MINE SITE ELECTRIFICATION PLANNING BY COMPUTER SIMULATION

A mine site electrification planning apparatus includes a model component to simulate mine site operations under a mine site electrification plan. A simulation control component may provide configuration data to the model component that are descriptive of varying distributions of zero greenhouse gas emitting (ZGHG) mining assets for which the mine site electrification plan is simulated. An optimization control component may identify the configuration data associated with the simulated mine site electrification plan that meets an economic optimization criterion related to physically implementing the mine site electrification plan.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to mine site planning by computer simulation. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to simulating mine site operations under site electrification procedures to determine an economically optimal mine site electrification plan.

BACKGROUND

Global demand for mined products, e.g., metal ores and other geological materials, seems all but unquenchable. Nevertheless, modern mine operators engage a fleet of often massive mining machines to meet that demand. Mining machines and supporting equipment, such as refueling equipment, not to mention the mine site itself represent a significant economic outlay by mine operators. Accordingly, prudent mine site planning including long-term planning over the lifetime of the mine is essential where economics are a concern.

While mine operators seek to minimize the business impact of mine site infrastructure costs, they also seek to minimize the environmental impact of mining operations. Recent developments in net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG; ZGHG for zero GHG) technologies include local electric power sources, such as rechargeable batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, that provide sufficient electrical current for mining operations by electric motors, thus affording a technique by which GHGs from exhaust, for example, can be reduced. However, electrification of a mine site, i.e., adapting the mine site machinery and supporting equipment for mine site operations that rely on local electric power sources, is yet another significant cost against the mine operator's bottom line.

US Patent Application Publication 2016/0314421 is directed to market-driven mining optimization and is an example of a mining management system that seeks optimal mine site operations. In this case, the proposed system models mine site operations in view of provided market data to determine a most cost-effective delivery of mined products to a customer's dump site.

US Patent Application Publication 2020/0132882 is directed to online monitoring and optimization of mining and mineral processing operations. Key performance indicators of interest from at least one of mining operations, a comminution circuit, and a flotation and concentration circuit are selected and provided to the system. The proposed method and system seek to improve key performance indicators such as cost of mining operations or specific energy consumption in a comminution circuit to maximize yield of a desired particle size or grade and recovery of a mineral of interest while considering operational constraints.

US Patent Application Publication 2016/0163222 is directed to a work site simulation and optimization tool that allows for optimization of various worksite processes by considering unique site characteristics such as the number of haul routes available and machine design performance information of machines operating on the worksite. Proposed site goals targeted by the system include optimized cost of production, productivity, etc.

While different mechanisms exist for optimizing mining operations for different goals, mine site electrification planning, particularly over a long term, entails considerations not captured in the prevailing art. For example, unlike fossil fuel tanks that typically last for the lifetime of the machine, rechargeable batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and the like have a shorter usable lifetime and may require replacement prior to cessation of mining operations. Moreover, such rechargeable power sources suffer diminished recharge capacity, e.g., holding charge, producing current, etc., by cyclic discharge/recharge of the power sources over time.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present inventive concept, a mine site electrification planning apparatus includes a model component to simulate mine site operations under a mine site electrification plan. A simulation control component may provide configuration data to the model component that are descriptive of varying distributions of zero greenhouse gas emitting (ZGHG) mining assets for which the mine site electrification plan is simulated. An optimization control component may identify the configuration data associated with the simulated mine site electrification plan that meets an economic optimization criterion related to physically implementing the mine site electrification plan. The apparatus may also operate in an exploratory mode that bypasses the optimization control component in favor of manual (computer-assisted) investigation of simulated mine site electrification plans. Optionally, processor circuitry may be implemented and constructed to accept configuration data that define distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment that cooperate in a corresponding mine site electrification plan.

In another aspect of the present inventive concept, a processor-executable mine site electrification planning process accepts a configuration data structure defining a distribution of ZGHG mining assets. Mining operations may be simulated using the distribution of ZGHG mining assets defined in the configuration data structure and the simulated mining operations are analyzed for economic factors in implementing a mine site electrification plan in accordance therewith. The distribution of ZGHG assets in the configuration data structure may be iteratively modified and the mining operations simulated therewith are analyzed seeking the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for which the economic factors meet an optimization condition. The mine site electrification plan that uses the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for which the analyzing thereof indicates the economic factors meet the optimization condition may be provided. Processor circuitry may be constructed to accept configuration data that define distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment that cooperate in a corresponding mine site electrification plan.

In yet another aspect of the present inventive concept, a mine site electrification planning system includes memory circuitry to store model data, simulation instruction code and site planning instruction code. Processor circuitry may be constructed to accept configuration data that define distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment that cooperate in a corresponding mine site electrification plan. The simulation instruction code may be executed to retrieve the model data and to simulate therewith temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan under conditions established by the configuration data. The site planning instruction code may be executed to iteratively provide to the executing simulation instruction code modified configuration data until an optimal mine site electrification plan meets an optimization criterion. The optimization criterion may be indicative of a cost factor of mine operations that physically implement the corresponding mine site electrification plan. A user interface may display the configuration data with which the optimal mine site electrification plan was simulated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventive concept is best described through certain embodiments thereof, which are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features throughout. It is to be understood that the term invention, when used herein, is intended to connote the inventive concept underlying the embodiments described below and not merely the embodiments themselves. It is to be understood further that the general inventive concept is not limited to the illustrative embodiments described below and the following descriptions should be read in such light.

