SE543908C2

SE543908C2 - Method and arrangement for managing power consumption in a mine

Info

Publication number: SE543908C2
Application number: SE1850849A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Anders Lindkvist; Erik Svedlund; Martin Svensson; Victor Westergård
Original assignee: Epiroc Rock Drills Ab
Priority date: 2018-07-04
Filing date: 2018-07-04
Publication date: 2021-09-21
Also published as: WO2020009649A1; SE1850849A1; CN112352364A; CA3103213A1; AU2019298069A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. The method comprises obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids and obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. The method further comprises predicting one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold. Power utilization is scheduled for the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MANAGING POWER CONSUMPTION IN A MINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to methods and arrangements for managing power consumption in a mine. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to method and arrangements for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine.

BACKGROUND During a planned cycle of mining operations, a number of different mining machines for mining and rock excavation, e.g. face drill rigs, production drill rigs, loaders, haulers, dumpers, rock bolting rigs, cable bolting rigs and concrete spraying machines, are involved in different phases of the mining operation in the mine. There will usually be a plurality of mining machines performing mining operations in respective parts of the mine so that a first set of mining machines are performing a first planned cycle of operations in a first part of the mine, e.g., in a first mine gallery, while a second set of mining machines are performing a second planned cycle of operations in a second part of the mine, e.g., in a second mine gallery. There may of course also be cycles of operations performed simultaneously in third and further parts of the mine, but for ease of reference the present disclosure will be describing a scenario wherein a first planned cycle of operations is performed in a first part of the mine and a second planned cycle of operations is performed in a second part of the mine. Aside from the mining machines, there are fixed installation powered by electricity such as ventilation fans, hoists, lightning etc.

There is ongoing work in adapting mining machines to operate using electricity and more specifically for, at least in part, operate in a battery-powered mode. The switch from fuelpowered machines to electrically and battery-powered machines increases the electric energy consumption in the mine environment and with the increasing use of electrical power in mining operations, different parts of a mine environment may be considered as a local power grid. Mine operations of a mine enviroment may be supported by proprietary power supply of a mining company operating in the mine environment or by a power suppy from an external power company. In its most general interpretation, the local power grid is the power grid providing power to the whole mine, i.e., representing the main power grid of the mine. A power grid of a mine may comprise one or more transformer substations with grid interdependencies that may vary. A first transformer substation may be considered to supply power to a main power grid, while a second or third transformer substation, connected to the first transformer substation, represent local power grids in the main power grid of the first transformer substation. Furthermore, from a local grid perspective, a specific part of the mine environment e.g., a mine gallery will comprise direct loads, e.g., mining tools or machines being electrically operated directly from the local power grid according to a planned cycle of operations, and indirect loads, e.g., battery operated mining tools or machines capable of being operated in an off-grid mode.

In the field of mining, the electric grids are often on the edge of their capacity or even underdimensioned to meet the power needs of multiple, simultaneous mining operations, especially in cases where the cycles of operations imply intermittent power needs in the powergrid. Such intermittent power needs may be the result of one or more mining machines performing stationary, high power operations driving one or more power tools of the respective mining machine, such as drilling, which results in high peak loads on the electrical power grid in the mine environment. Furthermore, within an existing, already highly loaded main mining grid, charging of a fleet of machines could lead to overloading especially when performed during times of operating other electrically powered tools in the mine environment.

SUMMARY It is an object of some embodiments to solve or mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate at least some of the above-identified deficiencies in the art or other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a method for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. The method comprises obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local powergrids. The method also comprises obtaining information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. The method further comprises predicting one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and scheduling a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

In some embodiments, the mining consumer is a mine, a part of a mine, a mine infrastructure, a mining machine or a part of a mining machine.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of controlling a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the scheduled power utilization. Optionally, the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers for charging respective batteries.

According to embodiments of the disclosure, controlling of the power flow to the one or more chargers comprises allowing a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respective batteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption. Alternatively, controlling of the power flow to the one or more chargers comprises restricting a power flow to the one or more chargers during predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption.

