Sustainability assessment methods for developing advanced mining technologies more

9th International Symposium „Topical Problems in the Field of Electrical and Power Engineering“ Pärnu, Estonia, June 14-19, 2010 Sustainability assessment methods for developing advanced mining technologies Sergei Sabanov, Julia Šommet, Irena Milaševski, Viktoria Bashkite, Julia Gulevitš, Viktor Beldjaev, Karin Robam Tallinn University of Technology Sergei.sabanov@ttu.ee, julia.shommet@hotmail.com, renamilashevski@gmail.com, viktoria_bashkite@yahoo.com, julia@warren.ee, beldjajev@hot.ee, karin.robam@ttu.ee Abstract Nowadays under using modern technologies, the extraction of a mineral resource is accompanied by many technological processes each of which has distinctive conditions and its own disturbance on the mining environment. The goal of the study is to elaborate methodology of sustainability assessment for developing advanced mining technologies. The methodologies for sustainability assessment will be used for determination and elaboration safety parameters for mining advanced technology efficiency and for defining environmental impacts resulting from different mining processes, and also key challenges and opportunities to economic growth of mining waste management and innovative mining technologies. Keywords Sustainability assessment, advanced mining, waste management Introduction Various processes in mining industry often become dominating in the most dangerous technological and geotechnical factors, which can pose a hazard to people and their work, stop the production, cause economic damage to the enterprise and environmental. Providing of favorable conditions for the mining enterprises in conformity with technological and ecological safety defines the necessity of sustainability assessment. Nowadays under using new equipment, the extraction of a mineral resource is accompanied by many technological processes each of which has distinctive conditions and its own disturbance on the mining environment. Sustainable development is a comprehensive, integrated and far-sighted approach to decision making. Its basic demand is that all significant undertakings must make a positive contribution to sustainability. The mining industries worldwide are changing their mining practices by developing and implementing a variety of technologies and mining methods are compatible with the principles of sustainable development. Adoption of the principles of sustainable development by the mining industry comes at a cost and requires major changes to current mining practices. Relating the different approaches to Sustainable development across disciplines and against the background of the conceptual framework allows us to appraise their relative potentials and limitations. The constraints to scientific operationalization of sustainability and to its translation into policy measures, which are revealed by this reference system, highlight the necessity for continued integrated systems research [1,2,3]. The most important condition is the modification of existing or developing of new mining methods that are compatible with sustainable development [4,5]. The important aspects are ground surface stability, decreasing of losses of mineral resources, reusing of accompanied breed in construction industry and safety, environmentally friendly technologies. On the bases of the data received from mining industry it is necessary to work out conception of the suitable model for sustainable development of various mining processes and problems that cannot be decided by means of other methods [6]. The goal of the study is to elaborate methodology of sustainability assessment for developing advanced mining technologies. The methodologies for sustainability assessment will be used for determination and elaboration of safety factors and parameters for mining advanced technology efficiency and for defining environmental impacts resulting from different mining processes. The sustainability assessment methods can be used for different purposes and at different levels: as a basis for decision-making when selecting among different remedial actions for a mined out area within time and financial restraints; to relate ground surface subsidence risk levels to acceptable risk levels established by the society for other activities. Particular attention will go to issues of current waste production and storage, old mining waste landfills, waste handling procedures, development of the framework for waste management. 1 This study will be done with cooperation of different institutions at Tallinn University of Technology. The Department of Mining, the Department of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics and the Department of Machinery which will represents own contribution in this research. The main idea of this collaboration is how to use optimal technological solutions in order to achieve the results best in sustainable mining. Combination for equipment selection Department of Machinery will study how to produce right combination for equipment selection which gives certain advantages in contrast with old techniques for quality excavation of mineral resources. The tasks of this study are: • To find the optimal machinery modification for crushing – sorting complex in order to get better and more qualitative material; To reduce equipment maintenance and exploitation cost by integration of emaintenance technologies; To develop new methodologies for more efficient and sustainable use of mining machinery. 1. The research methodology The technique of researches will be made by measurements and tests in laboratory and mining conditions. The methodology will include simulation and modeling of the several technological, environmental and economic indicators to assess their performance in sustainable development of mining. The research will be done with help of Sustainable development, Risk Assessment, Strategic Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Analysis methodologies. • • Complex approach for mining waste management Department of Mining is plane to work out the suitable methodology for waste management. Waste rock dumps are located in huge amounts near the area of abandoned mines. The solution will help bring down the scale of unused waste rock by offering up a technological process for the production of aggregate for structural concrete and for other types of construction material. Co-products of oil shale mining is a large amount of neutral (limestone) and products of processing hazardous (oil shale ash) waste is generated on the ground surface. Complex approach is needed for solving these complicated problems. This study will contributes in saving financial resources in mining and reusing of