Improving the Energy Efficiency of a Mine Drainage Installation by Means of an Industrial Electric Drive

Abstract

The publication is devoted to determining the possibilities of reducing the energy consumption of drainage systems of mines and determining the numerical indicators of energy saving using mathematical modeling. Novelty of paper. The minimum required structure of the mathematical model of the mine drainage horizon for the study of energy consumption is substantiated, the existence of the minimum energy consumption of the main drainage pump at speed control is proved, the appearance of regression dependences of energy consumption and pump operating time on speed and inflow. Research methods. General methods of physics, hydraulics, mathematical analysis and computational mathematics were used in solving the tasks. Numerical solution of mathematical model equations and visualization of the obtained results were performed in MATLAB® / Simulink environment, methods of experimental design theory for regression analysis. The results obtained. The conditions under which the potential for energy saving of the pumping equipment of the main drainage of mines when using an adjustable electric drive appears. The existence of the minimum energy consumption of the pumping unit of the main drainage of the mine has been proved. Based on the regression analysis of the results of mathematical modeling of the pumping station of the main drainage of the mine, it is established that the regression dependences of the pumping unit operation time and its energy consumption have a shape close to the hyperboloid section. Practical value. The use of the results of work makes it possible in different mines to determine the potential for energy savings when using an adjustable electric drive, to make an economically sound decision on the feasibility of using an adjustable electric drive in specific production conditions.