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Mining Equipment Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety
... By keeping the reliability, profits can be maximized and can overcome global competition. Reliability is defined as the probability of an equipment will function properly for a certain time when used properly in specified conditions (Dhillon 2008). Dhillon (2008) states that one of the factors that have an impact on mining equipment reliability is routine or preventive maintenance. ...
... Reliability is defined as the probability of an equipment will function properly for a certain time when used properly in specified conditions (Dhillon 2008). Dhillon (2008) states that one of the factors that have an impact on mining equipment reliability is routine or preventive maintenance. The system that usually used in open pit mines is the shovel-truck system. ...
... Ben-Daya et al. (2009) stated that 15 -40% of operational costs are related to maintenance. Specifically, in mines, the cost of maintaining mine equipment ranges from around 20% to more than 35% of the total mine operating costs (Dhillon 2008). Even in Indonesia, Dhillon (2008) states that maintenance costs are more than 60% of operating costs. ...
In Indonesia, one of the most important energy sources is coal. Since 2020, Indonesia's coal production has increased. This is partly due to the energy crisis in Europe. As production increases, mining companies need better equipment. To achieve production targets, reliability and availability are the most important factors. One of the factors that have an impact on mining equipment reliability is preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance (PM) is intended to reduce the probability of failure or degradation of functioning of an item and is carried out at predetermined intervals. Maintenance performance measurement is therefore essential to ensure that maintenance objectives are achieved, and that maintenance adds value for the company. This research aims to understand preventive maintenance applied by coal mining actors in Indonesia. Questionnaire is used to collect opinions of maintenance crew about their experience in conducting preventive maintenance. It is then summarized to get preventive maintenance characteristics in Indonesian coal mining contracting company.
... In function of time, equipment is inevitably getting old, with an increasing number of failures and decreasing availability. Reduced availability is generating additional operational and maintenance costs, reducing the profit further [1]. The relation between increasing costs and time, i.e., the age of equipment, is evident [2]. ...
... This approach also requires a certain balancing level between the costs and the residual value of the machine [2]. This balance is achieved by assessing the dependability trend against costs induced by the analyzed system at any given time of its life [1]. ...
... In general, there are several lifetime stages of an engineering system or equipment [1]. A technical lifetime is a period during which the equipment meets the designed criteria ...
This paper presents the model for the identification of reference points on the lifetime curve of engineering systems. This curve commonly represents the increase and decline of failure in relation to time. A direct correlation between failure rate and costs is assumed in this paper, therefore, statistical and empirical analysis of costs provided reference points. This approach is used for positioning stages of the engineering system’s lifetime with a minimal number of failures and costs, regardless of whether these are acceptable or not. The following three stages are usually identified: the beginning, the stationary part and the end of life. The boundaries between them are recognized on the basis of minimum total lifetime costs and on economic lifetime costs. Model is tested on the dozers, machines frequently used in the mining industry for the earthmoving operations, and which are characterized by high operating and maintenance costs.
... Mining equipment require significant capital investment; therefore, equipment failures and their associated downtime mean significant increase in operating, production, and maintenance costs, and in some cases revenue losses. Conservatively, the average mining equipment maintenance cost ranges from 20 -40% of the mine's operating cost and it is increasing gradually (Dhillon, 2008). Hence, the need for reliable maintenance initiatives designed to enhance equipment availability, reduce unscheduled downtime, and minimize maintenance costs. ...
... Due to the increasing complexity of machines used in mining and mineral processing, several factors influence maintenance costs. Though not exhaustive, Dhillon (2008) points to eight factors that contribute significantly to the cost of maintenance. They are further categorized into 3 broad areas. ...
... Even though predictive maintenance can be used to detect a number of failures and breakdowns in advance, its complementary use with the human-centred maintenance program makes it a success. Dhillon (2008) describes three basic human-centred maintenance processes that may be carried out on mining equipment. This involves a visual inspection, a physical inspection and routine work. ...
Mining equipment requires significant capital investment; therefore, equipment failures and associated downtimes lead to significant increases in operating, production and maintenance costs and, in some instances, loss of revenue. Conservatively, the average mining equipment maintenance cost ranges from 20-40% of the mine's operating cost, and it is increasing gradually. Hence, the need for reliable maintenance initiatives designed to enhance equipment availability, reduce unscheduled downtime and minimize maintenance costs. This study aims to give an up-to-date overview of equipment maintenance procedures in the mining industry as a prerequisite to establishing operational integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology for predictive equipment maintenance inside existing mining operations. Journal articles, reports and other publications were systematically reviewed and analysed to understand the historical development and evolution of equipment used in mining. In addition, machine maintenance, understanding of the reactive, preventive, and predictive maintenance environment in the industry were also examined. Other factors attributed to predictive maintenance, understanding the type of equipment failure and identifying critical data-worthy variables that are used to build a predictive AI model have been extensively analysed. The outcome of the review will provide decision-makers with some guidance in considering predictive maintenance as a viable maintenance option within their operations.
... Mining equipment require significant capital investment; therefore, equipment failures and their associated downtime mean significant increase in operating, production, and maintenance costs, and in some cases revenue losses. Conservatively, the average mining equipment maintenance cost ranges from 20 -40% of the mine's operating cost and it is increasing gradually (Dhillon, 2008). Hence, the need for reliable maintenance initiatives designed to enhance equipment availability, reduce unscheduled downtime, and minimize maintenance costs. ...
... Due to the increasing complexity of machines used in mining and mineral processing, several factors influence maintenance costs. Though not exhaustive, Dhillon (2008) points to eight factors that contribute significantly to the cost of maintenance. They are further categorized into 3 broad areas. ...
... Even though predictive maintenance can be used to detect a number of failures and breakdowns in advance, its complementary use with the human-centred maintenance program makes it a success. Dhillon (2008) describes three basic human-centred maintenance processes that may be carried out on mining equipment. This involves a visual inspection, a physical inspection and routine work. ...
The mining industry has traditionally relied on conventional fossil-based fuel sources to meet its growing energy demand. The industry is now tasked with responding to the challenges of increasing fuel prices while commodity prices tighten, resulting in ever-narrowing operating margins and increased opposition from communities to new conventional energy sources. So far, research about such decision-making on the use of renewable energy in production scheduling (PS) problem for open pit mining operations is underdeveloped. Due to the conflicting nature of economic and environmental objectives, the PS becomes a multi-objective problem. In this paper, a multi-objective gravitational search algorithm is used to provide Pareto optimal solutions which present the possible tradeoff between the cost and environmental objectives of the PS problem. To solve the problem, the weighted sum method is applied to convert multi-objective optimization to scalar optimization. The numerical results demonstrate the
effectiveness of the proposed approach in solving multi-objective PS problems.