Additionally, the word exemplary is used herein to mean, “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” Any embodiment of construction, process, design, technique, etc., designated herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other such embodiments.

Additionally, mathematical expressions are contained herein and those principles conveyed thereby are to be taken as being thoroughly described therewith. It is to be understood that where mathematics are used, such is for succinct description of the underlying principles being explained and, unless otherwise expressed, no other purpose is implied or should be inferred. It will be clear from this disclosure overall how the mathematics herein pertain to the present invention and, where embodiment of the principles underlying the mathematical expressions is intended, the ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize numerous techniques to carry out physical manifestations of the principles being mathematically expressed.

The figures described herein include schematic block diagrams illustrating various interoperating functional modules. Such diagrams are not intended to serve as electrical schematics and interconnections illustrated are intended to depict signal flow, various interoperations between functional components and/or processes and are not necessarily direct electrical connections between such components. Moreover, the functionality illustrated and described via separate components need not be distributed as shown, and the discrete blocks in the diagrams are not necessarily intended to depict discrete electrical components.

The techniques described herein are directed to mine site electrification planning. As used herein, the term “electrification” is intended to mean adapting mine site machinery and supporting equipment for mine site operations that rely on machine-local electric power sources. This includes smaller transitional deployments whereby GHG producing technology is gradually replaced with ZGHG technologies, e.g., over several deployment phases. Upon review of this disclosure and appreciation of the concepts disclosed herein, the ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize other ZGHG deployment planning contexts in which the present inventive concept can be applied. The scope of the present invention is intended to encompass all such alternative implementations.

FIG.1is a schematic illustration of an exemplary mine site electrification planning (MSEP, also used for mine site electrification plan) system100by which the present invention can be embodied. MSEP system100may be constructed or otherwise configured to simulate an MSEP, such as that graphically depicted at MSEP150. As used herein, an MSEP is a specification of the manner and mechanisms for implementing a zero greenhouse gas (GHG; ZGHG refers to zero, or more accurately, net-zero GHG) policy at a mine site. As used herein, ZGHG is meant to refer to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and a ZGHG policy, strategy and similarly derived terms is meant to refer to one constraining the use of machinery that produce GHG emissions, e.g., machinery relying on internal combustion engines burning fossil fuel, in favor of machinery that produces near-zero or zero GHG emissions, while still meeting satisfactory production levels. Such machinery includes that relying on rechargeable batteries or hydrogen (H2) fuel cells. For purposes of conciseness, machinery that produce GHG emissions may be referred to herein as GHG machinery, GHG machines and similarly derived terms, and machinery that produces near-zero or zero GHG emissions may be referred to herein as ZGHG machinery, ZGHG machines and similarly derived terms. Embodiments of the present invention, such as exemplary MSEP system100, implement techniques by which a transition may be planned whereby GHG emission technology is replaced with ZGHG technology. Such transition may be a long-term project that occurs in concert with ongoing mining operations, preferably with minimal impact on day-to-day production goals. While the exemplary embodiments described herein, including MSEP system100, assume it is such a transition that is to be planned, the invention may also be embodied for planning future mine sites, including those deploying site-wide ZGHG technology from the outset.

To introduce basic principles MSEP system100and other embodiments herein, simulated MSEP150is a graphical representation of a general MSEP, which may be implemented as a time-indexed data structure or file and may be read/write accessible to a data processor, such as processing system120. Central to MSEP150is site map190, which may be implemented as a data structure defining time-dependent locations of, among other things, site routes192and mine face194. It is to be understood that a site map, as the term is used herein, may be a complete specification of the mine site, including the terrain, site-wide traffic routing of load hauling equipment, such as trolleys, mining equipment, such as excavators, support vehicles, such as mobile refueling vehicles, etc., external service sizing, and so on, and can thus be much more complex than just defining location of routes192and mine face194. Nevertheless, these two mine site features are examples of those that evolve with time, indicated in the figure by mine site evolution f(t) and are sufficient for the current discussion.

MSEP150may additionally specify a distribution170of ZGHG infrastructure that supports ZGHG mining operations. Such distribution may include, among other things, different recharging techniques, including the number, type, size, mobility, etc., of electric charging stations172and H2charging stations174as well as dynamic energy transfer equipment for switching between internal and external power sources with minimal impact on occurring mining operations by the work machine, e.g., a mining trolley, implementing such. Distribution170may be time-dependent as indicated at recharging capacity r(t).

