Achieving energy efficiency with medium voltage variable speed drives for ventilation-on-demand in South African mines

Nel, A J; Arndt, Deon C.; Vosloo, J. C.; Mathews, Marc J.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.376

Cited by 29 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The prices for medium voltage VSD are more expensive than low voltage VSD. The prices for medium voltage VSD have decreased, comparing prices mentioned in [12] and [15] The prices have decreased by 45% from 2013 to 2019. Table 1.…”

Section: Total Vsd Costs Pbpmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evaluating the economic factors for installing VSD is the most important step in VSD feasibility studies. As mentioned in [12] the companies are evaluating the financial benefits of projects based on indicators such as return on investment (ROI) and payback period (PBP), Payback period is the most important indicator, it is calculated as shown in equation (4). Payback period less than two years is the most common for VSD replacement projects.…”

Section: Economic Considerations For Vsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evaluation of variable speed drives to improve energy efficiency and reduce gas emissions: Case study

Sadek

El-Maghraby

Fathy

2023

CI&CEQ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Variable speed drives are the most promising technique to reduce electric motors energy consumption. This paper discusses energy savings achieved by installing variable speed drives to control rotating equipment motors such as pumps, compressors, blowers, and fans in oil processing facilities. In addition to energy savings, variable speed drives will improve overall equipment efficiency, increase reliability, and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. An Energy audit was performed on a case study to investigate energy consumption for all electric motors. Technical and operational constraints for installing and operating variable speed drives have been discussed. Installation requires adjustments in operation schedules and parameters to allow reducing energy consumption. The case study has illustrated how to calculate energy savings for Pipelines, air coolers, air blowers for furnaces, pumps with variable flow rates and reciprocating compressing systems. Variable speed drives were technically and economically accepted in air blowers, fans, and pumps. Energy consumption and greenhouse gases have been reduced by 67%, Payback period for the whole project was less than 1 year. Meanwhile, it was not valid for reciprocating compressors as the Payback period was 6.2 years.

show abstract

Section: Total Vsd Costs Pbpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Economic Considerations For Vsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of variable speed drives to improve energy efficiency and reduce gas emissions: Case study

Sadek

El-Maghraby

Fathy

2023

CI&CEQ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Defining the boundary of the investigated area is crucial to understanding the systems. The boundary can be a level or a whole complex of multiple mines and is defined to ensure the focus area is correct [73,74].…”

Section: Step 1: Identify Alternativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritisation of Environmental Improvement Projects in Deep-Level Mine Ventilation Systems

Swanepoel

Vosloo

Laar

et al. 2023

Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Deep-level underground mining costs in South Africa are continuously rising due to the increased depth at which gold is being mined, resulting in a rise in virgin rock temperature and an increase in cooling requirements. Therefore, mines must evaluate various ventilation and cooling optimisation projects required to be implemented throughout their life of mine (LOM). This study develops a method to identify and prioritise large capital expenditure (CAPEX) underground environmental improvement projects, to improve thermal comfort underground. The solution presents a ‘multi-criteria decision-making’ (MCDM) process, incorporating the ‘analytic hierarchy process’ (AHP) and the ‘technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution’ (TOPSIS) into the method to provide for scientific decision-making. These projects are evaluated based on four criteria, namely project risk, the impact on the underground thermal comfort, cost, and implementation time. This study’s solution uses ventilation simulations to determine the impact of the projects on the underground environment. The identification and evaluation of an environmental improvement project to best suit the current economic climate, while improving underground conditions and decreasing the safety risk is an essential aspect of the solution developed in this study. The method was implemented on a mechanised deep-level underground mine and showed that surface refrigeration is the most suitable alternative, which was implemented at the case study mine as validation of the developed solution. The study proves that the MCDM method is an adequate solution to incorporate subjective criteria into the decision-making process, resulting in a scientific and structured approach to making significant and complex decisions.

show abstract

“…These alternatives were presented by the UM IAC experts' energy assessment of the plant's manufacturing processes according to energy efficiency measures and then were recommended in the energy audit report. Energy audits generally allow for analyzing energy flows for the purpose of energy savings to make industrial technology or production processes more efficient [104][105][106][107]. Based on their analysis of energy collection data and the technology recommendations outlined in the energy report, the experts have selected or defined assessment criteria and sub-criteria as presented in Tables 4 and 5.…”

Section: Data Collection and Formulation Of Energy Technology Alternatives To Be Evaluatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Prospect Theory for Energy Sustainable Industry 4.0

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Industry 4.0 challenges facilities entrepreneurs to be competitive in the market in terms of energy by rational decision making. The goal of the paper is aimed at introducing Prospect Theory (PT) in Industry 4.0 for making decisions in order to select an optimal energy technology. To reach this goal, an approach for decision making on energy investment has been developed. In this paper, the authors have also provided a new opportunity to apply the new decision making method for strengthening Industry 4.0 by addressing energy concerns based on which rational decisions have been made. The study uses a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process for weighting the evaluation sub-criteria of energy technologies and a modified PT for making decisions related to the selection of one of the investigated technologies. The results show that it is possible to implement PT in Industry 4.0 via a decision making model for energy sustainability. Decision probability was achieved using a behavioral approach akin to Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) for the considered technology options. More specifically, the probability has created the same threshold-based decision possibilities. The authors used the case study method based on a company located in North America which produces hardwood lumber. The company uses a heating system containing natural gas-fired boilers. This study has also contributed to the literature on energy sustainable Industry 4.0 by demonstrating a new phenomenon/paradigm for energy sustainability-based Industry 4.0 through using PT. In this context, the main motivation of writing the article has been to promote energy sustainability via complex mechanisms and systems that involve interrelated functions.

show abstract

Achieving energy efficiency with medium voltage variable speed drives for ventilation-on-demand in South African mines

Cited by 29 publications

References 53 publications

Evaluation of variable speed drives to improve energy efficiency and reduce gas emissions: Case study

Evaluation of variable speed drives to improve energy efficiency and reduce gas emissions: Case study

Prioritisation of Environmental Improvement Projects in Deep-Level Mine Ventilation Systems

The Use of Prospect Theory for Energy Sustainable Industry 4.0

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About