Automated control of mine dewatering pumps to reduce electricity cost

Deep gold mines use a vast amount of water for various purposes. After use, the water is pumped back to the surface. This process is energy intensive. Pump control is traditionally done with manual interventions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of automated control on mine dewatering pumps. The benefits of pump automation include electricity cost savings through load shifting, as well as preventative maintenance and pump protection procedures. By automating pumps, the client will benefit from operating more cost effectively and realising electricity cost savings. A Demand Side Management (DSM) project was implemented in the form of a pump automation project to perform load shifting. The performance of the project was tested in manual control, manual scheduled control, manual scheduled surface control and auto control. In the case study the manual intervention achieved the highest electricity cost saving. To achieve this saving the system was exhausted to a point where columns and infrastructure started failing. The auto intervention achieved a lower electricity cost saving but was more sustainable. The auto intervention achieved a lower electricity cost saving when compared to the manual intervention. However, considering factors such as the damage to infrastructure after a period of manual control, the auto intervention proved the best balance for controlling mine dewatering pumps, to achieve electricity savings and system sustainability.