wastes, diminishes the risk of accidents and casualties in mining, low emissions technologies, emission to atmosphere and aquifer. The research topic „Sustainable Mining: key challenges and opportunities to economic growth of mining waste management and innovative mining technologies” will include the follows tasks: • Background study of mining waste flow/amount of waste generated, investigation of environmental impacts of waste disposal/storage/re-use/recycling activities; Cost-benefit analysis of different strategies for mining waste management; Analyzing approaches to waste re-use and recycling that have the potential to be commercially viable activities, recognizing the state of the art in existing methods/technologies as well as up-andcoming innovation research. The total electrification of all crushing-sorting complex equipment assemblies and development of e-maintenance techniques can solve the high maintenance and exploitation costs. The new material processing techniques development by modification of used equipment. Development of new generation equipment has given good results. For example, the new generation of cone crushers is not working only on pressing method, but also the impacts are added into process. Control of the process by using special sensors can give certain results for material quality improvement. If we keep the cone feeding rate on the same level about 80%, the material pieces will not be crushed by each other. It will reduce the % of waste. The practical importance of the research is to find the optimal and efficient technological solution and the way of local materials treatment. New updated equipment – stable work of crushing – sorting complex (sensors, automation), better material; EMaintenance system – less exploitation and maintenance costs and fully controlled system; The expected result is to define the most sustainable technological solution for every kind of material excavation. The right combination of equipment has to give certain advantages in contrast with old techniques for material quality, shape and production leftovers. The best improvement of new technology will be the possibility to integrate the system into local crushing – sorting complex. • • The electrical drives and power electronic converters’ Department of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics will study the electrical drives and power electronic converters’ that are used as actuators in the mining machines. Correct choice of electrical drives increases efficiency and sustainability of 2 mining. As mining machines work in hazardous conditions e.g. higher humidity, dust etc that has an enormous influence on their lifetime and productivity. Many used electrical drives and their control systems are out of date. Hence they have low reliability and require more maintenance. The control technology has made a rapid increase in today’s industry, allowing exact control of electrical drives. The main problem is to implement new electrical drives and their control systems in order to increase sustainability of mining. Before selecting new systems an analysis of necessary functionalities and operations has to be carried out. Nowadays electrical drives vary by power, type, control etc. Depending on function, an appropriate drive can be selected. For example, for positioning control servo drives can be used and for heavy machines frequency controlled induction machines. Electrical drives are one of the most important parts of any industrial branch. New positioning and control technology can help to increase capability of mining equipment. It is expected, that innovative drive system will improve the efficiency and reliability of mining. commonly used in miner cap lamps. The result of the research should to improve the design of the future cam lamps and should positively affect the safety of employees in the underground mining industry. Conclusion Sustainability assessment methods allows defining hazardous influences on environment, society and economic dimensions, and helps quickly, conveniently and qualitatively solve, operate, find optimum variants for existing problems and optimize usage of mineral resources. This study contributes for saving mineral resources, improvement of mining safety, reusing of oil shale production wastes in accordance with preserving environment for future generations. The results will be useful in country’s development plans, mining designs and in teaching and scientific work. Acknowledgement The research was supported by Estonian Science Foundation (ETF 8123 и ETF 7499) and the project DAR8130 “Doctoral School of Energy and Geotechnology II”. Improving standards of illumination and visibility and, hence, standards of health and safety Also the Department of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics draw out the idea to produce general guidance and recommendations for a wide range of underground mining locations and activities, to assist mine operators in improving standards of illumination and visibility and, hence, standards of health and safety. Studies on a wide range of underground machines and workplaces identified critical visual task requirements, and recommendations were formulated on standards for the improvement of both illumination and visibility under specific conditions. The study also will make recommendations on improving the visual environment to reduce specifically identified hazards, and produced guidance for the selection, sating and maintenance of lighting equipment. Other object of the research is to determine if there are visual performance improvements when using solid-state cap lamps with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as compared to incandescent light bulbs References 1. Barbara Becker. Sustainable development: A Review of Values, Concepts, and Methodological Approaches. Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research. 1997, Issues in agriculture10. 2. Camus, Juan P. Management of Mineral Resources, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, 2002 3. Eijkern, Sander , DiPiazza, S., SAM Corporate Sustainable development. The sustainability year book 2009. 4. Gibson, Robert B. Sustainability-based assessment criteria and associated frameworks for evaluations and decisions: theory, practice and implications for the Mackenzie Gas Project Review, a report commissioned by the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project, final report 26 January 2006, 67pp. 5. Gibson, Robert B., Sustainable development: criteria and processes, with Selma Hassan, Susan Holtz, James Tansey and Graham Whitelaw (London: Earthscan, 2005), 254pp. 6. Sabanov, S. Risk Assessment Methods in Estonian Oil Shale Mining Industry. Doctoral Thesis 2008, Tallinn, Estonia. 3