MSEP150may further specify a distribution180of work machines, representatively illustrated at work machine182, that perform mining operations and may change over time as indicated at machine usage u(t). Each of work machines182in distribution180may be equipped with a local power source184that provide sufficient electrical current for ZGHG mining operations. Local power sources184may be drawn down and recharged, repeatedly, and suffer degradation in, among other things, their capacity for recharging, holding a charge and providing sufficient current, representatively illustrated at local power source health g(t).

Exemplary MSEP150may specify time-varying distributions of technologies, machinery, support equipment, etc., in terms of long-term (on the order of years to decades) evolution of the mine site resulting from mining and in terms of electrification of the mine site, which may occur over a shorter period than the long-term evolution of the mine site, but may still be a long-term process nonetheless.

MSEP system100may be constructed to simulate MSEP150subject to information contained in configuration data125. To that end, processing system120may be constructed or otherwise configured with a discrete event simulation (DES) processor122by which mine site electrification techniques are modeled as occurring in parallel with mining operations using the configuration of configuration data125. In certain embodiments, MSEP150may be optimized with regard to specifications10, which may require a business optimal MSEP, e.g., one that maximizes profit or minimizes cost. Accordingly, configuration data125may be continually modified and presented to processing system120until an optimization processor124identifies configuration data125that is associated with an MSEP150that is optimal in the sense of specifications10, e.g., total cost of ownership (TCO) and/or net present value (NPV) of the implemented MSEP.

FIG.2is a hierarchical view of components of an exemplary MSEP system200by which the present inventive concept may be embodied. Skilled computer programmers may recognize aspects ofFIG.2that suggest an object-/container-oriented software paradigm and, indeed, the present invention may be so implemented. However, the description ofFIG.2is intended to demonstrate general functionality of embodiments of the present invention through an exemplary set of features.

Exemplary MSEP200may comprise a set of subsystems: a model authoring subsystem210by which system models may be constructed, a simulation solving subsystem240by which simulations run using electrification configuration data are work-optimized, a 3D animation and reporting subsystem260by which MSEP simulations may be animated and analyzed for various performance and business metrics, and a business optimization subsystem280by which configuration data are reconfigured and corresponding simulations run until an MSEP is optimized in the sense of the performance and/or business metrics.

Model authoring subsystem210may comprise a set of components: a site model component215by which modeled features of the mine, e.g., site map150, may be constructed, machine objects component220by which machinery data for mining operations may be constructed and an infrastructure objects component230by which support infrastructure features may be constructed.

Site model component215may include physical site information217, e.g., site terrain information which may be imported from geographical data, route definitions, rolling resistance of site machinery, locations of load and dump zones, locations of charge/fuel stations, locations of battery swap stations, etc. Site model component215may further include operations defined for the mine site, e.g., shift changes, operator breaks, machinery maintenance, machinery breakdowns, machine/task assignments, trolley strategy, etc.

Machine objects component220may include work machine objects222descriptive of loaders, haulers and auxiliary machinery, etc. Machine objects component220may further include a machine productivity object224descriptive of machine performance at different granularities, including simulated sensor data are acquired from site machinery. Additionally, machine objects component220may include power technologies information226descriptive of the manner in which the machinery derives source power, e.g., diesel mechanical, diesel electric, battery electric, fuel cell electric, tethered, etc. Power technologies information226may also include dynamic power transfer information descriptive of the manner in which a power source is switched from internal, such as by electrical storage cells, H2Fuel cells, to external, such as by overhead power cables engaged with an onboard pantograph, and vice-versa.

Infrastructure objects component230may include site infrastructure information232descriptive of the manner in which supporting infrastructure are utilized, e.g., stationary and mobile chargers, single-lane and extra-lane trolleys, H2fuel stations, mobile H2fuel trucks, diesel fuel stations, external energy sources, on-site energy sources, such as a microgrid, etc.

Simulation solving subsystem240may comprise a DES component245to perform discrete event simulations.

DES component245may comprise event/behaviors information246descriptive of the events and behavioral event handlers implemented in a simulation. Events and event handlers may be defined for, among other things, haul performance, load/dump cycle times, queueing, bunching, load and carry operations, auxiliary operations, etc. DES component245may further comprise logic (events/event handlers) for mining operations247, e.g., shift changes, operator breaks, machinery maintenance, machinery breakdowns, machine/task assignments, trolley strategy, battery management, battery life estimation, etc. Additionally, logic247may comprise stochastic distributions248from which model random variables are drawn, such as for Monte Carlo estimation techniques.

3D animation and reporting subsystem260may comprise components by which MSEPs are analyzed and analysis results reported: a 3D animation component265, a performance analysis component270and economics analysis component275.

FIG.2presents but one example of a set of functional components by which the present inventive concept can be embodied. It is to be understood that an MSEP system implementation typically involves hundreds or thousands of objects, methods, variables that, while not explicitly described herein, should be inferred as included in MSEP200. The functional components illustrated inFIG.2represent a subset of the full breadth of implementation details of an MSEP system according to the present invention but, with other features being extrapolated, the functional layout of MSEP200is sufficient for the skilled artisan to gain a thorough understanding of the present invention.

