An Overview of Two Years of Continuous Energy Optimization at the Velenje Coal Mine

Milan Medved, Ivica Ristovic, Janez Roser and Milivoj Vulic
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Milan Medved: Premogovnik Velenje d.d., Velenje 3320, Slovenia
Ivica Ristovic: Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
Janez Roser: PV Invest d.o.o., Velenje 3320, Slovenia
Milivoj Vulic: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The Velenje Coal Mine (VCM) is one of the largest and the most modern underground coal mines in Europe. Although the coal mining industry produces coal as an energy source, it is also uses a lot of energy for its own operation and support processes. At this time of volatile energy prices and more and more strict environmental emission requirements, optimizing energy consumption plays an important role in good business performance. To track the consumption of electricity, district heating, drinking water and compressed air at the VCM a detailed energy monitoring methodology was developed and established in July 2010. The essential element of the presented monitoring system is a software application named “Central System for Regulation of Energy” (CSRE). The purpose of the CSRE is to control energy processes from a distance, take measures for economical and efficient use of energy, as well as to assist in maintenance. Such monitoring allows extensive comparisons between different energy sources consumption and enables correct measures to be taken to reduce the difference between the target and actual consumption of energy in VCM. With established real-time monitoring system, it is possible to look at mining processes and see where energy is being used inefficiently.

Keywords: mining; underground lignite exploitation; energy consumption; energy optimization; Central System for Regulation of Energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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