... A series system is a configuration such that, if any one of the system components fails, the entire system will fail [20]. For a series system based on the issue of whether or not, after the failure of the system, non-failed components are continuing to age, two cases will be possible [21]: ...
... A parallel system is a configuration such that, as long as not all of the system components fail, the entire system works [20]. The steady-state availability of the system will be equal to [13]: ...
... A series-parallel system is made up of a combination of several series and parallel configurations [20]. ...
The concept of availability importance measures can be used to identifying critical components from the availability performance point of view. The availability of an item depends on the combined aspects of its reliability and maintainability performance indices. These indices are considerably affected by operational and environmental conditions such as; ambient temperature, precipitation, wind, etc. Thus, different subsystems or components’ availability in various conditions changes the performance priority of the system. In this way, the paper used the availability importance measure considering the operating environment for a mining fleet consisting of one shovel and six trucks. The reliability and maintainability characteristic of machines considering all influence factors (covariates) is analysed using by Cox regression model. The availability importance measure in two scenarios demonstrated that subsystem criticality changes in various conditions and the appropriate decisions should be made on different operational conditions.
... Mining is basically an economic activity on an industrial scale that involves the extraction of ores, processing, and concentration of minerals or chemical compounds that are required by activities such as steel, metallurgy, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, energy sectors, civil construction, among others. A mining enterprise is planned mainly based on variables such as resource and reserve size, extraction costs, supply and demand for products, and variations in the sale price (Aalst, 2016;Dhillon, 2008). However, loading and transport equipment, beneficiation plants, and tailings disposal areas are designed for decades of operation. ...
... However, loading and transport equipment, beneficiation plants, and tailings disposal areas are designed for decades of operation. Energy is the main operating cost in this type of industry, whether with diesel in charging and transport equipment or electricity in beneficiation plants (Dhillon, 2008;Hudson et al., 1999). ...
... Given the scale and time of operation, it is common in mining companies to have fuel filling stations, an operational support area often converted into an environmental liability due to the lack of maintenance during its operation and abandonment during the decommissioning and closing phase (Dhillon, 2008;Hudson et al., 1999). ...
Mining enterprises are, in essence, landscape modifiers and sources of long-term environmental degradation. The development of activities within the mines requires a complex logistical system for better functioning. It is common to have gas stations in the vicinity of mining areas as a support for supplying vehicles and machines. Inadequate operation and the absence of monitoring, as well as a planned closure of the activities of these stations, may impose risks of contamination of the geological environment. This work presents the efficiency of using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to map aged hydrocarbon in the subsurface in a former gas station area in a uranium mine. The presence and flow of hydrocarbons in the geological environment are also investigated through structural analysis of the area integrated with the geophysical results. The ERT results show a clear connection between the low-resistivity anomalies contained in the subsoil and the presence of the rock mass. Of particular interest, the ERT results made it possible to model the fractures contained in the subsoil and that condition a certain flow orientation between porous and fractured systems. The integrated analysis of geophysical and structural surveys proved to be essential in cases of fractured aquifer contamination.
... Gorlenko and Murzin (2020) used parameters of working conditions, work experience in dangerous work conditions, age, and individuals' health status to determine the amount and complications of people's occupational risk in the work environment. Dhillon (1987) divided human error into six groups, including operating errors, assembly errors, design errors, inspection errors, and so on (Dhillon, 1987). Margolis (2010) examined human factors regarding age, experience, and occupational risks. ...
... Gorlenko and Murzin (2020) used parameters of working conditions, work experience in dangerous work conditions, age, and individuals' health status to determine the amount and complications of people's occupational risk in the work environment. Dhillon (1987) divided human error into six groups, including operating errors, assembly errors, design errors, inspection errors, and so on (Dhillon, 1987). Margolis (2010) examined human factors regarding age, experience, and occupational risks. ...
Underground coal mines are always faced with their own specific uncertainties. These uncertainties lead to safety risks and ultimately result in chaos and safety disturbances. Human factors are among the uncertainties that play a vital role in various industries, including underground coal mining. For instance, they affect safety, production processes, machinery maintenance, and productivity. Risk management is one of the primary methods for improving safety in underground coal mines. Risk management is a process that helps identify, assess, and mitigate risks and uncertainties. Its main goal is to protect resources, enhance safety, and increase efficiency through informed decision-making. This article examines the role of human factors in risk assessment of coal mines; it first classifies human factors and then uses the Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy-TOPSIS) method for pairwise comparison to evaluate the risks of underground coal mines. The TOPSIS method is a multi-criteria decision-making technique that operates based on the distance of options from the best and worst solutions. This method ranks the options based on specific criteria and assists in selecting the optimal option. The results of the study on human factors indicated that carelessness, negligence, and distraction had the greatest impact on the risk assessment of underground coal mines, with a similarity index of 0.6516, while the level of education had the least impact with a similarity index of 0.2871.
... Maintainability is defined as the likelihood that a particular active maintenance operation for an item under specified conditions of usage may be completed within a specified time interval when executed under specified conditions and utilizing specified process and resources [15]. A product's maintainability is a function of time t and may be represented as ...
... Where (t) is the probability distribution for the repair time [15]. ...
... Through maintenance, a link is established between the appropriate management of safety and health at work and quality assurance procedures. The lack of equipment maintenance or their improper maintenance can lead to some particularly dangerous situations, work accidents, and even health problems [18][19][20][21][22][23]. ...
... In this sense, the primordial role is played by availability, which, in turn, is related to reliability and maintainability. The science of quality evolution, by indicators of machinery reliability and maintainability, involves monitoring those at work, noting the faults occurring in the functioning and remedy time, as well as their interpretation [16][17][18][19][20][21]. It is important that the mining equipment is of superior quality, which is particularly important in the case of technological operations carried out underground at different depths and in difficult geological and mining conditions. ...
The equipment in underground mines provides a continuous production flow, depending on the way their quality is preserved during their operation. The TR-7A scraper conveyer subassemblies, which function in the Jiu Valley coal basin and are subjected to abrasion wear, showed a high failure frequency (chains, chain elevators, and driving and turning drums), as well as the hydraulic couplings and certain electric equipment of the same machinery. The data collected following the TR-7A scraper conveyer at work allowed the parameters to be determined that characterise the reliability and maintainability of the above-mentioned components, the failure modes, and their effects. Using calculation methods, the interpretation of the results has been facilitated, with a view to reducing maintenance costs and obtaining an 80% reliability for the components with the most failures, in the case of the TR-7A scraper conveyer.