FIG.3is an illustration of a partial view of an exemplary simulation state machine300that may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Exemplary simulation state machine300may operate in a computer model of mining operations in a discrete event simulation and is presented to demonstrate the dependence of mine site electrification dynamics on mining dynamics. Exemplary simulation state machine300may comprise site evolution dynamics states/events320, ZGHG dynamics states/events340and physical site dynamics states/events (not illustrated inFIG.3). Arrival at each state of simulation state machine300, representatively illustrated at simulation state322, is achieved solely through an event, representatively illustrated at simulation event324. Each simulation state322may be associated with a corresponding event handler, representatively illustrated at state event handler344and marked f1(e1)-f9(e9) in the figure, that executes simulated behavior assigned to the event. Event handlers may be encoded into a simulation model to simulate desired response behavior.

For purposes of demonstration, it is to be assumed that simulation state machine300resides in simulation state325when, at some event time t, a mine face change event327is invoked that simulates detection of a new location of the active mine face. In response to mine face change event327, simulation state machine300may transition to simulation state328. Simulation state328may be associated by way of the model design with an event handler f3(e3), where event e3represents mine face change event327. Event handler f3(e3) may, among other things, analyze the mine face to identify, among other things, changes thereto that impact performance of electrical mining machines and/or mining activity that may require redeployment of ZGHG infrastructure assets in an MSEP. In the illustrated example, event handler f3(e3) may invoke an elevation change event330. Even from a basic understanding of physics, it can be appreciated that a change in elevation adds to the work a mining machine must perform. Additional work requires additional energy derived from an onboard battery or fuel cell. Recharging requirements in day to day mining operations and the impact of cyclic recharging over time on the health of batteries/fuel cells may be modeled and incorporated into a discrete event simulation. For example, simulation state machine300may be compelled into simulation state342in response to elevation change event330, at which event handler f6(e6) may be executed, where event e6represents elevation change event330. Event handler f6(e6) may have access to physical site dynamics information, which may include rolling resistance data350. Accordingly, event handler f6(e6) may compute a net difference in work owing to the elevation change and may invoke a work reduction event346in response to which simulation state machine300may transition into simulation state348and continue operating from that state.

FIG.4is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary MSEP system400by which the present invention may be embodied and is explained through a circuit abstraction (lower in the figure) and an operational abstraction (upper in the figure). As illustrated in the figure, MSEP system400may be implemented by processor circuitry425that may be communicatively coupled to input/output circuitry427and to memory circuitry410. Memory circuitry410may be constructed or otherwise configured with a code segment415in which computer-executable instructions may be stored and a data segment420in which computer-readable data may be stored. For example, code segment415may include instruction code for a simulation executive417by which processor circuitry425may perform MSEP simulations as well as instruction code for a site planning executive419by which processor circuitry425may implement a user interface, editing and reporting functionality, business optimization, etc. Data segment420of memory circuitry410may further be constructed or otherwise configured to store model data422from which processor circuitry425may construct a site electrification model, such as site electrification model450depicted in the upper portion ofFIG.4. Additionally, data segment420of memory circuitry410may further be constructed or otherwise configured to store various data structures424that contain information used by simulation executive417and site planning executive419, some of which are described below. Whereas the embodiment ofFIG.4closely resembles a single-user station, the present inventive concept can be readily embodied in a cloud-based system by those having skill in telecommunications and/or information technology.

LEFT OFF HEREAs discussed above, MSEP system400may implement DES to simulate mine operations under an MSEP. To that end, MSEP system400may comprise a simulation controller440and a site electrification model450. To conduct a simulation through DES, simulation controller440may include a future event list (FEL) manager448by which an FEL480is managed and a simulation clock442that serves as the simulation time reference. Exemplary FEL480is a data structure containing a temporally ordered list of simulation events, representatively illustrated at simulation event482. Each simulation event482in FEL480may be associated with a simulation event time, representatively illustrated at simulation event time484and may be invoked when simulation clock442arrives at the associated simulation event time482. FEL manager448may, among other things, invoke events, add follow-up events to FEL480and maintain the temporal order of FEL480.

MSEP system400may implement a site electrification model450that simulates mining operations under the provisos established by ZGHG configuration data432. Accordingly, simulation controller440may include a model engine444by which site electrification model450is driven. Site electrification model450exemplified inFIG.4includes a system dynamics transformer460by which an input vector452of system variables is transformed into an output vector456of those system variables. The transformation may be conducted according to the dynamics of mine site operations that include, among others, physical site dynamics462that model the physics of mining including, e.g., gravity, rolling resistance of vehicles, etc., site evolution dynamics464that model the changing site characteristics that are products of mining, e.g., pit expansion, mine face changes, route changes, etc., and ZGHG dynamics466that model the impact on mining due implementing an MSEP, e.g., recharging requirements, battery SoC/SoH, battery swaps, etc.

