Analysis-Specific Standardization of Quarries to Determine the Potential for the Application of Belt Conveyor Systems

With a yearly power consumption of about 1,700,000 MWh, the quarry industry appears to be one of the most energy-intensive sectors among German industries. In-pit transport operations require approx. 40% of the entire power demand, generating some 50% of the total mining costs. To date haulage is mostly done by mine trucks, driven by diesel engines with a total annual fuel consumption of 68 million liters, emitting an equivalent of 208,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Substitution of the mine trucks by establishing belt conveyors will on the one hand significantly reduce the emissions, and on the other increase energy efficiency in in-pit transportation. As every open pit requires a specific approach in order to find a suitable conveying system, a standardized analysis is not possible. In order to achieve a differentiated statement on the suitability of continuous conveyors according to various structural properties, a classification and standardization of quarries with similar transport parameters has been established. An individual scheduling of conveying and machine usage in the different types of quarries will allow a comparison of optimized constellations of the different haulage systems within the respective field of application, in order to quantify and compare ecological and economical aspects among the haulage systems.

The following paper deals with a standardization of the German quarries. First the general quarry information and parameters are to be capture. Secondly the restrictions on the application of conveying systems will be argued. Referring on the different open-pit types and their characteristics, the results of the standardization will be presented. Results will include the prediction of the ecological and economical potential of applying continuous haulage systems for the different open-pit types in Germany.