... From the above definition, it is clear that the steady-state availability (A) is a function of the reliability parameter (how often a unit fails) and maintainability parameter (how fast the unit can be restored after a failure) (Dhillon and Singh [9]; Kumar [15]; Sutton [26]; Dhillon [8]). Hence, the steady-state availability (A) can be expressed as: ...
... Reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) of various types of mining equipment have not been extensively explored and are important areas of research [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. RAM of a dragline has been studied by Mohammadi et al. [23] and Kumar et al. [16]. ...
The dragline is the mainstay in surface mining and plays a crucial role in the economic operation of large open cast mining projects. Draglines are very complex in design and consist of hundreds of components. Ensuring the high availability of a dragline is much necessary to achieve the target production. This paper aims to optimize the avail- ability of a critical subsystem of a dragline through retro- spective analysis of past operational data. The rope segment, one of the most critical subsystems of a dragline, has been considered for the study. The availability of the rope segment has been analyzed using Bayesian network (BN) model. It has been observed that the availability of rope segment is 94.8% and drag rope is the most critical component of rope segment. The availability of the components has been opti- mized using a target value approach which results in a 2.46% increased availability of the rope segment.
... Reliability refers to the probability of a system meeting its desired performance standards in yielding output for a specific time duration when used under specific conditions [1]. For instance, if a machine is designed to run continuously for 10,000 h with no faults in between, the machine is said to be 100% reliable for that period. ...
... The beginning of the maintainability field may be traced back to 1901. By the 1960s, equipment maintenance activities started to be regarded as technical and involved optimizing maintenance solutions and activities [1]. Most literature on reliability and maintenance analysis in the mining and construction industry is present from 1975 onwards. ...
To achieve a targeted production level in mining industries, all machine systems and their subsystems must perform efficiently and be reliable during their lifetime. Implications of equipment failure have become more critical with the increasing size and intricacy of the machinery. Appropriate maintenance planning reduces the overall maintenance cost, increases machine life, and results in optimized life cycle costs. Several techniques have been used in the past to predict reliability, and there’s always been scope for improvement of the same. Researchers are finding new methods for better analysis of faults and reliability from traditional statistical methods to applying artificial intelligence. With the advancement of Industry 4.0, the mining industry is steadily moving towards the predictive maintenance approach to correct potential faults and increase equipment reliability. This paper attempts to provide a comprehensive review of different statistical techniques that have been applied for reliability and fault prediction from both theoretical aspects and industrial applications. Further, the advantages and limitations of the algorithm are discussed, and the efficiency of new ML methods are compared to the traditional methods used.
... Costs to maintain these equipment are increasing at a fast pace. However, these increased mechanizations have received special attention to safety-related issues which are part of the ESG goals [3]. Presently, companies that aim for sustainable production are aligned with the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, and these companies are well supported by their investors due to the exhibition of market-based outperformance. ...
... However, they can be misused due to a lack of clarification. This work will utilize definitions from the book Mining equipment, reliability, maintainability, and safety, written by B. Dhillon (2008). ...
Plant reliability is an essential factor for the world of investments and companies that are currently in line with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals have been supported by investors around the world. This paper states a valuable implementation of a reliability process that creates engagement among stakeholders and decreases the life-cycle cost of a plant while the reliability increases. In addition, it suggests how to create a solid base with the support of different areas and tools that lead to an increase in the reliability of equipment, systems, and plants. INTRODUCTION In recent times, the mining industry has experienced an increase in expenditure, in a bid to modernize its operations, and has the ability to meet market demand. Costs to maintain these equipment are increasing at a fast pace. However, these increased mechanizations have received special attention to safety-related issues which are part of the ESG goals [3]. Presently, companies that aim for sustainable production are aligned with the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, and these companies are well supported by their investors due to the exhibition of market-based outperformance. According to John Hill (2020), studies show that companies with high ESG ratings exhibit market-based outperformance [5]. To support the ESG goals, the implementation of a reliability program can be a key factor to maintaining better equipment reliability and to be product delivery predictable. A reliability program can assist the ESG goals by providing support on these three pillars:
... One of the effective ways to solve environmental problems in open-pit mining is to replace pneumatic tire vehicles with drive motors based on heat machines with electric ones in the transportation link [1][2][3]. Such replacements reduce the emission of fuel combustion products into the atmosphere and prevent the accumulation of exhaust gases in the pit (Figure 1a). ...
Open-pit mining involves the use of vehicles with high load capacity and satisfactory mobility. As experience shows, these requirements are fully met by pneumatic wheeled dump trucks, the traction drives of which can be made using thermal or electric machines. The latter are preferable due to their environmental friendliness. Unlike dump trucks with thermal engines, which require fuel to be injected into them, electric trucks can be powered by various options of a power supply: centralized, autonomous, and combined. This paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages of different power supply systems depending on their schematic solutions and the quarry parameters for all the variants of the power supply of the dumper. Each quantitative indicator of each factor was changed under conditions consistent with the others. The steepness of the road elevation in the quarry and its length were the factors under study. The studies conducted show that the energy consumption for dump truck movement for all variants of a power supply practically does not change. Another group of factors consisted of electric energy sources, which were accumulator batteries and double electric layer capacitors. The analysis of energy efficiency and the regenerative braking system reveals low efficiency of regeneration when lifting the load from the quarry. In the process of lifting from the lower horizons of the quarry to the dump and back, kinetic energy is converted into heat, reducing the efficiency of regeneration considering the technological cycle of works. Taking these circumstances into account, removing the regenerative braking systems of open-pit electric dump trucks hauling soil or solid minerals from an open pit upwards seems to be economically feasible. Eliminating the regenerative braking system will simplify the design, reduce the cost of a dump truck, and free up usable volume effectively utilized to increase the capacity of the battery packs, allowing for longer run times without recharging and improving overall system efficiency. The problem of considering the length of the path for energy consumption per given gradient of the motion profile was solved.
... The maintainability function is defined by Eq. (1) as follows 7 : ...
Shovels are universally acknowledged as vital machinery in surface mining production systems, and enhancements to this equipment substantially augment operational mine output capacity. Extending the length of continuous operation is a cost-efficient strategy that may result in significant productivity improvements, as it is directly linked to the fleet’s reliability and maintainability. This research analyses the maintainability of a fleet of ten rope shovels in an open-pit copper mine, consisting of three separate models. To this end, repair data for all ten shovels over two years were analyzed, and maintainability models were assigned to each shovel. The results indicate that all shovels are predominantly maintained in less than 45 h, and 80% of repairs can be accomplished within a single shift, which is operationally understandable and manageable for the entire crew. Alongside maintainability research, a novel quantitative method has been established to examine the composition of downtimes based on primary categories of action: pre-repair actions, repair actions, and post-repair actions. Analysis of 25 mechanical and 25 electrical failures revealed that repair duration was almost 50% of the overall downtime. The residual time was allocated to multiple tasks, including vehicle arrival, delays, requisite preparations, diagnostics, and performance testing and validation. Approximately 30% of the overall downtime stemmed from the duration needed for transportation from the repair facility to the machine and operational delays. The findings established a foundation for recommending a viable approach to enhance the maintenance and repair conditions of the Shovel fleet at the copper mine under consideration.