A simulation conducted through MSEP400may be based on ZGHG configuration data432provided to simulation controller440. ZGHG configuration data432may define distributions of ZGHG assets with which the simulation is conducted, such as and without being limited to, the number, power and locations of battery/fuel cell chargers; the number, power and location of trolley segments; usage of trolley power (propulsion vs. charging); model(s), configuration(s) and number of hauling machines; model(s), configuration(s) and number of loaders, task/machine assignment strategy (open vs. locked); charging frequency; battery replacement SoH; charger locations; movement timing.

Upon acceptance of ZGHG configuration data432, MSEP system400may be initialized for a simulation. For example, FEL manager448may populate FEL480with simulation events482that are to be simulated, including ZGHG-related events486. As used herein, “ZGHG-related” events, variables and the like are those mining events that occur due to mine site electrification, such as those exemplified inFIG.3. Initialization may also include exemplary model engine444assigning initial values to random variables in input vector452that are drawn from stochastic distributions by a randomizer446in a manner consistent with Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The random variables in both input vector452and output vector456may include ZGHG-related variables, representatively illustrated at ZGHG-related variables454.

Once initialized, simulation controller440may advance simulation clock442to the first event time484t1in FEL480and may invoke the corresponding event482e1. Model engine444may assign values to random variables in input vector452and may apply system dynamics transformer460thereto to generate an output vector456of the random variables. Output vector456may be indicative of the state of modeled mining operations responsive to invocation of the event. At each simulation event time484and responsive to the invocation of the associated event482, model engine444may execute site electrification model450to generate a new output vector456. Output vector456may be analyzed at analysis and recording processor490as to the state of modeled mining operations resulting from the most recently invoked event and may record results of the analysis in a candidate MSEP436. Candidate MSEP436may be a time-indexed data structure of events and responses to events of an MSEP, as well as associated performance and business metrics for the current ZGHG configuration data432.

Candidate MSEP436may be conveyed to an optimization controller470whereby it may be analyzed for various of the performance and/or business metrics. Optimization controller470may include a business optimizing component472by which it may be determined whether candidate MSEP436is that associated with optimal business metrics, e.g., TCO and/or NPV. If such is the case, optimization controller470may provide an optimized MSEP438to external processes, such as the visualization and reporting discussed above with respect toFIG.2. In this regard, the tool can allow visualization and investigation of each of the results analyzed, rather than just an optimized one, for instance. Thus, one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide data to all results to allow, for instance, the user or operator, to investigate and select the solution identified (e.g., by the user or operator) to be optimized and robust. However, if business optimizing component472determines that the configuration of assets defined in ZGHG configuration data432does not achieve business goals, e.g., min[TCO], in implementing candidate MSEP436, an indication of such may be provided to a reconfiguration manager474that, in response, generates a new distribution of assets in new ZGHG configuration data434. New ZGHG configuration data434may be provided to simulation controller440and the foregoing operations may be repeated.

In an investigation, a MSEP simulation may include parameters/constraints beyond the list of events defined in the FEL. Mine planning may be subject to, for example, constraints of productivity, e.g., material moved in a certain amount of time (shift, day, week). Accordingly, embodiments may execute time-based MSEP simulation, the outcome being sought may be a production level and a cost. An optimization process in optimization processor470, for example, may first identify equipment combinations that meet or exceed the material movement plan, and then find the equipment combination(s) that achieve or exceed the plan at the lowest NPC.

It is to be understood that an MSEP may be implemented over a number of phases and the operations described above may be repeated for each phase of the MSEP. Furthermore, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the optimized solution can be identified for each phase as well as when the miner should transition from one configuration to another. This can include the costs of new assets (e.g., trucks, chargers, trolley, etc.) as well as the cost to relocate them to find the best NPV solution for the mine over time.

FIG.5is a schematic flow diagram of an exploratory mode500that may be implemented in embodiments of the present inventive concept. In certain instances, a mining engineer, mine operator or other entity may want to interactively investigate different configurations, i.e., different distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment that cooperate in a corresponding MSEP. In many of such instances, exploratory mode500may bypass the economics optimization described above in favor of affording general investigations into MSEP under arbitrary or user-selected configuration constraints seeking arbitrary or user-selected operational targets or goals. Moreover, exploratory mode500may allow a user to demark different MSEP phases, to establish what mining operations and mine site electrification operations occur in each MSEP phase and to modify the phase boundaries, the mining and electrification operations, and any other of the many mining parameters and behaviors that can be simulated by embodiments of the present invention.

A user interface510may be provided into exploratory mode500and constructed from circuitry described above with reference toFIG.4. User interface510may implement, among other things, an authoring tool512by which an investigator can establish different mine site configurations and an analysis tool514by which resulting MSEPs and related data may be provided to the investigator for study. User interface510may be provided as a service of site planning executive419.