In some embodiments, the indirect loads comprise one or more inverters configured for receiving a direct current from respective batteries. During time periods of high power consumption, the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining power consumption in the main grid and controlling a power distribution between the one or more local powergrids and connected indirect loads based on the determined power consumption in the main grid.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by an arrangement for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. The arrangement comprises processing circuitry configured to obtain information regarding power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids. The processing circuitry is also configured to obtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. Furthermore, the processing circuitry is configured to predict one or more time periods of irregular power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, and schedule a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry comprises multiple processors and wherein at least one processor of the multiple processors is arranged in a local power grid. Optionally, the at least one processor is arranged in an indirect load of the local power grid.

According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a computer program comprising computer program code which, when executed cause an arrangement according to any of the embodiments of the first aspect to execute the method according to any of the embodiments of the second aspect.

Embodiments provide the advantage of enabling a balanced and optimized power consumption both in a local power grid with regard to the power consumption on the main grid, i.e., the power consumption resulting from power consumption in a multitude of local power grids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The foregoing will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a power system of a mine according to prior art; Figure 2 schematically illustrates a power system according to the present disclosure; the power system comprising at least one local power grid connected to a main grid; Figure 3 schematically illustrates an underground mine comprising a plurality of local power grids; Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary method steps for managing power consumption in a mine; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example arrangement configured for managing power consumption in a mine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus and method disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the disclosure only, and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure, the functions or steps noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Also, the functions or steps noted in the blocks can according to some aspects of the disclosure be executed continuously in a loop.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term "local power grid" refers to connected equipment and components in a defined part of a mine environment, e.g., in a mine gallery or in a whole mine. In its most general interpretation, the local power grid is the power grid providing power to the whole mine, i.e., representing the main power grid of the mine. In the context of a mine environment, there may be a plurality of local power grids that connect to the main grid. Each local power grids may differ from the other local power grids with regard to mining consumers, e.g., equipment and components, comprised in the local power grid. Such equipment and components may comprise electrical mining machines, battery chargers, batteries, and electrical lines providing the connections between the equipment and components of the local power grid and the main power grid. Such equipment and components may also comprises ventilation equipment, lighting, and transport vehicles operated in the mine or other type of mine infrastrucutre.

As previously mentioned, in a mining context the main power grid is often on the edge of its capacity or even under-dimensioned to meet the power needs of multiple, simultaneous operations using electrically operated mining machines. This is especially true in cases where the cycles of operations imply intermittent power needs in the power grid. Furthermore, within an existing, already highly loaded main powergrid, charging of a fleet of machines could lead to overloading especially when performed during times of operating other electrically powered tools in the mine environment.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a local power grid 10 of a mine according to prior art. A part of the mine comprises an electrically operated mining machine 11 directly connected to a branch of the power system as well as a ventilation system 14. A battery operated mining machine 13 is present in the local power grid and charging of the battery operated mining machine is performed by a battery charger 12 comprised in the local power grid. A switchboard/arrangement 18 provides for power control in the local power grid in reaction to power load situations occurring in the local power grid. Thus, prior art system provides for overload protection, e.g., applicable to the above explained power needs, but primarily as a means to protect the grid rather than to ensure operational capability.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates a local power grid 20 of a mine according to the present invention. In the example scenario, the local power grid comprises an electrically operated mining machine 21 directly connected to a branch of the power system as well as ventilation system 24. A battery operated mining machine 23 is present in the local power grid and charging of the battery operated mining machine is performed by a battery charger 22 comprised in the power system. Charging of the battery may be performed with the battery mounted in the battery operated mining machines, but charging of the battery may also be performed when a fully charged battery replaces a depleted battery in the mining machine and the charging is performed for the battery per se rather than for the battery operated charging machine. The charging station may be used for charging a plurality of batteries that may be dedicated for use in respective mining machines or that may be provided for a battery pool of batteries applicable to a plurality of different mining machines. Additionally, the local power grid comprises an arrangement for managing power consumption in the local power grid. As illustrated, the arrangement may in part be comprised in the local power grid, but such location arrangement for the arrangement does not preclude the use of the arrangement for also managing power consumption in further local power grids. The arrangement may also be arranged as a centralized entity configured to control power consumption in one or more further local power grids. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the arrangement may at least in part be remotely operated from a centralized control facility capable of controlling operations in a plurality of local power grids. A switchboard 28 may provide for power control in the local power grid in reaction to power overload situations occurring in the local power grid. The arrangement and the switchboard may be co-located, but may also be provided as separate entities.