... Maintenance activities are a significant cost in the mining sector, making up between 30% and 60% of the total operating cost of a mine (Singleton & Krellis, 1998;Lewis & Steinberg, 2001;Dhillon, 2008). In addition to direct costs, poorly planned maintenance can have a large impact on mine productivity-equipment spending longer in maintenance than needed effectively reduces the total tonnes of ore that a mine can produce. ...
The weekly maintenance schedule specifies when maintenance activities should be performed on the equipment, taking into account the availability of workers and maintenance bays, and other operational constraints. The current approach to generating this schedule is labour intensive and requires coordination between the maintenance schedulers and operations staff to minimise its impact on the operation of the mine. This paper presents methods for automatically generating this schedule from the list of maintenance tasks to be performed, the availability roster of the maintenance staff, and time windows in which each piece of equipment is available for maintenance. Both Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and genetic algorithms are evaluated, with the genetic algorithm shown to significantly outperform the MILP. Two fitness functions for the genetic algorithm are also examined, with a linear fitness function outperforming an inverse fitness function by up to 5% for the same calculation time. The genetic algorithm approach is computationally fast, allowing the schedule to be rapidly recalculated in response to unexpected delays and breakdowns.
... The challenges you have highlighted regarding the increasing depth of mineral resource development, productivity of hoisting plants, and unstable loads emphasize the critical importance of enhancing the reliability and durability of mining equipment. The complexity of functioning mine hoisting plants in deep shafts and large mining enterprises underscores the need for robust and reliable systems to ensure safe and efficient operations [1,2]. The escalating loads on hoisting plants, coupled with the intensified work requirements in multi-level mining operations, contribute to higher failure rates and accelerated wear of components. ...
The evaluation and prediction of reliability and testability of mining machinery and equipment are crucial, as advancements in mining technology have increased the importance of ensuring the safety of both the technological process and human life. This study focuses on developing a reliability model to analyze the controllability of mining equipment. The model, which examines the reliability of a mine cargo-passenger hoist, utilizes statistical methods to assess failures and diagnostic controlled parameters. It is represented as a transition graph and is supported by a system of equations. This model enables the estimation of the reliability of equipment components and the equipment as a whole through a diagnostic system designed for monitoring and controlling mining equipment. A mathematical and logical model is proposed to calculate availability and downtime coefficients for different structures within the mining equipment system. This analysis considers the probability of failure-free operation of the lifting unit based on the structural scheme, with additional redundancy for elements with lower reliability. The availability factor of the equipment for monitoring and controlling the mine hoisting plant is studied for various placements of diagnostic systems. Additionally, a logistic concept is introduced for organizing preventive maintenance systems and reducing equipment recovery time by optimizing spare parts, integrating them into strategies aimed at enhancing the reliability of mine hoisting plants.
... The description of system reliability by means of a distribution law and related numerical characteristics represents a global approach to the problem in the spirit of classical statistics [12][13][14][15][16][17]. The analytical expression of the reliability function is a fundamental problem of reliability theory. ...
Technological equipment in quarries that extract and deliver aggregates for different uses operates in a predetermined flow depending on the type of rocks exploited and the dimensional characteristics imposed on the final products. In this context, the interruptions in operation required to replace high-wear parts (such as the teeth of excavators and bucket loaders) must be limited as much as possible through technological solutions to increase their service life. The evolution of the wear of the teeth of the quarry equipment that come into direct contact with rocks was concretely established in the production process, in parallel with the wear values obtained by simulating the wear phenomenon in laboratory conditions, in order to validate the data collected during the operation of the machines. Preventive–repetitive maintenance within the activities of reconditioning the worn surfaces of the teeth, through the charging process by manual electric welding with covered electrodes, was applied directly to the machine, which led to the shortening of the interruptions in operation necessary to replace these spare parts.
... Hitachi and other high-power electric dump trucks (EPDs) are currently used in the mining industry [1][2][3]. These systems, as a rule, have control apparatuses. ...
The present work is devoted to the analysis of the most important reliability indicators of components of electrical devices of mining dump trucks, and analytical methods of their evaluation are proposed. A mathematical model for calculating the reliability of electrical devices integrated into the electrical systems of quarry dump trucks is presented. The model takes into account various loads arising in the process of operation and their influence on reliability reduction. Optimisation of maintenance and repair schedules of electrical equipment has revealed problems for research. One of them is the classification of electrical equipment by similar residual life, which allows the formation of effective repair and maintenance cycles. The analysis of statistical data on damages revealed the regularities of their occurrence, which is an important factor in assessing the reliability of electrical equipment in mining production. For quantitative assessment of reliability, it is proposed to use the parameter of the average expected operating time per failure. This parameter characterises the relative reliability of electrical equipment and is a determining factor of its reliability. The developed mathematical model of equipment failures with differentiation of maintained equipment by repeated service life allows flexible schedules of maintenance and repair to be created. The realisation of such cycles makes it possible to move from planned repairs to the system of repair according to the actual resource of the equipment.
... Every year, billions of dollars are spent on producing various types of equipment for use in different mines worldwide, and this cost is increasing rapidly. On the other hand, the competitive economy has required mining companies to update their operations through technology upgrades, optimization, or changes in the existing system [2]. With new technological changes, mines have become increasingly mechanized and somewhat automated in various sectors. ...
... The description of system reliability by means of a distribution law and related numerical characteristics represents a global approach to the problem in the spirit of classical statistics [12][13][14][15][16][17]. The analytical expression of the reliability function is a fundamental problem of reliability theory. ...
Technological equipment in quarries that extract and deliver aggregates for different uses operates in a predetermined flow depending on the type of rocks exploited and the dimensional characteristics imposed on the final products. In this context, the interruptions in operation required to replace high-wear parts (such as the teeth of excavators and bucket loaders) must be limited as much as possible through technological solutions to increase their service life. The evolution of the wear of the teeth of the quarry equipment that come into direct contact with the rocks was concretely established in the production process, in parallel with the wear values obtained by simulating the wear phenomenon in laboratory conditions, in order to validate the data collected during the operation of the machines. Preventive-repetitive maintenance, within the activities of reconditioning the worn surfaces of the teeth, through the charging process by manual electric welding with covered electrodes, was applied directly to the machine, which led to the shortening of the interruptions in operation necessary to replace these spare parts.
