Simulation of Underground Potash Mining Operations for Uralkali

Development of low-level simulation model of underground potash mining operations. The model was used to determine bottlenecks of existing processes and also to prove suggested improvements in underground mining operations for Uralkali, one of the world’s largest potash producer

Uralkali

Development of low-level simulation model of underground potash mining operations. The model was used to determine bottlenecks of existing processes and also to prove suggested improvements in underground mining operations for Uralkali, one of the world’s largest potash producer.

Industry sector: Mining
Client: Uralkali
Partner: Ernst & Young

Project objective

  • Develop the simulation-based integrated decision support tool for underground mining for long-term planning (a year) of number of vehicles and their distribution
  • Evaluate the existing mine operation efficiency
  • Calculate the performance of a new mine

Uralkali Press Center Photobank, https://www.uralkali.com/ru/press_center/image_library/6116/

Description

The main stages of work and characteristics of the model

  • Development and testing of a simulation model on the AnyLogic 6 platform
  • Taking part in verification and validation of the simulation model
  • Technical and methodological support to Ernst & Young consultants during scenario analysis and improvements evaluation phases

Model input data

  • Geometric and mining-geological features of mines
  • Schedules, technological operations execution order and duration
  • Limitations of used machines and mechanisms (speed of the conveyors, shuttle cars capacity, etc.)

The main structural elements of the model

  • Simulation model with interactive presentation including the discrete-stream-based simulation of bunker-conveyor system

Model output data

  • Operational indicators of the mine (ore production, ore quality)
  • Mining machines and conveyor system capacity utilization
  • Identification of existing processes bottlenecks

Project result

    • Simulation-based identification of system bottlenecks, planning and optimization of underground mining operations
    • Proposals for improvement of mining processes which allow to provide 12-15% increase of production without capital investments
Срез горной породы в калийной шахте, Уралкалий

Using simulation has become an industry standard in mining

Todays modern simulation tools, such as MineTwin, allow to speed-up creation of simulation models.