Optimising design parameters of continuous mining transport systems using discrete event simulation

The ground articulating pipeline (GAP) system was developed to transport oil sand using a continuous transport system. This paper proposes a simulation-based optimisation approach to improve the efficiency of oil sand continuous transport systems at the operational level. Based on the analysis of shovel capacity, the authors recommend that this GAP transfer system should operate with a 70-ton capacity shovel. They also recommend that a surge hopper should be introduced on the mobile slurry system to maximise productivity of the GAP system. This simulation approach can be applied to crushers and conveyor belt systems.

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