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Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines
Jansen van Rensburg, J. F. 2025. Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/56dbb755-3b6f-449f-95f7-7cc83871cf77
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| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613887042420736 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik |
| author2 | Corne, Schutte |
| author_browse | Corne, Schutte Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik |
| author_facet | Corne, Schutte Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik |
| author_sort | Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Jansen van Rensburg, J. F. 2025. Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/56dbb755-3b6f-449f-95f7-7cc83871cf77 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132217 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:16.997Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132217 Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik Corne, Schutte Du Plessis, Johan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. Compressed air -- Safety measures Mathematical optimization Mining engineering -- Automation Digital computer simulation UCTD Jansen van Rensburg, J. F. 2025. Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/56dbb755-3b6f-449f-95f7-7cc83871cf77 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gold mines rely on high-pressure compressed air (CA) for their operations. There are, however, significant losses in the supply pressure from the compressors down to underground work areas due to factors such as air leaks, water/obstructions within the network, incorrect pipe sizes, and abuse due to ventilation constraints. These networks are known to be exceptionally large and complex, making them costly and time-intensive to investigate. From literature, the optimisation of these networks mainly focused on energy savings instead of optimising the air supply. Thus, from literature, simulation tools are not currently utilised for service delivery optimisation in complex mine compressed air networks. This study implements the case study research methodology to develop an optimisation method implementing digital simulation models in compressed air networks. This developed method should have been able to identify problem areas and simulate proposed solutions. Three sub-objectives were identified to achieve this, namely investigating the optimisation of CA networks, determining all the components to take into consideration within a network and developing a simulation method. From the literature, it was clear that upgrading or replacing a compressor requires extensive capital investment and downtime. Modifications to networks are thus limited to changes in pipe sizes and lengths. A method was developed that could be used to accurately replicate a physical compressed air network and its performance digitally, identify problem areas, simulate various possible solutions and compare the implemented changes with the expected results. In a case study of a mine, an investigation was performed. It was found that the main cause of low pressure was the compressed air network not only having infrastructure problems but also being abused. During winter months, the usage was 12.5kg/s compared to the 16kg/s in summer months. Solving the ventilation problem required a capital investment of R80m. Thus, the developed method could be implemented on the mine's compressed air network. Problem areas were identified, and eight possible solutions were simulated and presented to the mine. One of these solutions was implemented. This resulted in a pressure improvement at the problem areas of more than 100kPa. However, 160kPa improvements could be realised if the usage reduces to 12.5kg/s throughout the year. The service improvements within 3% of expected results effectively validated the developed optimisation method. Thus, it can be concluded that the technique can be utilised in the industry. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Goudmyne het 'n hoë afhanklikheid van hoëdruk saamgeperste lug (SL) vir hul bedrywighede. Daar is egter beduidende verliese in die toevoerdruk vanaf die kompressors tot by die ondergrondse werkareas weens faktore soos luglekkasies, water/obstruksies binne die netwerk, verkeerde pypgroottes, en misbruik weens ventilasiebeperkings. Hierdie netwerke is bekend daarvoor dat hulle uiters groot en kompleks is, wat hulle duur en tydrowend maak om te ondersoek. Die probleem is dat die optimering van hierdie netwerke voorheen hoofsaaklik op energiebesparing gefokus het, in plaas daarvan om die lugvoorsiening te optimeer. Simulasie-instrumente word dus nie vir diensleweringsoptimering in komplekse myn-saamgeperste lugnetwerke gebruik nie. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die gevallestudie-navorsingsmetodologie te implementeer om 'n optimeringsmetode te ontwikkel deur digitale simulasie-modelle in saamgeperste lugnetwerke te gebruik. Hierdie ontwikkelde metode moet in staat wees om probleemareas te identifiseer en voorgestelde oplossings te simuleer. Drie subdoelwitte is geïdentifiseer om dit te bereik, naamlik die ondersoek na die optimering van SL-netwerke, die bepaling van al die komponente wat in ag geneem moet word binne 'n netwerk, en die ontwikkeling van 'n simulasie-metode. Uit die literatuur was dit duidelik dat die opgradering of vervanging van 'n kompressor aansienlike kapitaalbeleggings en stilstand vereis. Wysigings aan netwerke is dus beperk tot veranderinge in pypgroottes en lengtes. ’n Metode is ontwikkel wat gebruik kan word om 'n fisiese saamgeperste lugnetwerk en sy prestasie akkuraat digitaal te repliseer, probleemareas te identifiseer, verskeie moontlike oplossings te simuleer en die geïmplementeerde veranderinge met die verwagte resultate te vergelyk. In 'n gevallestudie van 'n myn, is 'n ondersoek uitgevoer. Dit is bevind dat die hoofrede vir lae druk nie net infrastruktuurprobleme in die saamgeperste lugnetwerk was nie, maar ook dat dit misbruik word. Gedurende die wintermaande was die verbruik 12.5kg/s vergeleke met die 16kg/s in somermaande. Om die ventilasieprobleem op te los, was 'n kapitaalbelegging van R80m nodig. Die ontwikkelde metode kon dus in die myn se SL-netwerk geïmplementeer word. Probleemareas is geïdentifiseer en agt moontlike oplossings is gesimuleer en aan die myn voorgelê. Een van hierdie oplossings is geïmplementeer. Dit het gelei tot 'n drukverbetering in die probleemareas van meer as 100kPa. 'n Verbetering van 160kPa kon egter gerealiseer word, indien die verbruik tot 12.5kg/s regdeur die jaar verminder kon word. Die diensverbeterings wat binne 3% van die verwagte resultate was, het die ontwikkelde optimeringsmetode effektief gevalideer. Dus kan daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom word dat die metode in die industrie gebruik kan word. Masters 2025-05-30T07:45:17Z 2025-05-30T07:45:17Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132217 en Stellenbosch University xi, 99 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Compressed air -- Safety measures Mathematical optimization Mining engineering -- Automation Digital computer simulation UCTD Jansen van Rensburg, Johannes Frederik Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title | Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title_full | Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title_fullStr | Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title_short | Use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep-level mines |
| title_sort | use of digital simulations to reconfigure compressed air networks for service improvement in deep level mines |
| topic | Compressed air -- Safety measures Mathematical optimization Mining engineering -- Automation Digital computer simulation UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132217 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jansenvanrensburgjohannesfrederik useofdigitalsimulationstoreconfigurecompressedairnetworksforserviceimprovementindeeplevelmines |