IMARC INTELLIGENCE
drive , this battery loader outperforms diesel equivalents , especially on grade .”
These loaders need to be charged with 150 kW of direct current power by systems rugged enough to operate seamlessly in the underground environment ’ s higher ambient temperature , dust and moisture levels .
“ From electric vehicle batteries to solar panels , copper is a key element in delivering a zero emissions future . This is driving demand for copper , which is expected to grow by 350 percent by 2050 . At the same time , manufacturers are increasingly focused on the whole life cycle impact of their products , so need the entire supply chain to improve its environmental performance ,” said Sean Stove , head of E- Mobility Division , ABB Australia . “ Our innovative underground charging solution is just one of many ABB technologies helping the mining industry to reduce its carbon footprint and deliver the natural resources for zero and lowcarbon power solutions as efficiently as possible .”
ABB supplied its Heavy Vehicle Electric Charger ( HVC-150C ), originally built for charging city buses , which can deliver 150kW of charging power . This equipment is a plug-in style unit , using the CCS2 outlet . ABB worked with its longterm partner Trivantage to design , build and test a specially air-conditioned IP66-rated kiosk and switchboard arrangement capable of housing and supplying power to the HVC , built to last in the tough underground environment .
“ As part of ABB ’ s 2030 sustainability strategy , we are focused on helping our customers , like Glencore , get to net zero through alternative power innovations ,” said Stove .
“ Configuring the fast charging solution into a kiosk for underground mining is an Australian innovation , which is now being offered to other mining customers . As part of our 2030 sustainability strategy , we are focused on helping our customers unlock the potential of e-mobility with state of the art and intelligent charging solutions .”
Apart from two HVC-150C chargers and power cabinet kiosks complete with switchboards , ABB is also provided ABB Charger Connect and ABB Ability™ Energy & Asset Manager as energy and asset management systems . ABB is also providing onsite commissioning and training for both chargers . This enables ABB and Glencore to have visibility of the equipment 24 / 7 and monitor it ’ s charging and power system outputs .
The fast chargers run on the ABB Ability™ Connected Services Platform , part of the ABB Ability™ portfolio of digital solutions that benefit from cloud connectivity to enhance uptime , scalability and operational efficiencies , as well as to provide real-time remote support services . Network operators have 24-hour availability of the charging infrastructure to perform tasks remotely , such as monitoring diagnosis and upgrades and ensuring reliable and efficient infrastructure .
“ ABB is a leader in the EV charging infrastructure segment ,” said CSA Mine ’ s Christen . “ The solution that ABB have provided us at CSA Mine has fully met a set of new requirements following our investment in a new battery electric loader , enabling us to ensure it is as productive as possible .”
Epiroc to boost its mine connectivity capabilities
Epiroc , the leading productivity and sustainability partner to the mining and infrastructure industries , and an IMARC Session Sponsor , recently agreed to acquire a majority stake ( 53 %) of Radlink , an Australian company that provides mines with wireless connectivity solutions .
Radlink , headquartered in Perth , Australia , designs , delivers , and integrates wireless data and voice communication networks and supporting infrastructure to surface and underground mines throughout Australia . Epiroc said : “ Robust wireless networks are vital to support mining automation , including autonomous and teleremote solutions , which in turn strengthen safety and productivity .”
The company has approximately 330 employees and had revenues in the fiscal year ending June 30 , 2022 , of about A $ 145 million ( SEK 1,040 million ). “ Radlink ’ s powerful network connectivity solutions will support Epiroc as we continue to provide mining companies with automation and digital solutions that make operations safer and more efficient ,” says Helena Hedblom , Epiroc ’ s President and CEO . “ We look forward to welcoming the strong team at Radlink to Epiroc .” The acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022 .
Radlink is well known for supplying a range of wireless connectivity options for mines . Using a combination of fixed base station towers , mobile trailers and skids , relocation is quick and easy each time the operation changes .
Technologies supplied include TETRA nodes – TETRA is short for Terrestrial Trunked Radio , which is an accepted open digital radio standard for critical communications . Radlink has been at the forefront of TETRA in Australia and designed WA ’ s first TETRA digital radio system and the first multi-site system . It has also built three , four and five-site TETRA systems for mines in the Pilbara . Radlink also supplies mesh networks , microwave point to point and WiMAX solutions .
Epiroc has agreed to acquire a majority stake ( 53 %) of Radlink , an Australian company that provides mines with wireless connectivity solutions
Bringing drill and blast optimisation together
Strayos and IMARC Silver Sponsor CR Digital , this year announced a new integration project that will see CR Digital ’ s Thunderbird 1110 drill optimisation system combined with Strayos blast design and optimisation tools .
This integration allows mines to leverage the “ as drilled ” StrataSense measure-while-drilling ( MWD ) sensor data from Thunderbird 1110 within the Strayos blast design platform to tailor explosives to local rock conditions to achieve improved fragmentation at reduced costs , according to the companies .
CR Digital ’ s Thunderbird 1110 is an OEMagnostic drill guidance and strata measurement system that can be installed on a wide range of production drill rigs . It assists operators in the cab and captures rich MWD data at every 100 mm interval down the borehole . These parameters can be used to infer geological characteristics such as rock hardness using trained algorithms .
Strayos is a mining artificial intelligence platform with a suite of drill and blast design tools . Users can create optimised pattern layouts and charging designs based on drone survey data . The platform automatically assesses blast fragmentation and heave performance from post blast surveys , and then uses artificial intelligence to learn how to improve future blasts , Strayos says .
The integration between Thunderbird 1110 via CR Digital ’ s Orion Data API and the Strayos platform provides powerful geo-contextual information to enhance the blast optimisation process for joint customers of both companies , they said . Connecting the granular information on borehole rock properties with the shot design and performance will allow mines to determine exactly which explosives work best in which conditions . This enables explosive energy to be properly matched with rock conditions at each depth interval within the hole , ensuring optimal
10 International Mining | OCTOBER 2022