CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
Canary Systems implemented an automated remote monitoring solution at a large producing gold mine in the Dominican Republic last year , replacing a manual data collection system that was made up of Excel spreadsheets to process data and create graphs and reports
platform , provided the means to communicate with each MLBase and organise and administer the MLRemote data collection accordingly .
Using MLWeb and MLWebHardware , the mine records new data from the MLRemotes every hour . It also integrated additional monitoring tools within its database such as radars , prisms , inclinometers and InSAR . To support the large environment , a three-server deployment was implemented to allow for multiple user-access and frequent 3D data processing .
Rather than using Excel spreadsheets to
process data and create graphs or reports , MLWeb automatically performs the process and generates daily and weekly reports . These reports make it possible for the site to conform to and fulfill their ICMM reporting guidelines , according to Canary .
The MLRemotes allowed data collection across significant distances previously not possible on site . One MLBase connected MLRemotes 1.6 km away while the second MLBase reached MLRemotes as far as 2.6 km .
“ By removing the variability of manual instrument readings and replacing with automated data acquisition systems , the mine can make informed operational decisions , better understand their infrastructure and improve accountability ,” Canary said . “ Additionally , a fully-automated system architecture yields longterm cost savings while providing a significantly better risk factor reduction .”
The Ventsim software suite uses advanced algorithms to analyse real-time data and adjust ventilation equipment to maximise energy savings while maintaining safe working conditions . As the global mining industry continues to face increased pressure to reduce its carbon footprint , it offers a valuable solution by optimising energy usage and reducing wasted energy , Howden says .
Howden , a Chart Industries Company , has focused on innovation with this software to meet the needs of ventilation and automation engineers by developing a solution that requires no prior programming . The site team can manage Ventsim CONTROL on an ongoing basis which means there is no need to continually bring in third parties to make changes as the mine ’ s requirements change .
This was a need in the market in 2009 when Ventsim software was introduced . The software has become even more relevant today , where resources are expensive and scarce , and mine plans – in many cases – need to be commodityprice sensitive . Ventsim CONTROL can incorporate sensors , hardware , and software from any third-party supplier and has grown to become a key ventilation-engineering tool across the mining sector .
In recent years , Howden has developed the software with the complementary addition of 3D modelling and simulation components of Ventsim DESIGN , a mine ventilation simulation software , to allow mining companies to achieve optimal visualisation of their ventilation systems across their operations . In a recent update , the software ’ s 3D tracking visualisation of personnel and vehicles was improved through the ability to tap into existing site-wide tracking systems at most modern underground mines .
Benoit Dussault , Lead Software Engineer at Howden , told IM : “ We are working hand-in-hand with tracking providers on this solution , incorporating the x , y , z coordinates associated with these ‘ tags ’ or deploying a zone-based approach where these coordinates are not available .”
A real-time gas simulation that can incorporate data inputs from gas sensors around the mine and predict the gas concentrations going into areas not equipped with sensors is also being integrated into the software platform as part of expanded control and optimisation functionality . The same can be said about heat simulation , which was introduced last year .
The company is also refining its energy management and control toolkit , building on the energy dashboards it has had in place to visualise energy consumption , energy savings and , more recently , carbon emissions .
“ We are implementing a carbon calculator this year that builds on those energy reports ,” Dussault explained . “ The software will track your emissions , allowing companies to benchmark their consumption and emissions against a plan .”
Later in 2023 and into 2024 , the company hopes to put ventilation-focused , artificial intelligence-backed algorithms to work at mine sites , potentially taking the company ’ s ventilation optimisation abilities to new heights . This would also coincide with a new web-based interface , introducing BI dashboards and
Energy and ventilation efficiency in mining
Howden ’ s Ventsim™ CONTROL is , the company says , a cutting-edge mining innovation introduced 15 years ago in Canada . Ventsim is designed to reduce energy consumption , associated costs and improve energy efficiency in underground mine ventilation systems .
Ventsim CONTROL has grown to become a key ventilation engineering tool across the mining sector
56 International Mining | APRIL 2023