... When analyzing the performance assurance of mine hoisting machines, a question arises about the quality of performance of the functions. The quality of functioning evaluates a set of properties of the process of lifting loads designed to meet the given requirements in accordance with the purpose and evaluated performance indicators [1,2]. The quality of function fulfillment depends not only on the elements, which in the process of the system functioning worked properly or failed, but also on the moments in time when some or other changes in the system states occurred. ...
The work analyzes the performance assurance of mine hoisting machines, including the problem of the quality of performance of the functions. The quality of functioning allows evaluation of a set of properties of the process of lifting loads, designed to meet the given requirements in accordance with the purpose and evaluated performance indicators. In this case, the quality of the function depends not only on the elements that worked properly or failed during system functioning but also on the moments involving certain changes in the states of the system. The considered system of power supply of mine hoisting installations is rather complex with respect to reliability. The proposed approach allows this rather complex system to lead in terms of the form of a serial connection of elements, allowing for determining the influence of the functioning of its subsystems and electrical equipment on the technological process of cargo lifting in a coal mine. The presented mathematical concept of increasing the reliability and failure-free operation of mine hoisting plants with the help of the developed mathematical model of the mine hoisting plant allowed studying the reliability indicators of the hoisting plant operation and reserving the equipment most effectively to increase reliability. The determination of coupling coefficients in this study made it possible to analyze the impact of the reliability of electrical equipment and power supply systems on the operation of technological machines to improve the reliability of mining equipment and the efficiency of technical systems of mining equipment.
... Bull dozer, dragline, bucket wheel excavator, drill rig, dumpers are some of the equipment used in open pit mining [3]. In order to meet established production targets, mining organizations require more reliable equipment [4]. Reliability speci es the overall machine condition and it can be de ned as the probabilitythat a device or a system will perform its function satisfactorily for a given time periodwhen used according to stated operating conditions [5]. ...
The production and supply of coal are always prominent issues for thermal power plants due to the high demand for electricity generation. The dump trucks used in open-pit mining serve as a medium to transport the coal. Interrupted services of dump trucks due to breakdown can lead to delayed and incorrect supply to the generating units. To improve the productivity and for the proper delivery of the coal, the downtime should be minimized and the reliability should be maximized. FMECA is one of the prominent reliability modelling techniques that prevent occurrence of sudden failures. In order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional FMECA, fuzzy rule based approach is proposed in this paper to mitigate the failures in dumpers. Fuzzy FMECA helps in resolving the uncertainty and ambiguity in traditional FMECA approach and can work in a better way even using insufficient information when compared with traditional FMECA.
... As the depth of mineralisation increases with an increasing depth of mineralisation and the productivity of lifting systems under conditions of unstable loads, the requirements of quality parameters of elements of the lifting complex elements as well as their reliability and durability are increasing [1][2][3]. ...
The issues of the evaluation and prediction of the reliability and testability of mining machinery and equipment are becoming particularly relevant, since the safety of technological processes and human life is reaching a new level of realisation due to changes in mining technology. The work is devoted to the development of a logical model for analysing the controllability of mining equipment. The paper presents a model of reliability of the operation of mining equipment on the example of a mine load and passenger hoist. This generalised model is made in the form of a graph of transitions and supplemented with a system of equations. The model allows for the estimation of the reliability of equipment elements and equipment as a whole. A mathematical and logical model for the calculation of the availability and downtime coefficients of various designs of mining equipment systems is proposed. This model became the basis for the methods to calculate the optimal values of diagnostic depth. At these calculated values, the maximum value of availability factor will be obtained. In this paper, an analytical study was carried out and dependences of the readiness factor of parameters of the investigated system such as the intensity of control of technical systems, intensity of failures, etc., were constructed. The paper proposes a mathematical model to assess the reliability of mine hoisting plants through its integration into the method of improving the reliability of mine hoisting plants.
... It is just that it was discovered that the machinery or equipment used to mine and remove minerals and the consumption of minerals creates carbon emissions and contributes to global warming. The research of Refs [8][9][10] shows that the machines used throughout the metal production and handling process do not consider the conditions and work rules. In other words, today, most minerals with industrial capacity are extracted by local industrial companies or artisans. ...
Mining exploitation and its impact on global warming have become significant problems. The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of mining industry equipment and natural resource demand on global warming in Congo. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2021 to July 2022, using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey was carried out with 1360 respondents from Congo who worked in the mining sector for 18 years and above. For our research, we used the Partial least squares structural equation modeling approach (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software to analyze data. The results show that technological trends are the strongest predictor of global warming in Congo. Equipment was also the most significant predictor of climate change in Congo. Faced with this danger, we are sounding the alarm and asking for urgent intervention from the government. Moreover, all the scientific evidence on this subject is now irrefutable. Even if the climate of Congo may prove less worrying for the moment, the probability that it survives seems very low. However, the Congolese government must take immediate possible precautions to prevent Congo from finding itself in the same challenge currently faced by developed countries.
... There are many formalisms to model the system construction. The most widely used are reliability block diagrams (RBD) (Dhillon, 2008), fault trees (FT) (Gharahasanlou et al., 2014) and reliability graphs (RG) (Barabadi et al., 2011a). RBD, RG and FT are graphical representations of the system in reliabilitywise or functional logic, providing a view of the system close to the modeler, more readable and understandable than any other formalism. ...
... • Mining equipment safety: This is also an emerging new area of the application of basic safety principles to mining equipment-related problems. Over the years, many publications on the topic have appeared, including two textbooks which present some material on the topic [13,14]. • Safety in offshore oil and gas industry: This is also an emerging new area of the application of basic safety principles in offshore oil and gas industry-related problems. ...
... Conveyor belts have a mobile, rough bottom that drags materials from one place to another, and they are commonly used in industry (e.g. Dhillon 2008;Pane et al. 2019). If a granular material flows under the effect of gravity while subject to a controlled drag that counterbalances the gravitational effect, the resulting flow should reach a steady state. ...
This paper shows how a conveyor belt setup can be used to study the dynamics of stationary granular flows. To visualise the flow within the granular bulk and, in particular, determine its composition and the velocity field, we used the refractive index matching (RIM) technique combined with particle tracking velocimetry and coarse-graining algorithms. Implementing RIM posed varied technical, design and construction difficulties. To test the experimental setup and go beyond a mere proof of concept, we carried out granular flow experiments involving monodisperse and bidisperse borosilicate glass beads. These flows resulted in stationary avalanches with distinct regions whose structures were classified as: (i) a convective-bulged front, (ii) a compact-layered tail and, between them, (iii) a breaking size-segregation wave structure. We found that the bulk strain rate, represented by its tensor invariants, varied significantly between the identified flow structures, and their values supported the observed avalanche characteristics. The flow velocity fields’ interpolated profiles adjusted well to a Bagnold-like profile, although a considerable basal velocity slip was measured. We calculated a segregation flux using recent developments in particle-size segregation theory. Along with vertical velocity changes and high expansion rates, segregation fluxes were markedly higher at the avalanche’s leading edge, suggesting a connection between flow rheology and grain segregation. The experimental conveyor belt’s results showed the potential for further theoretical developments in rheology and segregation-coupled models.
