ACARP Roadway Development Operator Workshops March 2009 Modelling

ACARP Roadway Development Operator Workshops March 2009 Modelling of Gateroad Development Ernest Baafi – UOW Geoff Gray – SMS Ian Porter – UOW Osvaldo Rojas - SMS University of Wollongong 1

The Development Challenge • Longwall mining is a cost effective means of extracting coal • …. . provided roadway development can keep pace… • ACARP initiated a project to assist improving the roadway development process. 2

Modelling The Process • ACARP recognised the need for modelling tools • The concept of using dynamic simulation technology was proposed • UOW and SMS worked with industry experts • Modelling tools and Models developed. 3

Simulation Technology • Methodology has numerous alias’s • • • Monte Carlo Simulation Discrete Event Simulation Computer Simulation Modelling Dynamic Simulation 4

Simulation Technology • But not this… British Army WWI Horse Simulator 5

Simulation Technology • In our context: • Models operate over time • Dynamic interactions between components • Allow for randomness/variability in operations • Provide animated displays • ……provide WHAT IF analysis 6

Scope Of Modelling • Focus On Gate Road Development • 2 heading development • Modelling will cover operations from face to boot 7

Modelling System For Roadway Development • Dynamic modelling system • Allows Roadway Development options to be explored • Predicts: • Achievable development rates (days/1000 m) • Bottlenecks (including unrecorded delays) eg • Miner waits on shuttle car • Shuttle car waits on miner 8

Development Process 9

Road. SIM – toolkit + models 10

Model – Users 11

Model Setup • Data Required To Set Up The Model • • • Configuration (roadway dimensions) Miner cycle times Support times Shuttle Car Performance Operational Availability • Planned • Unplanned (randomly imposed on the model) 12

Running The Model • Each Setup is replicated many times • Each replication of the model has the same setup – but different possible unplanned events. • Animation to confirm operations • Reporting available in Excel for assessment.

Animated Display 14

Animated Display 15

Model Output • Estimates of : • Time to complete a Pillar • Scheduled operating time per 1000 m • First coal to first coal time • Exposure rates • Metres/Running Hour • Utilisation of time. 16

Output – Utilisation Definitions Utilisation …. Miner Utilisation Definitions Calculated from random interactions in the model 17

Output – Exposure Rates 18

Case Study Mine • Mine was selected to test models ability to reproduce past performance • Mine 1: • 2 Heading Operation • 1 Bolter-Miner • 1 Shuttle car 19

Case Study Mine – Historical Performance Mine 1 Stats Pillar Cycle Time (First coal to first coal) 11 days Exposure Rate (m/op. hour) 1. 8 m/op. hr Exposure Rate (m/rep. run hour) 4 m/rep. run hr Delay Categories (% of Simulation Time) Mine Process Planned 0. 3 Mine Process Unplanned 0. 1 Outbye Services Unplanned 16. 2 Panel Engineering Planned 3. 6 Panel Engineering Unplanned 3. 9 Panel Process Planned 16. 3 Panel Process Unplanned 3. 1 Sequence Move Planned 15. 5 Unscheduled Planned 14. 4 Unrecorded Delay 2. 0 20

Case Study Mine – Model vs Historical 21

Case Study Mine – Model vs Historical 22

Case Study Mine – Model vs Historical 23

Case Study Mine – Model Exposure Rate 24

Exploring Options • Simulation model can be used to explore alternative options • These can include: • • • Pillar length Shuttle car size Discharge rates Support times Others … 25

Exploring Options • Impact of Support time 26

Exploring Options • Impact of Shuttle Car Discharge Times 27

In Summary… • ACARP project has resulted in a modelling tool for Australian industry • Road. SIM is aimed at assisting in evaluating roadway development options • Provides a What If tool to assist with process improvement. 28

Thanks for your attention …Questions ? ? University of Wollongong