Uso do método de enumeração completa para otimização da mistura de calcário para indústria cimenteira

Abstract

The mining sector has been undergoing significant transformations in the global economic landscape, marked by an increasingly competitive and technological environment. Companies in the sector have been directing efforts towards improving their production processes, aiming to increase operational efficiency and productivity while simultaneously seeking to reduce costs. In this context, there is a growing interest in the use of operational research tools to support decision-making. This area stands out for allowing the modeling and analysis of different qualitative and quantitative variables in diverse situations, providing a more precise evaluation in the planning of solutions. For mining companies, which frequently make decisions based on previous practical experiences, operational research represents an opportunity for a technical and structured approach. A practical example of its application is in the formation of ore piles generated by materials with different qualities in different mining fronts, a common challenge faced by these companies. In this sense, the present study aims to address the need to optimize the process, aiming to maximize the production of material that meets the grades required by quality control and to assist in the short-term planning of a limestone mine. To achieve this objective, an on-site survey was conducted to obtain the main parameters of the mining company's production process: equipment capacity, daily production of each tunnel, and the limits of quality control parameters (Lime Saturation Factor - CSF, Silica Modulus - MS, and Alumina Modulus - MA) for the different types of limestone. The Complete Enumeration method was applied to the modeling in conjunction with Excel software, an approach that enabled the generation of solutions that meet operational and quality constraints, in order to obtain viable solutions for the problem observed in cement production. The results demonstrated that the model was able to generate viable solutions for scenarios I, II, and III, meeting the established quality limits and the production required by the plant, proving its effectiveness in defining the ideal mixing proportions between the stockpiles.