Model Approaches to Life Cycle Assessment of Auxiliary Machines Based on an Example of a Coal Mine in Serbia

Abstract

The paper presents two model approaches to life cycle assessment of auxiliary mining machines: one of them is based on reliability theory and the other on the principle of cost-effectiveness. During exploitation of machines, the level of their reliability decreases while operating costs increase. These indicators of opposing trends detect the operating capacity of machines and provide the basis for making a decision on the validity of further operation, maintenance, or replacement of machines. By considering an example of a dozer, as the most frequently used machine for the performance of auxiliary works in the surface coal mines of Electric Power Industry of Serbia, a comparative analysis was made for applying both model approaches including assessment and conclusion.