Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

South Africa is currently facing a major electricity crisis due to the continuous growth in electricity demand. Eskom, the largest electricity supplier in South Africa, have enabled numerous methods to support energy reduction in both the residential and industrial sectors. Programs developed by Eskom to help the different major electricity consuming industries with the development of energy efficient and load shift strategies, have already been put into practice. These programs solely focus on the potential savings in megawatts each production sector might consist of. The key features of the Eskom electricity reduction initiative are driven by the energy efficiency concept and the peak demand load shift capability. Both the load shift and energy efficient initiatives are mostly active in the mining industry, because of the high electricity consumption levels of a standard mining operation. One of the most inefficient systems currently active within a mining operation is the ventilation control system. This dissertation describes the energy efficient and load shift research on the current underground ventilation system by means of certain design methodologies that might improve the inefficient operational features on both the standard underground auxiliary fans and the main surface fans. The operational features of a standard 2-pole 45 kW issued auxiliary fan were tested, by using a fan-testing column to compare the performance criteria to that of an improved auxiliary fan design. An energy saving potential on a single 45 kW unit of 11 kW was evident during the testing analysis. This amounted to an estimated annual energy saving potential of R 370,000.00 with a total saving of 561 kW on all the installed 45 kW units at Kopanang goldmine, by means of an investment in the replacement of the current installed units with that of the improved units. A secondary study was to gather information on the main surface fan operational features at Kopanang and Mponeng goldmines. The gathered information showed an estimated possibility for load shift and efficiency initiatives, which will result in fan operating life expansion and electricity savings capabilities. Annual electricity savings of up to R I ,500,000.00 were calculated on efficiency and load shift strategies and gave an indication on how costly inefficient operations are. The calculated I 0% increase in main fan efficiency resulted in an annual saving of nearly R 1,100,000.00 with a reduction of 1,05 MW at Mponeng goldmine and an annual saving of nearly R 721,000.00 with a reduction of 675 kW at Kopanang goldmine. The load shift potential at Mponeng and Kopanang goldmines were nearly 3,5 MW and 2,25 MW respectively. Capital investments from either Eskom or alternative investors will definitely play a crucial part in the realization of energy efficiency and load shift measures. It may include, improved fan installations, variable speed drives for the main fans and real time management systems. If the mine should decide to invest in these efficient strategies, the proposed Eskom DSM program might result in a net energy savings potential for any mining operation. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

South Africa is currently facing a major electricity crisis due to the continuous growth in electricity demand. Eskom, the largest electricity supplier in South Africa, have enabled numerous methods to support energy reduction in both the residential and industrial sectors. Programs developed by Eskom to help the different major electricity consuming industries with the development of energy efficient and load shift strategies, have already been put into practice. These programs solely focus on the potential savings in megawatts each production sector might consist of. The key features of the Eskom electricity reduction initiative are driven by the energy efficiency concept and the peak demand load shift capability. Both the load shift and energy efficient initiatives are mostly active in the mining industry, because of the high electricity consumption levels of a standard mining operation. One of the most inefficient systems currently active within a mining operation is the ventilation control system. This dissertation describes the energy efficient and load shift research on the current underground ventilation system by means of certain design methodologies that might improve the inefficient operational features on both the standard underground auxiliary fans and the main surface fans. The operational features of a standard 2-pole 45 kW issued auxiliary fan were tested, by using a fan-testing column to compare the performance criteria to that of an improved auxiliary fan design. An energy saving potential on a single 45 kW unit of 11 kW was evident during the testing analysis. This amounted to an estimated annual energy saving potential of R 370,000.00 with a total saving of 561 kW on all the installed 45 kW units at Kopanang goldmine, by means of an investment in the replacement of the current installed units with that of the improved units. A secondary study was to gather information on the main surface fan operational features at Kopanang and Mponeng goldmines. The gathered information showed an estimated possibility for load shift and efficiency initiatives, which will result in fan operating life expansion and electricity savings capabilities. Annual electricity savings of up to R I ,500,000.00 were calculated on efficiency and load shift strategies and gave an indication on how costly inefficient operations are. The calculated I 0% increase in main fan efficiency resulted in an annual saving of nearly R 1,100,000.00 with a reduction of 1,05 MW at Mponeng goldmine and an annual saving of nearly R 721,000.00 with a reduction of 675 kW at Kopanang goldmine. The load shift potential at Mponeng and Kopanang goldmines were nearly 3,5 MW and 2,25 MW respectively. Capital investments from either Eskom or alternative investors will definitely play a crucial part in the realization of energy efficiency and load shift measures. It may include, improved fan installations, variable speed drives for the main fans and real time management systems. If the mine should decide to invest in these efficient strategies, the proposed Eskom DSM program might result in a net energy savings potential for any mining operation. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.