A session in exploratory mode500may begin with the investigator establishing mine site configurations that identify distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment of an MSEP, ambient environmental parameters, power technologies (carbon fuel, H2fuel cells, electrical storage cells), etc. that define conditions of mine site electrification planning for a particular study. Such conditions of study may be established through suitable data entry controls (not separately illustrated) of authoring tool512. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to specific techniques by which information is entered into user interface510(including by way of graphical interface controls requiring no textual data entry) or by which information is presented on user interface510(including 3D analytical surfaces/manifolds over user defined axes). Technicians familiar with data science/information presentation will identify and appreciate numerous techniques by which information can be entered and/or displayed in various embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and intended scope thereof.

An investigator at authoring tool512may construct different data sets, e.g., input files532a-532n, representatively referred to herein as input file(s)532, that are processed in separate, parallel threads530a-530n, representatively referred to herein as MSEP thread(s)530. Moreover, optimization mechanisms previously described may be disengaged or otherwise overridden in favor of human curiosity and interactive control over respective simulator runs. Each MSEP thread530may encompass an aspect of MSEP that can be distinguished or otherwise separated from other aspects thereof, essentially without limitation as to what parameters are explored in each MSEP thread530. For each input file532containing MSEP parameters for a corresponding slice of the analysis, a corresponding one of DES solving processors534a-534n, representatively referred to herein as DES solving processor(s)534, may execute a simulation for that MSEP thread530as described above with reference toFIG.4excluding optimization controller470. DES solving processors534may generate respective output files536a-536n, representatively referred to herein as output file(s)536, from which respective productivity and economic (P/E) performance indexes528a-538n, representatively referred to herein as P/E index(es)528, are derived in a manner similar to that described above with reference toFIG.4.

MSEP threads530, or more accurately output data generated in each MSEP thread530, may be provided to analysis tool514which may have access to a variety of computer-executed data analysis techniques, e.g., 3D animation and reporting subsystem260, for visualizing, merging, performing mathematical operations and transforms on multivariate data, any of which may be used when practicing the present invention. Authoring tool512and analysis tool514may interoperate to allow exploration of what-if scenarios, where an investigator configures the what-if scenario on authoring tool512and is provided the results thereof on analysis tool514.

As one example, it is to be assumed that an investigator would like to study a phased MSEP, i.e., an MSEP that occurs in phases. That investigator might configure a number of MSEP phases, e.g., producing an input file532defining an MSEP configuration on which an MSEP simulated in each MSEP thread530. Executing the simulations in DES solving processors534thus simulates a different phase of an MSEP, with each phase having different configurations of work machines and supporting equipment, different phase start and end conditions, etc. The investigator may perform the what-if analysis described above to vary the different configurations of work machines and supporting equipment, different phase start and end conditions, and so on.

FIG.6is a flow diagram of an exemplary MSEP process600by which the present inventive concept can be embodied. In operation610, a simulation model may be initialized based on configuration data605and, in operation615, a simulation time may be initialized to some initial time to. In operation620, the event associated with the simulation time may be retrieved from FEL670and corresponding input states may be established in operation625. In operation630, the event handler for the retrieved event may be executed and the simulation time, event and modeled response behavior may be stored in MSEP675. The modeled response behavior may include invocation of additional events and, in operation635, the additional events may be added to FEL680and FEL680may be reordered in temporal order. In operation640, the simulation time may be updated to the next event time in FEL680and, in operation645, it may be determined whether FEL680is empty. Here, the simulation can be set up to execute a certain amount of material movement in a certain amount of time (per mine plan) to approximately match fleet productivity between scenarios so that we can evaluate the cost of operating the mine to plan with different configurations of assets. Furthermore, the simulation may not be regarded as just a list of events as described (the FEL). Rather, the simulation can be regarded as a mine plan that needs to be achieved, i.e., material moved in a certain amount of time (shift, day, week). So suspension of the simulation can be time based, for instance, and the outcome can be a production level and a cost. The optimizer can first identify equipment combinations that meet or exceed the material movement plan, and then find the equipment combination(s) that achieve or exceed the plan at the lowest NPC.

Still referring toFIG.6, if not, MSEP600may transition to operation620and continue from that point as described above. If, however, it is determined at operation645that FEL680is not empty, MSEP process600may transition to operation650at which it is determined whether MSEP is business optimized, e.g., minimum TCO/maximum NPV. If not, MSEP685may be cleared in operation655and, in operation660, new configuration data605may be generated. MSEP process600may then transition to operation610and continue from that point. If, however, it is determined in operation650that MSEP685is business optimal, MSEP process600may transition to operation665where MSEP685may be animated and otherwise reported.

MSEP process600may be executed in exploratory mode500by eliminating the automatic optimization operations within the dashed-line box.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Mine operators seek to minimize the business impact of mine site infrastructure costs while concurrently minimizing the environmental impact of mining operations. Electrification of a mine site, i.e., adapting the mine site machinery and supporting equipment for mine site operations that rely on local electric power sources, is a significant cost against the mine operator's bottom line. Thus, to minimize the economic impact of such electrification, prudent planning is essential. Rechargeable batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and the like have a shorter usable lifetime than a fossil fuel tank and may require replacement prior to closing mining operations at the site. Moreover, such rechargeable power sources suffer diminished recharge capacity, e.g., holding charge, producing current, etc., by cyclic discharge/recharge of the power sources over time.

