Simulation of Coal Mine and Supply Chain to a Power Plant

Abstract

A case study is presented of a simulation model of an existing complex underground coal mine and of a future coal supply chain to one of the operating power plants in South Africa whose capacity is being extended. The purpose of the simulation study was to establish the sufficiency of the mine capacity to meet the increased demand in future as well as the most feasible configuration of the coal supply chain. The mine comprises 3 shafts, each consisting of a number of seams with a few sections in every seam. Various mining methods are employed on the mine in different sections, and a conveyor system with underground bunkers is used to deliver coal to the surface silos, from which coal is transferred by overland conveyors to the main silos for further transportation to the power plant. A number of alternative coal supply schemes were simulated for the comparative purpose to identify the most technically and economically feasible option. Various scenarios were tested with conveying, rail and combined schemes of transportation. The battery limits of the model were shuttle cars or continuous miners in the mining sections, and the live stockpile of the power plant. The model addresses the productivity of the mining sections, capacities of all conveyor belts, underground bunkers, surface silos, stockyards, materials handling equipment, overland supply conveyors, coal trains and transfer stockyards for the combined conveyor/rail transportation schemes. Effect of breakdowns and other factors on the throughput of the whole system was investigated.