In the disclosure of Figure 2, the mining machines are presumed to be battery operated. However, a battery should in the context of the present disclosure be interpreted as an energy storage unit capable of being recharged by means of a connection to a power grid.

Figure 3 illustrates the power grid 30 for an underground mine comprising a plurality mine galleries A-D. The power grid 30 comprises at least one power supply 30a and a plurality of local power grids 30b arranged in respective mine galleries. The local power grids 30b may comprise indirect loads, here represented as batteries 32 for use battery operated mining machines 34 and direct loads, here represented as a single electrically operated mining machine 33. An arrangement 31 is provided in an interface to the one or more local power grids for managing power supply to the one or more local power grids. In the illustrated scenario, battery charging stations are provided in each local power grid, e.g., in a neighbourhood of each battery operated mining machines. In the schematic illustration, charging of batteries is configured to be performed when the batteries have been removed from the mining machines. Thus, the batteries also represents energy storages from which power may be retrieved and provided to one or more inverters to return power into the local power grid. When connected to an inverter, the battery may be used to provide power to the direct load when a power utilization plan indicates that the power consumption is close to its maximum capacity. Consequently, the batteries may be arranged to provide power within the local power grid, or to one or more further local power grids of the mine.

Power control performed in one or more local power grids, e.g., as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, will now be explained with reference to the flow chart in Figure 4. The person skilled in the art will understand that the presented method is applicable to the scenario disclosed in Figure 2, but that the method is not limited to such a grid configuration, nor to the location of the arrangement suggested in the schematic disclosure of Figure 2. Consequently, the skilled person will understand that the method may be performed by an arrangement arranged, at least in part, within the local power grid or in an interface to one or more local power grids as illustrated in Figure 3, but that the method may also be executed by a centralized power unit. The disclosed method is applicable to the situation of managing power consumption in a part of a mine, e.g., in a mine gallery or in an open pit mine, wherein the local power grid is connected to a main grid capable of providing a limited amount of power to one or more local power grids. Thus, the disclosed method is advantageous when faced with a need to optimize power consumption. The method is further advantageous in the scenario where there are power consumption restrictions that need to be observed and where power consumption may vary significantly, e.g., according to one or more cyclic power consumption patterns that reoccurs on a regular and predictable basis. The cyclic pattern may represent a power consumption that varies according to time of day, week or following a predetermined number of hours of operation.

In its most general form, the method for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids of a mine environment enables scheduling of power utilization in corresponding parts of the mine environment. The method comprises obtaining S41 information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids. In the context of the present disclosure, the direct loads represent any type of electrical load directly powered from a connection to the local power grid. Thus, in addition to electrically powered mining machines, the direct loads may comprises electrically operated infrastructure of the mines, e.g., lighting and ventilation, representing a fairly even base load. The mining machines usually operate according to work cycles. According to aspects of the disclosure, the method comprises obtaining information regarding historic power consumption of the direct loads, e.g., reflecting a work cycle. According to some aspects, the obtaining comprises deriving the information from a mine schedule or a scheduling system of the mine comprising such a mine schedule. The mine schedule comprises information relating to the energy/power consumption of each mining machine when performing a specific operation or part of operation. The mine schedule also comprises information relating to a planned cycle of mining operations for a given period of time, e.g., for the next shift, 24 hours, week or any other applicable time interval.

The method also comprises to obtain S42 information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. According to aspects of the disclosure, said batteries may be charged for use in battery operated mining machines, but batteries may also be charged to increase the stability and robustness of the power grid. This is especially true for the scenario where the main power grid is based on renewable energy sources such as as photovoltaic systems and wind generators. According to aspects of the disclosure, the batteries may be comprised and charged in the respective mining machines, or may be removed from the mining machines during charging at a charging station.

The method further comprises predicting S43 one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and scheduling S44 a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods. The threshold for peak power consumption, i.e., the peak power consumption indicating threshold, is set to represent a maximum allowed power consumption. During a time period when the threshold is reached, no further loads or power consumption will be allowed in the local power grid. During such a time period there may be a need to supply additional power to the one or more local power grids. The surplus power indicating threshold is predetermined to reflect a power consumption level when there is a surplus power availability. According to aspects of the disclosure, the step of scheduling the power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads may further be based on the historic power consumption information.