Graphic Abstract
... is the maintainability function at time t and r f is the repair time probability density function [26]. ...
Earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines (EPB-TBMs) are favorably applied in urban tunneling projects. Despite their numerous advantages, considerable delays and high maintenance cost are the main disadvantages these machines suffer from. Reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis is a practical technique that uses failure and repair dataset obtained over a reasonable time for dealing with proper machine operation, maintenance scheduling, cost control, and improving the availability and performance of such machines. In the present study, a database of failures and repairs of an EBP-TBM was collected in line 1 of Tabriz subway project over a 26-month interval of machine operation. In order to model the reliability of the TBM, this machine was divided into five distinct subsystems including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and water systems in a series configuration. According to trend and serial correlation tests, the renewal processes were applied, for analysis of all subsystems. After calculating the reliability and maintainability functions for all subsystems, it was revealed that the mechanical subsystem with the highest failure frequency has the lowest reliability and maintainability. Similarly, estimating the availability of all subsystems indicated that the mechanical subsystem has a relatively low availability level of 52.6%, while other subsystems have acceptable availability level of 97%. Finally, the overall availability of studied machine was calculated as 48.3%.
... Reliability is defined as the probability of a machine or equipment that can be operated properly to perform the task within a specified time interval and stated conditions before it is undergone a failure/breakdown (Dhillon, 2008). Mathematically reliability function is represented as: ...
Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs) are prominent equipment employed for transportation operations in many of the underground mines. This equipment often suffers from frequent breakdowns due to a variety of technical and managerial practices resulting in increased maintenance costs and loss of production and productivity. Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis deal with the optimal functioning of equipment, maintenance scheduling, controlling cost, and improvement of availability and performance. Keeping this in view, the current study focused on the estimation of the performance of the equipment using RAM investigation. The required failure and repair data of LHDs were collected from field investigations. Graphical analyses using Trend and serial correlation tests and analytical analysis using Statistic-U test were conducted to validate the Independent and Identical Distribution (IID) nature of the data sets. Based on the above tests, the Renewal Process was adopted to carry out the RAM analysis. The best-fit approximation of datasets was selected by performing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test. In addition to that, the reliability-based Preventive Maintenance time intervals were estimated to improve the percentage of reliability.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in issues related to mining equipment maintenance, with particular focus on pumping systems’ continuous operation. However, despite wide applications of pump system maintenance in a wide range of industries, such as water and wastewater, aviation, petrochemical, building (HVAC system), and nuclear power plant industries, the literature on maintenance of pump systems operating in the mining industry still needs development. This study aims to review the existing literature to present an up-to-date analysis of maintenance strategies for mining pumps, with a particular focus on proactive maintenance approaches. Key aspects considered include predictive diagnostics and prognosis, health status monitoring, maintenance management, and the integration of intelligent mining systems to enhance operational reliability and efficiency in harsh mining environments. The proposed methodology includes a systematic literature review with the use of the Primo multi-search tool, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The selection criteria focused on English studies published between 2005 and 2024, resulting in 88 highly relevant papers. These papers were categorized into six groups: (a) condition/health status monitoring, (b) dewatering system operation and maintenance, (c) health diagnosis and prognosis, (d) intelligent mining (modern technologies), (e) maintenance management, and (f) operational efficiency and reliability optimization. A notable strength of this study is its use of diverse scientific databases facilitated by the multi-search tool. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis was performed, showcasing the evolution of research on pump maintenance in the mining sector over the past decade and identifying key areas such as predictive diagnostics, dewatering system optimization, and intelligent maintenance management. This study highlights the varied levels of research and practical implementation across industries, emphasizing the mining sector’s unique challenges and opportunities. Significant research gaps were identified, including the need for tailored diagnostic tools, real-time monitoring systems, and cost-effective maintenance strategies specific to harsh mining environments. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on advancing predictive maintenance technologies, integrating intelligent systems, and enhancing operational efficiency and reliability. The study concludes with a detailed discussion of the findings and their implications, offering a roadmap for innovations in pump maintenance within the mining industry.
Utilization of the shovel fleet as a capital-intensive and operationally important asset in open-pit mines is a key indicator for mine production analysis. This paper investigates shovel utilization in surface mining using a novel smart platform integrated with the shovel operating joystick. It utilizes a unique algorithm to identify and differentiate operational and non-operational time based on comparing real-time data and average loading cycle time. This data is then employed to calculate overall uptime and identify downtime periods. A field study was carried out on six electric cable shovels consisting of P&H 2100 and TZ WK-12, at Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine. The analysis revealed that the average utilization of the whole fleet is equal to 33%, ranging from 16 to 48%, which is dramatically lower than the mine expectations. The statistical analysis showed that in 10–13% of the operating time, the utilization is higher than 75%, which is a moderately acceptable level. Finally, according to the outcomes of the field study and the developed smart platform, it could be concluded that improvements in dispatching system accuracy, revising the grade blending strategies, increasing processing plant flexibility and improved operator training could enhance shovel fleet utilization and whole mine productivity.
The article covers the output of the system and all forms of maintenance that must be executed. The study provides a methodology on the implementation of CMMS. First, the equipment list is selected, and then the project phases from engineering to implementation will be implemented. Software features are described in detail, as well as report types.
The aim of this research is to test and analyze the concept of downtime reducing in increasing company productivity carried out in the food and beverage industry in Tangerang Regency through the intervening variables reliability and efficiency. This research uses a quantitative approach with a causality descriptive design. The sample in this study was 257 respondents who were employees in the F&B industry in Tangerang Regency. The data analysis method consists of descriptive tests using the three box method, inferential tests using the SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) method with the help of SmartPLS software and significance testing or hypothesis testing. The test and analysis results show that all the hypotheses tested have a positive and significant effect, meaning that downtime reducing can be a concept that can be applied to F&B companies in Kab. Tangerang to increase company productivity through the intervening variables reliability and efficiency.
