The links below are a collection of Flexsim models relating to the mining industry.

Mining Concepts

Mine_Animation_and_Logic.zip is a small model that addresses various modelling concepts required on a mine face. The premise of the model is over simplified but it teases out some relevant concepts.

Coal is half way between a fluid and discrete items so we can go either way when modelling it. There is a fluid library in Flexsim but we usually find that the best way to model coal is to model loads of coal as discrete items but having a Label (variable) attached to show the quantity of coal in that load. The batch can be, say, 5 minutes of digging, so you still see a flow on a conveyor but retain the true output via the labels.

Elements of the model include:

• An animated machine at the coal face makes 5 vertical passes before indexing forward.  – Shows how Counters and an If statement work to control the object
• The amount of coal in each load is a Label (variable) in that load, and is used to influence other elements of the model as it progresses.
• Each vertical pass results in less coal coming out. – shows how the Label in each load can be amended to show that load’s content.
• Indexing into the coal face is simply a repositioning of the object by altering the x-y co-ordinates of the object. – an example of how values (including shape and location) can easily be changed at any point of the run.
• A transporter moves each load to the conveyor – shows how to vary the graphical size of a load, depending on the load Label value.
• Conveyor speed is changed depending on the load size – shows how a conveyor speed can be controlled by variables that are being passed from further upstream.
• Coal loads fall onto a stack, which carries a Label saying the total coal shifted – an aggregation of the Load Label values. Flexsim’s default metric shows the number of loads in the stack, which is less relevant in this case. The concept shows that you can build your own metrics in Flexsim.
• Coal stack size increases according to the amount of coal – actually just raises the z co-ordinate (height) of a large cone-shaped graphic, according to the Stack Content Label.

The work involved took no more that a couple of hours – including building the animation. The concepts are all at basic level and all code sits in the Trigger properties of each object.

Additional development would likely include more machinery, correct graphics, data integration, multi option logic, and control of multiple transporters.

Flexsim Demo models

The models in this section are for representation only, there are no metrics being tracked. Obviously, commercial projects would have as many metrics as required.

Further details of the two demo models can be found in this forum post.
http://www.flexsim.com/community/forum/archive/index.php/t-304.html

Open Pit Mine

Open_Pit_Demo.zip is a model of three loadzones and two dumpzones. There are two Front Shovel loadzones and one Excavator loadzone.
The coal is modelled as an item that has a label on it to store the amount being moved. The pile can also have the same label.

Note: this model really needs a graphics card to view all activity.

Block Cave Mine

Block_Cave_Demo.zip is of a fictional block cave mine that has 6 LHD’s that have to use 1 of 2 dump positions. When the blocks go red that means that they are blocked and the LHD can not go past that area because a drill rig is there.