Business Challenges

Diesel fuel is a significant source of energy in surface mining operations. Haul trucks are the primary users of this energy resource. Based on the analysis of the data collected from mine sites, Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Truck Speed (S), and Total Resistance (TR) were identified to be the most influential parameters affecting fuel consumption. However, the relationship between the three parameters mentioned above and the truck fuel consumption is complicated. Thus, developing a new approach using artificial intelligence was essential to create a reliable model for solving this problem.

Suggested Solution

In this project, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed to predict the fuel consumption of haul trucks in surface mines. It was found that the configuration of 3 input variables, 15 hidden cells, and one output for the synthesized ANN model provided excellent results. Further more, the sensitivity analysis showed that all the three input variables (GVW, S, and TR) have a noticeable effect on truck fuel consumption