. Thus, according to the independent claims, respective typically computer-implemented methods, and a planning system for performing said methods as well as respective computer program products and computer-readable media are provided. According to an aspect of a method for setting up an electrical transportation infrastructure of a mine, the method includes receiving, for different time periods of a given mining time interval, in particular subsequent time periods of the given mining time interval, mining data for the mine, the mining data including respective expected source locations, where a material is to be taken from, and at least one respective destination location, where the material is to be taken to. The method further includes determining, using the mining data, a time-dependent 3D network of the mine. The time-dependent 3D network includes: a single network of paths connecting the expected source locations with the at least one destination location during any of the different time periods and information during which of the time periods each path is present, and/or, for each of the different periods, a respective network of (available) paths connecting the expected source locations with the at least one destination location during the respective time period. The method further includes numerically determining, using the time- dependent 3D network, a planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure so that expected total costs of the mine over the given mining time interval are at least approximately minimized. The expected total costs of the mine includes estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations and the at least one destination location during the given mining time interval. In particular, the expected total costs of the mine typically includes estimated environmental costs resulting from transporting the material between the expected source locations and the at least one destination location during the given mining time interval subject to mining constraints during the given mining time interval (when taking into account the mining constraints during the given mining time interval). In the following, the information during which of the time periods each path is present (may be used for material transportation) is also referred to as time information for short. The time information may be stored separately. However, more typically the time information is stored within the single network of paths, in particular indirectly, for example as (time dependent) attributes of the paths, more particular as (time dependent) attributes of the edges of the single network formed by roads connecting the source locations with at least one destination location at the respective time period. Note that “a path” between a source location and a destination location may be formed by one edge representing a road connecting the source location and the destination location, but may, due to other nodes (such as road crossings or road junctions), also include two or even more edges. Further, the method typically includes (at least) initializing placing the electrical transportation infrastructure in the mine based on the planned placement of the electrical transportation infrastructure. Initializing placing the electrical transportation infrastructure in the mine may, for example, include generating respective planning documents for the electrical transportation infrastructure, at least coordinating building (setting up) the electrical transportation infrastructure and/or at