The sustainable development of mining processes requires a deep knowledge of the effectiveness of mining equipment and is quite complex to analyze due to the intrinsic characteristics of the mining industry. In this regard, its measurement and control can lead to appropriate management, improving the mining processes’ efficiency, increasing safety levels, and reducing environmental impacts. This paper developed a new methodology to study the effectiveness of equipment in mining processes, researching the impacts of process management, process control, operating conditions, operational mining schedule, and maintenance programs on the effectiveness of drilling rig fleets using two actual coal mines located in the northwest of Spain and data collected over 10 years. Thus, a new method, called Overall Mining Equipment Effectiveness (OMEE), was developed, verifying its appropriateness and flexibility to analyze the effectiveness of mining equipment by examining the availability rate, utilization rate, and productivity index.
The coal mining business is quickly expanding to meet the increasing demand for coal for power plants. They are introducing a variety of intricate and sophisticated equipment for the system’s mechanization and atomization. The mining industry spends a significant amount of money on this equipment. The equipment’s reliability, maintainability, and availability have all become critical parameters in ensuring ongoing output. The greatest option for mechanization in underground mines for making holes for coal preparation and roof rock support is to use UDM in tandem with LHD. UDM has the ability to drill holes in any direction and at any angle. It is necessary to measure and ensure its reliability to reduce coal production downtime. OEM has designed the UDM to serve at minimum for 8 years of life, 25,000 h of operation, and 473,000 m of total drilling, whichever comes later. The Markov approach was used to assess the UDM system’s reliability by examining the failure and repair rates of seven modules of UDM connected in series, which is novel to this study, as no prior antecedent research has been done in this area. UDM’s reliability declined after 8 years of operation, while its maintainability skyrocketed. The availability of the UDM may be increased from 79 to 88% by lowering the unavailability of hydraulic, electrical, and drill units by 4, 2, and 3%, respectively. This study demonstrates how strengthening the maintainability of the allied system of UDM, as well as resolving operating faults, can improve UDM availability and assure a smooth and continuous production rate in the mines.
HighlightsThe UDM (Underground Drilling Machine) and LHD (Load-Haul-Dump) were introduced as the superior possibilities for mechanization in underground mines for coal preparation and roof rock support, offering the capacity to drill holes in any direction and angle.
UDM’s reliability, maintainability, and availability are rigorously assessed using the Markov approach, with a focus on meeting the OEM design requirements of 8 years of service life, 25,000 operating hours, or 473,000 m of total drilling.
To evaluate the UDM system’s dependability and how it changes over time, as shown in tables and graphs, it is necessary to identify specific modules within it and their connections, treating them as a series system.
Exhibiting how improving system availability by reducing the unavailability of specific modules can have a significant positive impact on the availability of the entire system.
Recommendations for specific training programs for UDM operators to help them handle the equipment while it is in use and prevent mechanical damage, improving the machine’s overall safety and dependability in underground coal mining operations.
This paper investigates the maintainability of economizers of three coal-based boilers for making decision of selection of replacement or maintenance practices. A sudden failure in the economizer can result huge production loss hence, a suitable decision model is essential which provides a strong data base for making optimal decision. A practical model for making decision is developed with respect to failure/repair data of three different economizers and trend with serial correlation tests are conducted. An investigation is carried out to determine the idealized statistical probability distribution providing best fit distribution. Further their Reliability and Maintainability are calculated. The tests of trend and serial correlation show very fast increasing failure rate of economizer # 1&2 with respect to economizer # 3. The present paper highlights that the failure data of economizer # 1 and economizer # 2 follow the NHPP model with poor reliability condition which indicates that these economizers should be replaced to restore boiler system as new as. However, failure data of economizer #3 follows the Lognormal distribution with poor reliability condition which suggests to develop the Preventive Maintenance Interval (PMI) to restore the boiler system. The present model serves a strong ground to decide replacement/preventive maintenance policy for not only to economizers but also to any pressure parts of coal based boilers.
This paper aims to investigate the impact of mixed ground conditions and the presence of groundwater, which are critical geotechnical variables during mechanized tunneling, on the tool life, reliability, and maintainability of the EPB-TBM cutterhead. To achieve this goal, field data from the Tabriz urban railway project were gathered and classified into two groups: failures occurring in the tunnel's upper section above the water level and failures in the lower section below the water level. A comprehensive analysis of this data was conducted. The examination of various cutting tool types' consumption in mixed ground conditions revealed that scrapers had the highest replacement rate, while other tool types experienced fewer replacements. In terms of maintainability, the analysis showed that under dry ground conditions, there is an 80% probability of completing cutterhead maintenance within less than four shifts. However, in saturated ground conditions, this figure rises to 18.5 shifts. The reliability analysis demonstrated that the mean time between failures in dry ground and below the water level stands at 49.8 and 107.4 h, respectively. The significant contrast between maintainability and reliability findings underscores the influence of ground conditions on machine downtime and operational efficiency. The outcomes of this study provide valuable operational benchmarks that can be applied in EPB mechanized tunneling, enabling better project scheduling and enhancing the reliability of construction contracts.
The analysis for estimating operator’s activity and quantity of information in control rooms of underground coal mines is presented in this paper. Monitoring of operators in control rooms was conducted in mines Rembas, Soko, Ibar, Jasenovac and Stavalj. The network models are used during the analysis of operator’s activity in control rooms. The result of the analysis is proposed critical path network model. The application of network models improves the quality and level of research, making it more efficient. Most of the analysed information are related to normal and alarm state data received from the mine shaft and operator’s response to this data. Results are given according to actual scope of work depending on the work dynamics in underground coal mines, via histogram of changes in average number of activities per 1 h for 24-h period, then number of operator’s activities per work hour and insight into the global view of technological process in the coal mine with focus on the work scope of mine workers. Analysis of operator’s activities presented in this paper determines the relations between devices in control rooms and operators’ capabilities in order to get better ergonomic design of control rooms.
Deep learning was used to detect boulders that can damage excavators in opencast mines. Different network architectures were applied, i.e., modern YOLOv5, RetinaNet and Mask-RCNN. Studies were carried out in which the results obtained using a few networks were compared. The abovementioned neural networks were exploited in a framework for detection of oversized boulders on a conveyor belt operating in an opencast coal mine. The method is based on the analysis of a certain number of consecutive frames of the film from an industrial camera. The novelty relies on checking the detection of a boulder within subsequent frames and allowing the skipping of a prescribed small number of neighboring frames with false negative detections. This allows one to make a decision about stopping a conveyor belt after detecting a boulder in consecutive frames even when they are interleaved with frames that contained a boulder missed by a detector due to misleading environmental conditions such as shadows or sand. The method was tested on recordings from an opencast mine in Poland. The proposed method can help prevent the failure of expensive equipment.Keywordsdeep learningYOLOv5object detectiondigital image processingopencast mining
The current research deals with the various reliability measures analysis for a complex bleaching system. The system has a complex structure with three subsystems A, B and C associated to each other in series arrangement. The subsystem A has only one unit and subsystem B and C have two identical units which are connected in parallel configuration with each other. In both the cases (B and C), second unit is in standby. The assumed bleaching framework has three type of states i.e., working, partially working and failed. The framework is assumed to be repaired from the degraded and failed states. Mathematical model of the designed framework is solved by means of supplementary variable technique and Markov process. Laplace transform of numerous differential equations is obtained. Various reliability measures such as reliability, availability, mean time to failure and expected cost are evaluated, graphical depiction of the reliability characteristics are also illustrated for the considered system.