The inventive concept described in this disclosure simulates mining operations under a configuration of ZGHG assets and reconfigures the ZGHG assets until the corresponding simulated mining operations are optimal with respect to business concerns, such as total cost of ownership of the ZGHG assets. The simulated mining operations take into consideration features that are peculiar to electrification of a mine site, such as the aforementioned diminished recharge capacity of rechargeable power sources.

Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can also be as set forth according to the following parentheticals.

(1) A method for implementing different zero-emission (electrification)-related equipment configurations at a mine site as extraction at the mine site evolves over time, the method comprising: receiving, as an electronic input at processing circuitry, a long-term mine plan; automatically determining, using the processing circuitry, a plurality of different zero-emission-related equipment configurations for respective different phases of the long-term mine plan and timing to switch from one of the determined zero-emission-related equipment configurations to another of the determined zero-emission-related equipment configurations, where each of the determined zero-emission-related equipment configurations per phase of the long-term mine plan provides an optimal zero-emission-related equipment configuration for the phase from among a plurality of different zero-emission-related equipment configurations that achieve that phase of the long-term mine plan; and outputting, using the processing circuitry, as part of a zero-emission-related equipment configuration plan that supplements the long-term mine plan, the determined optimal zero-emission-related equipment configurations for each of the phases of the long-term mine plan, wherein said automatically determining, for each of the determined optimal zero-emission-related equipment configurations, is performed based on analysis of parameter variation combinations as inputs.

(2) A system to identify different electrification-related equipment configurations at a minesite, the system comprising: a simulation module to provide a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) of the evolution of the mine site over time, which may be regarded as a base simulation method for one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, according to a predetermined long-term mine plan; an optimization module wrapped around the Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to automatically determine a plurality of different optimized electrification-related equipment configurations to achieve respective different temporal portions of the predetermined long-term mine plan at a lowest predetermined value, each of the different optimized electrification-related equipment configurations being determined based on model authoring using varying different combinations of available options for the minesite as inputs; and an output module to output an electrification-related equipment configuration plan comprised of the plurality of different optimized electrification-related equipment configurations.

(3) A mine site electrification planning system comprising: memory circuitry constructed to store model data, simulation instruction code and site planning instruction code; and processor circuitry constructed to: accept configuration data that define distributions of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment that cooperate in a corresponding mine site electrification plan; execute the simulation instruction code to thereby retrieve the model data and to simulate therewith temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan under conditions established by the configuration data; and execute the site planning instruction code to thereby iteratively provide to the executing simulation instruction code modified configuration data until an optimal mine site electrification plan meets an optimization criterion indicative of a cost factor of mine operations that physically implement the corresponding mine site electrification plan; and a user interface communicatively coupled to the processor circuitry and constructed to display the configuration data with which the optimal mine site electrification plan was simulated.

(4) The mine site electrification planning system of (3), wherein the processor circuitry is further constructed to: configure a discrete event simulation (DES) with the model data and the configuration data; and execute the DES to simulate therewith the temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan.

(5) The mine site electrification planning system of (3) or (4), wherein the configuration data includes distributions of electrical cell types supplying electrical current to the respective electrical mining machines.

(6) The mine site electrification planning system of any one of (3) to (5), wherein the distribution of the electrical cell types include rechargeable batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

(7) The mine site electrification planning system of any one of (3) to (6), wherein the processor circuitry is further constructed to execute the DES to simulate diminishing recharge capacity of the electrical cells as part of the simulation of the temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan.

(8) The mine site electrification planning system of any one of (3) to (7), wherein the processor circuitry is further constructed to: iteratively modify the distribution of ZGHG assets in the configuration data for each of a set of phases over which the mine site electrification plan is implemented; and execute the site planning instruction code to thereby iteratively provide the modified configuration data to the executing simulation instruction until the optimal mine site electrification plan meets the optimization criterion for each of the phases.

(9) The mine site electrification planning system of any one of (3) to (8), wherein the optimization condition is minimum total cost of ownership or maximum net present value for the distribution of electrical mining machines and supporting equipment.

(10) A processor-executable mine site electrification planning process comprising: accepting a configuration data structure defining a distribution of zero greenhouse gas producing (ZGHG) mining assets; simulating mining operations using the distribution of ZGHG mining assets defined in the configuration data structure; analyzing the simulated mining operations for economic factors in implementing a mine site electrification plan in accordance therewith; iteratively modifying the distribution of ZGHG assets in the configuration data structure and simulating the mining operations therewith seeking the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for which the analyzing thereof indicates the economic factors meet an optimization condition; and providing the mine site electrification plan that uses the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for which the analyzing thereof indicates the economic factors meet the optimization condition.

(11) The mine site electrification planning process of (10), wherein simulating the mining operations includes: constructing a processor-executable model by which the mining operations are simulated as a series of temporally ordered events; and executing event handlers constructed in the model in the temporal order of the events.

