Abstract
In-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems have drawn attention to the modern mining industry due to the numerous benefits than conventional truck-and-shovel systems. However, the implementation of the IPCC system can reduce mining flexibility and introduce additional mining sequence requirements. This paper investigates the long-term production scheduling and the crusher relocation plan of open-pit mines using a semi-mobile IPCC system and high-angle conveyor. A series of candidate high-angle conveyor locations is generated around the pit limit, with a crusher located along each conveyor line. Each conveyor location is solved independently by an integer linear programming model for making production scheduling and crushing station decisions, aiming to maximize the net present value (NPV) considering the material handling and crushing station relocation costs. The production schedule with the highest NPV and the associated conveyor and crusher location is considered the optimum or near-optimum solution.
Highlights
The mining industry is advancing towards a more efficient, less energy-consuming, labor-intensive, and reliable process
Semi-mobile In-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems have different strategic mine planning and sequence requirements than the truck-and-shovel counterpart; the crusher and conveyor cannot be relocated frequently due to the high relocation costs [8]
The high-angle conveyors (HAC) is fixed on one side of the final pit wall throughout the mine life; this system can be extended to deeper levels by connecting another conveyor flight The proposed model only considers material handling cost up to the pit rim
Summary
The mining industry is advancing towards a more efficient, less energy-consuming, labor-intensive, and reliable process. Semi-mobile IPCC systems have different strategic mine planning and sequence requirements than the truck-and-shovel counterpart; the crusher and conveyor cannot be relocated frequently due to the high relocation costs [8]. This study considers the situation that the conveyor belt is fixed along the pit wall during the mine life In this sense, two research problems arise based on the semi-mobile IPCC systems’ configuration: (i) the production scheduling plan that gives the maximum net present value (NPV) with additional mining sequence and pit expansion restrictions and (ii) the crusher location-relocation plan that minimizes the material handling and crusher relocation costs. This study establishes an integer linear programming (ILP) model that can simultaneously solve the production scheduling and crusher location problem to maximize NPV This model is applied to different candidate HAC locations along the pit wall and finds the optimum scenario.
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