This article deals with reliability analysis of mining equipment such as shovels and dumper in a surface coal mine at The Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd., Telangana, by using the RBD and Markov model. First, the method is to obtain the MTBF and failure rate of the individual subsystem of a shovel and each dumper using RBD. Second, the attribute of the reliability-based Markov model is dissected. The method is shown to be an effective technique to obtain the reliability of the whole system of shovel and dumper during the working period. Then, the mathematical model has written to obtain the reliability of the whole system of the shovel and the dumper is described along with its validation. The outcome shows that the reliability with a time of the entire framework is the unwavering quality incorporated of subsystems and can be treated as a factor for the optimized process of availability of the same.
Biodiesel has attracted research because of its environmental benefits and energy security. In this research, the suitability of using Mahua B20 biodiesel blend in a single cylinder diesel engine has been carried out. The performance characteristics such as brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency and NOx exhaust emissions of B20 Mahua biodiesel with pyrogallol antioxidant by changing its concentration from 0 ppm to 750 ppm is examined and compared to regular diesel. The engine performance results reveals that minor improvements in brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency is observed with considerable reduction in NOx emission at an optimum 750 ppm antioxidant concentration in comparison with B20 Mahua blend without antioxidant. Thus, Mahua B20 blend with antioxidant can be used to run diesel engine without any modification.
20-22 апреля 2016 г. Часть I Санкт-Петербург 2016
Sustainability is acknowledged as an emerging megatrend in business that significantly affects companies’ survival and competitiveness in the market-place. Environmental, global workforce and complex supply chain networks have created pressures to have a clear vision and improve sustainability due to geopolitical dimensions. As per United Nations (UN), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), responsible production and consumption (SDG 12), and industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), and attain higher economic scales of productivity (SDG 8) oblige to drive productivity improvement. The mining maintenance costs constitute around 30% to 40% of the direct mining costs in mining due to diverse operating conditions. First, this article aims to develop the Cox regression Machine Learning (ML) model to derive shovels’ Remaining Useful Life (RUL). Second, formulate and model the maintenance schedule optimisation of mining equipment. Third, test and validate the cost optimisation model by deploying Decision Optimisation (DO) ILOG CPLEX to combine maintenance schedules of Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Predictive Maintenance (PdM). Finally, the data-driven actions demonstrate operating cost reduction through the metrics of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Overall Throughput Effectiveness (OTE) and Impact Factor (IF) computation. Further, this article demonstrates the benefits of IF improvements through a case study. The combined optimised maintenance reduced shovels’ maintenance by 2.27 hours per combined schedule, which led to the potential ‘OEE’: improvement between 2.7% and 7.2% of different shovels and which is a measure of equipment productivity. The computed IF improvement for mining shovels is 49% and is aligned as per the SDG of responsible production.
Hybrid energy framework is the designing plan of hybridizing power supply part or blending them, for instance, organizing different energy assets to work in parallel (equivalent) is exceptionally normal in force. In this way, hybridizing is characterized as the shaping crossbreed of sets of specialists for cooperating to accomplish a reason. Hybrid energy framework is a foundation plan that incorporates different or various energy converts to energy storage, energy conditions, energy management framework. In this paper an independent PV/wind hybrid energy framework is thought of and its reliability quality attributes are talked about by utilizing Markov method. The assumed hybrid energy framework has three type of states i.e., operating, degraded and failed. The framework is assumed to be repaired from degraded and failed states. Various reliability indices such as reliability, availability, mean time to failure (MTTF), expected cost and sensitivity are evaluated. Graphical representation of the reliability characteristics is also illustrated for the considered system. The area of investigation inside the field of sustainable power is worldwide and the aftereffects of this investigation are plentifully useful for the architects, planners, analysts and understudies of different fields.
In surface mining operations, ultra-heavy trucks operate on haul road networks which are typically from 10-40 km in length. These road networks are often not optimally designed and maintained and as a result, identifying and remediating road functional defects is problematic. Most surface mine operators agree good roads are desirable, but find it difficult to translate this into an effective road maintenance system. This paper presents a haul road maintenance management system which utilizes an assessment of rolling resistance based on a functional performance evaluation of a haul road, together with mine haul truck operating cost models to derive the optimal frequency of road maintenance. A typical application is presented which illustrates the potential of the technique to manage maintenance as and where needed with resultant reduction in total road user costs and an improvement in service provided for the road user.
When two pieces of heavy equipment interact, jolting and jarring can occur. During haulage truck loading for example, there is a chance that the operator of one or both pieces of the equipment will experience jolting and jarring. Additionally, a jolt can occur when an off highway equipment operator drives over a road defect or inadvertently strikes a berm. Aside from the operators, there is seldom anyone else that witnesses the interaction and can accurately describe the extent of the jolting. This makes it difficult for health and safety managers to address jolting and jarring. The devices and software described in this paper constitute a method for installing "black boxes" called Shox Boxes onboard equipment that already have a GPS system onboard. The resulting configuration provides an objective assessment of jolting and a chance to determine the root causes of it. The Shox Box system reviews data in real time, onboard the vehicles, 24 hrs a day, and sends pertinent information via radio to a central database. The data generated shows whether jolts are above or below a supervisor defined target value for the equipment and the tasks being performed. This allows health and safety personnel to demonstrate safe operation of heavy equipment and recommend proactive actions to maintain jolting within a reasonable range.
Overhead electric power lines present a serious electrocution
hazard to personnel in a variety of industries. Overhead lines,
typically uninsulated conductors supported on towers or poles, are the
most common means of electric power transmission and distribution, and
are exposed to contact by mobile equipment such as cranes and trucks.
Equipment contacting energized overhead lines becomes elevated to a high
voltage, and simultaneous contact by personnel of the “hot”
frame and ground can cause serious electrical shock and burns.
Industries where risk of these accidents is greatest include
construction, mining, agriculture, and communications/public utilities.
An estimated 2300 accidental overhead line contacts occur each year in
the US. This paper describes a practical low-cost concept to detect
actual contact of mobile equipment with a high-voltage line and provide
a warning. Accident statistics indicate that more than half of the
fatalities could be prevented by such a device