# Optimizing Retention Bunkers in Copper Mines with Numerical Methods and Gradient Descent
## 6 Conclusions  
This article presents the results of optimizing the operation of an ore receiving bin in a retention bunker in an underground copper ore mine. The main factors causing excessive wear of the bin's drawer components are the pressure force from the vertical column of ore and the velocity of particles on the drawer's surface during its movement. A numerical experiment was proposed, which allowed for determining the relation between the basic construction and operational factors of the bins, and the pressure force on the drawer, the velocity of particles on the drawer's surface, and the capacity. To calibrate the ore flow model in the simulation environment, measurements of the drawer's load were conducted in real conditions of the underground copper ore mine. It was shown that the decisive factors affecting the pressure force of the ore on the drawer of the bin are its length and the surface area of the outlet opening. In the case of the particle velocity on the surface of the bin's drawer, the most significant impact on the obtained values was the frequency of the bin's movement. The development of an optimized receiving bin design in a numerical simulation environment has enabled a significant reduction in pressure force and particle velocity, which will undoubtedly lead to a reduction in wear and tear during normal operational conditions. The next steps include the implementation of the optimized bin design into actual working conditions and the validation of the obtained results. The presented findings provide valuable knowledge that will influence the design of such devices in the future. Conducting a comparative analysis poses significant challenges due to the scarcity of literature on retention bunker constructions of similar scale. While there are descriptions of analogous or related structures, few studies address systems comparable in scale and specificity to those examined in our research. This rarity underscores the novelty of our study and contributes to the uniqueness of our methodology's application. Our solution undoubtedly offers improvements in operational costs for feeder systems. By reducing the frequency of drawer movements, our approach favorably impacts the electrical energy consumption of motors. Simultaneously, system efficiency is enhanced, potentially lowering the per-unit electrical energy consumption for each unit of material transported. Furthermore, the costs associated with the proposed modifications are minimal at the production stage, underscoring the practicality and cost-efficiency of our method. The full feasibility of our approach is demonstrated by the use of easily modifiable independent factors. This adaptability enhances the practical applicability of our optimization method, making it a viable option for real-world implementation. During the optimization process, we focused on globally evaluated values for \(F\) and \(v\). However, it is important to note that local correlations between these values and expected abrasive wear could lead to different optimization results. Regions with high particle velocity but low contact pressure might incur less wear than regions with high contact pressure and lower particle velocity. Therefore, a local coupling between force and velocity may be beneficial for future optimizations. This approach suggests that future research could benefit from more complex models that account for local interactions between operational parameters and abrasive wear. The development and application of such models could enable more precise adjustments to operational processes to minimize wear and extend the lifespan of equipment. This opens new avenues for research in the optimization of flow systems, emphasizing the importance of understanding local effects within the context of global optimization strategies. P.B.