Data-Driven Research on Belt Conveyors Energy Efficiency Classification

The issue of energy efficiency in belt conveyors aligns with the current trends of energy saving in mining, driven by sustainable development goals and European legislation. The topic of energy-efficient conveyor transport faces the challenge of objectively assessing the energy efficiency of belt conveyors. The presented article demonstrates an analysis of the energy efficiency of belt conveyors in a lignite open-pit mine. As part of the research, the energy consumption of conveyors operating in a transport system was compared using the parameter of electrical energy consumption and the specific energy consumption (SEC) index, highlighting significant parameters affecting its interpretation. Based on the values of the modified lifting resistance SEC index, and the volume of transported material, observations were divided into groups reflecting energy efficiency classes using a k-means algorithm. The research shows that a proper assessment of the energy efficiency of a belt conveyor should consider the amount of transported mass concerning the maximum capacity, the conveyor’s design parameters, and the working environment characteristics.