The prediction of the time periods of high and low power consumption is based on the obtained information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids. The time periods of high and low power consumption may also be determined using the above disclosed mine schedule, e.g., with a computing support of a scheduling system of the mine. According to aspects of the disclosure, the prediction may be made for a single local power grid, for a plurality of local power grids and/or for the whole mine. Consequently, power utilization may be scheduled for a single local power grid and connected indirect loads, a plurality of local power grids and respective connected indirect loads or for the whole mine.

Turning back to Figure 3, power utilization may consequently be scheduled for the local power grids of mine galleries A, B, and C-D individually or coordinated. For example, charging of the battery 32a in mine gallery B may be scheduled to be performed at a time period different from charging of batteries 32b in mine gallery C-D, and more specifically at a time period determined to represent a time period of low power consumption.

According to aspects of the disclosure the scheduling may include boundary conditions such as maximum energy content level of each chargeable battery (above which charging is not an option), minimum energy content level (below which discharge is not recommended), and charge/discharge rate (which determines how fast charge and discharge of the energy storage may be performed.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the predicting comprises predicting the power utilization over a period of time comprising at least one cycle of operation, i.e., predicting a power consumption representation that may comprise time periods of high power consumption, time periods of low power consumption and time periods of ordinary power consumption. These time periods may have different lengths in time and represent a power consumption during a cycle of operations within the corresponding part of the mine. According to aspects of the disclosure, the scheduling of the power utilization may comprise scheduling of battery charging activities within the local power grid during time periods of low power consumption. It is advantageous to charge the batteries during a time period of low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, e.g., during such instances when the electrically powered mining machines in the local power grid are operated in a low power mode or when the power consumption is low in at least one other local power grid. According to aspects of the disclosure, the arrangement may be configured as a control system with local control entities, e.g., associated with each battery charger.

The scheduling of power utilisation, i.e., creating a utilisation plan for the local grid, aims at optimizing power consumption in the mine environment. In the process of creating a utilisation plan, available energy content in each accessible battery may be considered according to aspects of the disclosure so that a decision to charge or discharge a battery is at least partly based on the value of the available energy within the energy storage and the ability to receive power or deliver power.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the method further comprises controlling 545 a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the scheduled power utilization. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the controlling comprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers, i.e., enabling a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respective batteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption and restricting a power flow to the one or more chargers during predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption. The control of the power flow may alternatively or additionally be performed by controlling power used in one or more chargers. Thus, the charging station may be configured to execute the charge control by itself. Such charge control may also, optionally be achieved, by a battery management system (BMS) of the battery.

According to further aspects of the disclosure, the controlling further comprises determining an energy storage capacity of the respective batteries and controlling the power flow to the one or more chargers based on the determined energy storage capacity.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the method further comprises obtaining information regarding the power consumption in the main grid and controlling a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the determined power consumption in the main grid. Optionally, the scheduling of the power utilization in the one or more local power grids comprises obtaining price information relevant for the main grid, calculating a price per power unit depending on the expected or actual load on the grid and scheduling the power utilization based on the calculated price per power unit.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the indirect loads comprise one or more inverters configured for receiving a direct current from respective batteries. When the one or more time periods of high or low power consumption are time periods of high power consumption, the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid.

Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example arrangement 50 configured for managing power consumption in a mine by managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids being connected to a main power grid. The arrangement comprises processing circuitry 51 configured to obtain information regarding power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers, e.g., mining machines, connected to the one or more local power grids and to obtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. The processing circuitry is further configured to predict one or more time periods of irregular power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, and schedule a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

Figure 5 also illustrates an example computer program product 52 having thereon a computer program comprising instructions. The computer program product comprises a computer readable medium such as, for example a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a plug-in card, an embedded drive or a read only memory (ROM). The computer readable medium has stored thereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is loadable into a processing circuitry 51 comprised in the arrangement 50. When loaded into the processing circuitry 51, the computer program may be stored in a memory 51b associated with or comprised in the processing circuitry and executed by the processor 51a. According to some embodiments, the computer program may, when loaded into and run by the processing circuitry, cause execution of method steps according to, for example, the method illustrated in Figure 4 or otherwise described herein.

