Bulk Material Volume Evaluation and Tracking in Belt Conveyor Network Based on Data from SCADA

Abstract

Belt conveyors are commonly used for continuous transportation of bulk materials in both opencast and underground mines. Depending on the mine, the network of conveyors might be complex and transport of material from point A to point B can be done in several ways. Systems usually are overestimated—conveyors can transport much more material than they currently do. Recently energy-efficient solutions are expected in mining companies. Obviously, effective transport of material from mining face to mineral enrichment plant on the ground is a complex task that has to take into account production plans, maintenance of conveyor network, bunkers capacities, shaft output, etc. In order to optimize the operation of conveyor network, we need detailed information about the structure of the entire system (including inputs and outputs) and material volume in time and space. Nowadays, scales in the underground infrastructure are installed in predefined places, and serve for production volume identification, rather than for detailed ore flow tracking. In this paper, we propose a unique procedure that could estimate weight of material stream on the belt using electric current data. Such an approach will allow to estimate the amount of transported material in a more detailed way, providing more continuous information regarding the entire conveying system. Accuracy of proposed technology is c.a. 95%. Having precise information about ore volume in time and space, we could visualize bulk material stream in the system, and ultimately it will be possible to build a model for advanced what-if conditional analysis and simulations.