(12) The mine site electrification planning process of (10) or (11), wherein constructing the model includes constructing a set of the event handlers to simulate the mining operations that differ from the mining operations that produce carbon emissions due to implementing the mine site electrification plan.

(13) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (12), wherein constructing the set of event handlers includes constructing event handlers that simulate charge usage of onboard power sources of the ZGHG mining assets due to the mining operations.

(14) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (13), wherein constructing the set of event handlers includes constructing event handlers that simulate recharging the onboard power sources.

(15) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (14), further comprising: establishing phases over which the mine site electrification plan is to be performed; defining the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for each of the phases; and iteratively modifying the distribution of ZGHG assets for each of the phases and simulating the mining operations therewith seeking the distribution of ZGHG mining assets for which the analyzing thereof indicates the economic factors meet an optimization condition for each of the phases.

(16) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (15), further comprising establishing the optimization condition as minimum total cost of ownership or maximum net present value for the distribution of the ZGHG mining assets.

(17) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (16), wherein the distribution of the ZGHG mining assets include electric loaders, electric haulers and electric chargers therefor.

(18) The mine site electrification planning process of any one of (10) to (17), wherein simulating the mining operations includes simulating the mining operations using discrete event simulation.

(19) A mine site electrification planning apparatus comprising: a model component constructed to simulate mine site operations under a mine site electrification plan; a simulation control component constructed to provide to the model component configuration data descriptive of varying distributions of zero greenhouse gas emitting (ZGHG) mining assets for which the mine site electrification plan is simulated; and an optimization control component constructed to identify the configuration data associated with the simulated mine site electrification plan that meets an economic optimization criterion related to physically implementing the mine site electrification plan.

(20) The mine site electrification planning apparatus of (19), wherein the simulation control component is further constructed to operate the model component as a discrete event simulation of a temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan.

(21) The mine site electrification planning apparatus of (19) or (20), wherein the discrete event simulation simulates diminishing recharge capacity of electrical cells in the varying distributions of ZGHG mining assets during the temporal evolution of the mine site electrification plan.

(22) The mine site electrification planning apparatus of any one of (19) to (21), wherein the optimization control component is further constructed to: iteratively provide individual ones of the varying distributions of ZGHG mining assets to the simulation control component at which the corresponding the mine site electrification plan is simulated; and analyze the simulated mine site electrification plan against the economic optimization criterion as the ZGHG mining assets in the configuration data are varied to identify the configuration data associated with the simulated mine site electrification plan that meets the economic optimization criterion.

Certain embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide for the functional components to manufactured, transported, marketed and/or sold as processor instructions encoded on computer-readable media. The present general inventive concept, when so embodied, can be practiced regardless of the processing platform on which the processor instructions are executed and regardless of the manner by which the processor instructions are encoded on the computer-readable medium.

It is to be understood that the computer-readable medium described above may be any non-transitory medium on which the instructions may be encoded and then subsequently retrieved, decoded and executed by a processor, including electrical, magnetic and optical storage devices. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable recording media include, but not limited to, read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and other electrical storage; CD-ROM, DVD, and other optical storage; and magnetic tape, floppy disks, hard disks and other magnetic storage. The processor instructions may be derived from algorithmic constructions in various programming languages that realize the present general inventive concept as exemplified by the embodiments described above.

The descriptions above are intended to illustrate possible implementations of the present inventive concept and are not restrictive. Many variations, modifications and alternatives will become apparent to the skilled artisan upon review of this disclosure. For example, components equivalent to those shown and described may be substituted therefore, elements and methods individually described may be combined, and elements described as discrete may be distributed across many components. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the description above, but with reference to the appended claims, along with their full range of equivalents. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

The functionality of the elements disclosed herein may be implemented using circuitry or processing circuitry which includes general purpose processors, special purpose processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (“Application Specific Integrated Circuits”), conventional circuitry and/or combinations thereof which are configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functionality. Processors are considered processing circuitry or circuitry as they include transistors and other circuitry therein. The processor may be a programmed processor which executes a program stored in a memory. In the disclosure, the circuitry, units, or means are hardware that carry out or are programmed to perform the recited functionality. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein or otherwise known which is programmed or configured to carry out the recited functionality. When the hardware is a processor which may be considered a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or units are a combination of hardware and software, the software being used to configure the hardware and/or processor.

Further, as used herein, the term “circuitry” can refer to any or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry); (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions); and (c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of “circuitry” can apply to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term “circuitry” can also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.

Use of the terms “data,” “content,” “information” and similar terms may be used interchangeably, according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, to refer to data capable of being transmitted, received, operated on, and/or stored. The term “network” may refer to a group of interconnected computers or other computing devices. Within a network, these computers or other computing devices may be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means including via one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points or the like.

Unless explicitly excluded, the use of the singular to describe a component, structure, or operation does not exclude the use of plural such components, structures, or operations or their equivalents. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” or the term “one or more,” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B” or one or more of A and B″) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B; A, A and B; A, B and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Similarly, as used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.

Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, points of reference, operations and/or functions as described herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular configuration or orientation.