Improved resource efficiency through dynamic loading control

Important results from the project

The purpose and goal of Dynamic Loading was to improve the loading and economy of mining with sublevel caving so that the completion of each ring can be done at an optimal time. An important result from the project is a new control model that has been introduced for loading control in LKAB´s Kiirunavaara mine. By reducing the number of early closed rings, the ore extraction and the gain per levels increase and by reducing the number of rings closed to late, the waste rock extraction and thus the costs of handling it is reduced.

Expected long term effects

With the exception of the overall objectives, the project has; Created a deeper understanding of loading in sub-level caving mines Created a deeper understanding of gravity flow and flow variations Developed a probabilistic model for variations in gravity flow Developed an economic on-line model for forecasting ring economy during loading Developed a control model for optimization loading in sub-level caving Generated 4 scientific papers and 2 conference papers Generated one licentiate dissertation and one doctoral dissertation

Approach and implementation

Dynamic Loading has addressed an industrial problem area that has previously been the subject of extensive research. The project did, based on measurement data collected during more than 10 years of production, develop advanced statistical and economic models to solve and optimize a classic mining engineering problem. The developed solution is today used for loading control in LKAB´s Kiirunavaara mine. However, the development of the industrial application has been more time and resource consuming than anticipated, which has led to both delays and cost increases.