Effect of transient processes on technical performance of compressed air production and handling systems in mines

Compressed air is a safe and versatile energy carrier in mining enterprises. However, centralized systems for the production and transportation of compressed air have low efficiency due to the presence of branched air networks with technological losses of compressed air, and compressor stations that produce compressed air to maintain pressure in the pneumatic network at a given level without taking into account the operating modes of pneumatic equipment. Creating effective systems for the production, distribution and consumption of compressed air requires the implementation of an intelligent automatic control system based on energy-efficient algorithms that predetermine the required system parameters with the lowest cost for the production of compressed air. The implementation of this concept is possible through the use of mathematical simulation modeling using specialized software products. This article discusses schemes for classifying quantities and parameters of sections of a compressed air production and distribution system, and develops an algorithmic structure of the scheme, which is implemented in a mathematical model in the Matlab Simulink program. The results of simulation modeling showed wide possibilities for increasing the efficiency of existing systems for the production and distribution of compressed air by using the accumulating capacity of pneumatic networks and rational control of turbine units at the compressor station.

Kopachev V. F., Kopacheva E. A. Effect of transient processes on technical performance of compressed air production and handling systems in mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(1-1):106-119. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_11_0_106.

V.F. Kopachev¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: u1331@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8241-8114,
E.A. Kopacheva¹, Lector, e-mail: Kopacheva.E@m.ursmu.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0006-1407-4950,
¹ Ural State Mining University, 620144, Ekaterinburg, Russia.

V.F. Kopachev, e-mail: u1331@yandex.ru.

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