Evaluation of the Efficiency of Electric Drives of a Mining Enterprise Based on Mathematical Models

The provision of maximum energy efficiency at each technological stage of mining remains the key problem for mining industry. Therefore, the paper is devoted to the evaluation of simulation results of two different electric drive systems of a main mine fan in terms of providing power efficiency of the most energy-intensive unit equipment. In 2017, main fan units were replaced at one of diamond-extracting mines. The main reason for the replacement was the depletion of their resources, as well as the increase of mine network resistance, that required the increase in depression created by the fan. The comparison of the actual operating parameters of the existing electric drive system and the newly installed one can provide insight into actual level and directions of the technological development in the field of electric drive. Gathering, processing, analysis and comparison of actual data concerning two fans and electric drive systems of domestic and foreign production can contribute to the detection and solution of the problems of import substitution of such equipment. To analyze power efficiency, methods involving the creation of mathematical models of two systems in the MatLab/Simulink software package were applied. Technical and economic comparison of two options in terms of power consumption were made. Based on the data obtained as a result of simulation for TAF −36/21.5-1 and VOD-50 fans, graphical dependencies of static pressure, feed and power on rotational velocity were made, the annual power consumption was calculated for each option.