Thus, the computer program is loadable into data processing circuitry, e.g., into the processing circuitry 51 of Figure 5, and is configured to cause execution of embodiments for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, when the computer program is run by the processing circuitry. The example arrangement of Figure 5 may, for example, be configured to perform method steps described in connection with Figure 4.

With reference to the schematic illustration of Figure 2, it is to be understood that the arrangement may, at least in part, be provided as a centralized, e.g., cloud based application. Such a cloud based application is configured to receive the obtained information relating to expected power consumption of direct loads and the expected power consumption of indirect loads, e.g., by means of wireless communication, and to schedule the power utilization based on the received information. Power utilization may be scheduled for local power grids within one mine environment or for local power grids of a plurality of mine environments.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the processing circuitry comprises multiple processors and wherein at least one processor of the multiple processors is arranged in a local power grid. Thus, the present disclosure also recognizes the possibility of a distributed solution wherein respective processors, and optionally memories, may be arranged within respective local power grids or within an indirect load of a local power grid. The processors of the local power grids are connected, at least communicatively, to an arrangement that may be configured to coordinate the scheduling of a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads. The arrangement may be arranged at a location remote from the local power grids or the indirect loads.

The description of the example embodiments provided herein have been presented for purposes of illustration. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit example embodiments to the precise form disclosed; modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternatives to the provided embodiments. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various example embodiments and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in various manners and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the embodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinations of source nodes, target nodes, corresponding methods, and computer program products. It should be appreciated that the example embodiments presented herein may be practiced in combination with each other.

The described embodiments and their equivalents may be realized in software or hardware or a combination thereof. The embodiments may be performed by general purpose circuitry. Examples of general purpose circuitry include digital signal processors (DSP), central processing units (CPU), co-processor units, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and other programmable hardware. Alternatively or additionally, the embodiments may be performed by specialized circuitry, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). The general purpose circuitry and/or the specialized circuitry may, for example, be associated with or comprised in an apparatus such as a wireless communication device or a network node.

Embodiments may appear within an electronic apparatus comprising arrangements, circuitry, and/or logic according to any of the embodiments described herein. Alternatively or additionally, an electronic apparatus may be configured to perform methods according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used.

Reference has been made herein to various embodiments. However, a person skilled in the art would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims.

For example, the method embodiments described herein discloses example methods through steps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences of events may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, some method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have been described as being performed in sequence. Thus, the steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step.

In the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments, the partition of functional blocks into particular units is by no means intended as limiting. Contrarily, these partitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be split into two or more units. Furthermore, functional blocks described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be merged into fewer (e.g. a single) unit.

Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever suitable. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary aspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these aspects without substantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merely examples brought forward for illustrative purposes, and that all variations that fall within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A method for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid, the method comprising: - obtaining (S41) information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids; - obtaining (S42) information regarding expected power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines; - predicting (S43) one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and - scheduling (S44) a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mining consumer is a mine, a part of a mine, a mine infrastructure, a mining machine or a part of a mining machine.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of controlling (S45) a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the scheduled power utilization.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling (545) the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers for charging respective batteries.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the power flow to the one or more chargers comprises allowing a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respective batteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption and restricting a power flow to the one or more chargers during predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining an energy storage capacity of the respective batteries and controlling the power flow to the one or more chargers based on the determined energy storage capacity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more time periods of high or low power consumption are time periods of high power consumption, the indirect loads comprise one or more inverters configured for receiving a direct current from respective batteries and the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising determining power consumption in the main grid and controlling a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the determined power consumption in the main grid.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises obtaining information regarding historic power consumption, and the step of scheduling (544) the power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads s is further based on the historic power consumption information.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of scheduling the power utilization in the one or more local power grids comprises calculating a price per power unit in the main power grid of the mine environment and scheduling the power utilization based on the calculated price per power unit.

11. An arrangement (50) for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid, the arrangement comprising processing circuitry (51) configured to: - obtain information regarding power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids; - obtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines; - predict one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and - schedule a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry comprises multiple processors (51a) and wherein at least one processor of the multiple processors is arranged in a local power grid.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is arranged in an indirect load of the local power grid.

14. A computer program product comprising computer program code which, when executed cause an arrangement according to any of claims 11-13 to execute the method according to any of claims 1-10.