Mining Optimization via Ore-Body Slicing and Graph Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the optimal locations of crown pillars and sub-levels in mining are limited by their inability to exhaustively evaluate all possible configurations, often resulting in non-optimal material value due to computational intensity and lack of suitable software tools, leading to suboptimal choices based on site-specific conventions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that simulate an optimal path for ore-body solid models using a weighted digraph to maximize mining value by slicing the ore-body into thin horizontal and vertical pieces, evaluating each slice for economic value, and determining the best configuration of crown pillars and sub-levels within geotechnical and operational constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed height/width strategies are used for sub-levels and crown pillars, then the design process is simple and follows site-specific conventions, but the economic value of mined material is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms fixed height/width parameters into variable parameters that can be optimized. By allowing sub-level heights, crown pillar heights, stope widths, and pillar widths to vary within geotechnical and operational constraints, the system evaluates multiple configurations to maximize economic value rather than relying on conventional fixed dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic optimization where the system adaptively determines optimal dimensions for mining features based on ore body characteristics, geotechnical constraints, and economic factors. This dynamic approach replaces static fixed-dimension designs with adaptive configurations that respond to specific mine conditions.
2Measurement precision
If exhaustive evaluation of all possible configurations is performed, then the optimal configuration maximizing mine value is found, but the computational intensity becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the optimization problem into discrete, manageable components. By dividing the ore body into slices and evaluating configurations in a structured sequence using graph theory, the complex exhaustive search is broken into smaller sub-problems that can be solved efficiently while still achieving optimal results.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces brute-force computational enumeration with an optimized algorithmic approach based on graph theory and dynamic programming. This substitution reduces computational intensity from exponential complexity to polynomial complexity, making exhaustive evaluation feasible for practical mining applications.
3Reliability
If fixed height/width conventions are followed, then compliance with site-specific standards is maintained, but alternative configurations that may provide superior economic results are excluded
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains reliability by incorporating geotechnical and operational constraints as dynamic boundaries within which optimization occurs. Rather than rigidly following fixed conventions, the system adaptively adjusts dimensions within acceptable ranges defined by safety and operational requirements, allowing exploration of superior configurations that still comply with essential standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transforms fixed conventional parameters into flexible ranges with minimum and maximum bounds. By defining constraint boundaries for sub-level heights, crown pillar heights, stope widths, and pillar widths based on geotechnical and operational requirements, the system allows parameter variation within acceptable limits to discover economically superior configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes, in a processor, slicing an ore-body solid model stored in a memory into a plurality of horizontal and a plurality of vertical pieces and deriving, from the sliced horizontal pieces and the vertical pieces, information corresponding to stope blocks and pillar blocks of the ore-body, stope blocks and pillar blocks corresponding to particular pieces of the plurality of horizontal pieces and the plurality of vertical piece.