A mining feasibility case study analysis of fuel cell technology application to stimulate platinum beneficiation in South Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorLetanta, Disebo Motsheoa
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-14T10:03:41Z
dc.date.available2019-03-14T10:03:41Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.descriptionA research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2018en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis study entailed determining the feasibility of using a stationary fuel cell to power two different mining operations. These were a deep level gold mine (Mponeng Gold Mine and its plant) and a surface processing operation (Mine Waste Solutions), both belonging to AngloGold Ashanti. The premise of this study was that limited local adoption of fuel cells could possibly act to prompt their local manufacturing and result in increased platinum beneficiation to contribute towards the much needed economic growth and development for South Africa. For this feasibility analysis, the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell was used. The study revealed that the use of a large, stationary fuel cell to power the selected operations was not feasible due to high capital and operating costs, both of which are far greater than the current cost of electricity supply. However, it was found that the opportunity for increased platinum beneficiation to support fuel cell technology lies in other applications of fuel cells, such as vehicles and mining machinery. The mining industry, which has increased focus on amplified mechanisation and modernisation, and the bus system, have been identified as malleable conduits through which fuel cell technology can be investigated for application in South Africa. It has been concluded that the prospects for increased resource-led industrialisation through fuel cell manufacturing are incipient, in that the South African government, academia and industry have laid the foundation on which a manufacturing industry can be developed. Several competencies such as skills, capital investment and research and development will need further and continued attention. These prospects will be greatly advantaged by the sustained and increased support of government departments, and close collaboration between industry, state, academia and original equipment manufacturers.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianE.R. 2019en_ZA
dc.format.extentOnline resource (114 leaves)
dc.identifier.citationLetanta, Disebo Motsheoa, (2018) A mining feasibility case study analysis of fuel cell technology application to stimulate platinum beneficiation in South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, https://hdl.handle.net/10539/26571
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/26571
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshFuel cells
dc.subject.lcshFuel cells--Design and construction
dc.titleA mining feasibility case study analysis of fuel cell technology application to stimulate platinum beneficiation in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Abstract Final.pdf
Size:
276.61 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Masters Research Report Final.pdf
Size:
3.4 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
ETD Collection