Optimising Potable Water Pumping Operations in Small Scale Gold Mining Environments in Ghana Using Daboase Headworks as a Case Study
This paper assesses the challenges facing the optimisation of potable water pumping operations in small scale gold mining environments in Ghana using the Daboase headworks as a case study. The paper reviews the level of water pollution and its negative impact on alternating current motors and other electrical fittings at the Daboase headwork. The method of data collection used for the paper were questionnaires, interviews, cluster sampling and systematic sampling. Four sampling operation components were used, namely: selection of sampling stations, selection of water quality parameters, sampling frequency, and data collection and analysis methods. The paper focuses on the substantial reduction in pump energy consumption, operational and maintenance cost and the optimisation of potable water pumping operation systems in conclusion. The study proposes an upgrade of electrical controls with new state of the art control panels and a multi level pumping system. Finally, it recommends a modelled space vector pulse width modulation variable speed drive, which has a greater overall performance and higher efficiency, less switching losses and greater power factor, which minimises the cost of operation, maintenance and equipment breakdown as well as optimising productivity of the Daboase headworks.