Engineering & Mining Journal

JUL 2013

Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr

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PLANT DESIGN Observations and forecasts of temperature, wind, heat index, and other weather parameters are available. Users have the ability to display their own custom assets, geo-referenced to the weather. For example, an overland conveying system or a boundary of a surface mine could be added as a layer. Web services are responsible for connecting all of the mining applications in a single control room. a Web-based application that allows several mining operations to be monitored 24/7 with advanced forecast and alerting capabilities (including real-time lightning detection). High-resolution, street-level mine maps must be able to display color-coded storm corridors, winds and lightning for a complete view of approaching storms. This allows mine operators to view the conditions associated with each storm, as well as to determine if a storm is severe in nature. The tracking system shows where severe weather is occurring, where it is heading within the next 30 minutes, and what time it will reach locations in its path. Other valuable weather layers can be added to the display to provide mine operators with a more complete picture. Connectivity (exchanging data among applications) The greatest potential of these applications is the ability to exchange information among them and to deliver enhanced information and decisions. This information exchange includes surveillance systems, camera systems and process control, financial information and energy consumption, energy management and production information, and so on. The nervous system of this integration needs to reside in web services/service oriented architectures, compatible with the adopted industry standards, from OPC UA, ISA95, ISA88, to IEC 611313. These standards have greatly improved the way systems communicate and provide users with flexibility, choice and predictability. Solutions are based on open architectures, inter-connectivity and the integration of new technologies. Information, not Data The mining industry is under constant pressure to meet regulatory requirements, maximize energy management, comply with safety/access control requirements, address sustainability initiatives, and respond to industry competition. There is a need for solutions that enable the understanding of the mining operations and business performance as a whole instead of pieces of data generated from isolated areas, systems and equipment. In conclusion, mining operations need information, not only data. Mielli is the U.S. mining, minerals and metals segment manager at Schneider Electric. He has 20 years of experience in power, speed drives, automation and industrial control. Mielli is a published author credited in more than 20 articles and white papers focused on automation, energy and trends related to the mining, minerals and metals industries, including challenges and applications. He is also an accomplished blogger featured on the Schneider Electric blog site: http://blog.schneider-electric.com/miningmetals-minerals/ 34 E&MJ; • JULY 2013 www.e-mj.com

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