IM 2018 June 18 | Page 20

NORDIC SUPPLIERS through the drive’s heatsink, and then exhausted back out of the substation using simple ducting and without affecting the substation pressurisation. The back-channel cooling in the Danfoss AC drives has significantly lowered the heat load in the Kolomela mine’s substation, and reduced power consumption by 80 kW. This has enabled installation of a smaller, lower-cost air- conditioning system which has reduced power consumption and operating costs. In a mine substation, use of Danfoss AC drives with back-channel cooling typically provides annual energy operating cost savings that are equivalent to approximately 8–10% of the total purchase cost of all the drives. Taking advantage of back-channel cooling requires installation of extra ducting (and sometimes filters), but this is more cost effective than using drives without back-channel cooling. With a more traditional drive solution, there is a significantly higher heat load from the drives which accumulates in the substation, requiring purchase of a larger, more expensive air- conditioning system – and a larger power bill. In addition to the AC drives controlling the dewatering pumps, there are many other drives on site at the Kolomela mine. Danfoss drive solutions are available for all mining applications – dealing with the challenges, while saving costs. Today’s industry is also marked by a steady buzz about connectivity and the Internet of Things, frequently summarised as Industry 4.0. New solutions appear all the time, offering a seemingly endless range of technical possibilities. However, it’s not as simple as that to find examples of how these are being implemented. Bosch Rexroth states: “For many businesses, the greatest potential in Industry 4.0 lies in condition monitoring. Yet even here, customers have generally been slow to act. As with any data-driven service, condition monitoring is only attractive if it offers both security and value. But the real value is created when condition monitoring becomes predictive maintenance. In simple condition monitoring, sensors are used to watch over equipment and alert the owner to any changes in operating parameters, such as RPMs, temperature and pressure. A solution can be created with relatively few sensors and a minimal amount of standalone hardware, at a cost far less than that of a production stop.” The information the sensors provide, however, can be used for much more than alerts. Analysed properly, it can help determine when a machine is at risk of breaking down – so that corrective maintenance can be planned in advance. Predictive maintenance has many advantages: reduced need for on-site spare parts, fewer demands on service personnel, lower energy consumption and far more reliable production. So why aren’t we seeing more of it? For many customers, the main obstacle on the path to these benefits is the security of the data and the way in which it will be used. Customers worry that sensitive information might be lost or find its way inadvertently into the wrong hands. These are valid concerns that should be taken seriously. Naturally, the data’s use should be regulated in a non-disclosure agreement, signed between customer and supplier. But the supplier must also take responsibility for having sufficient technical safeguards in place – and be able to explain exactly how those safeguards protect the customer. Even so, it is important to remember that the situation is generally similar to a manufacturer or workshop accessing a car’s stored driving data. If no data is shared, the possibilities for service – and the potential benefits for the owner – are more limited. “While security issues can be solved by suppliers who take the responsibility, it is more complex to actually bring value to the customer. Sensors are inexpensive and simple to install. But the difficulty lies in turning the gathered data into useful information. In itself, condition monitoring does little more than supply customers with data, which is often difficult to interpret. This is not a solution, but rather an additional headache. For customers to get the reliability and predictability they seek, the data FEATURES Six Full HD screens for a large field of view Smaller footprint platform compared to high fidelity simulators THE NEW STANDARD IN COST-EFFECTIVE OPERATOR TRAINING A brand new medium fidelity simulator platform perfect for machine and site familiarization, emergency response and compliance training Ample wide horizontal view for Truck, Shovel & Excavator training programs Large wide vertical view allows clear visibility when Digging, Dozing or Grading BENEFITS Increase Training Productivity & Safety Cost-effective Solution Promote Simulation Efficiencies REQUEST A DEMO TODAY Mention: LX6 Demo North America: [phone] Africa / Europe: +27 [phone] Australiasia: [phone] Latin America: [phone] [email protected] Email: Enquiries@Imm Visit: www.ImmersiveTe www.ImmersiveTechnologies.com/LX6