MINING SENSORS

Sensory overload

Whether it is vehicle position,

operator fatigue levels,
pipeline flow, stockpile
scanning or tyre pressure
monitoring, sensors and
sensor solutions allow mines
to operate as efficient
Rhosonics new
systems where real time
technology response and adaptability are
measures density
by making use of key, reports Paul Moore
ultrasonic waves

s miners move to improve productivity miners get a better handle of these important iron making process, users want a complete

A amid challenging times, process

automation and optimisation is gaining
more and more focus. Productivity is particularly
improved when a site uses optimisation, but
optimisation also requires a solid foundation of
sensing and measurement technologies. As
Doug Morris, Mining Marketing Manager for
Emerson Process Management comments: You
simply cant improve what you cant measure.
Emerson manufactures a large suite of
measurement equipment that ranges from
temperature and vibration sensors to
flowmeters to analytical equipment. One
technology that it sees as particularly innovative
for the mining industry is its new three
dimensional solids scanner.
Ore pile level is important to ensure mineral
processing availability from surge piles and
inventory management as bins or domes.
Getting an accurate assessment of this level can
be challenging and as such a 3D scanner helps
applications because it can provide not only a
level measurement, but also volume.
The scanner uses an array of three antennas
to transmit low frequency pulses and to receive
echoes of the pulses from the material being
measured. Using three antennas the unit
measures not only the time/distance of each
echo but also its direction which enables very
accurate measurements of level and volume. contain up to 10,000 t of material. Control of silo
Important too is the 3D representation of the
ore for display to operators. This display can
also map buildup and other irregularities
happen with ore piling.
One example use of this technology is found
in iron ore processing. Iron powder is stored in a
silo before it is mixed with bentonite
clay/dolomite and limestone in the balling
drum. Because iron powder generates heavy
dust during the filling process and tends to stick
to the silo walls, it creates rat holes and uneven
build-up. Since this is an essential input to the
picture of the volume in a silo so as to not have
to stop production from a false level reading.
Users of Emerson 3D Solids Scanners include
gold miner AngloGold Ashanti. The Moab
Khotsong location contributes 16.4% to AGA
South African operations had issues with two
silos used for gold ore and for waste. These
silos are 10 m wide and 22 m high and can
content is crucial to allow production flow and
process control. Volume control is also important
for reducing the maintenance costs of the silos.
These silos have grizzly bars at the bottom that
must be protected against the falling rocks and
gravel entering the silo by a minimum level of
material coverage. AGA tried several single point
radar solutions before installing 3D Solids
Scanners on the reef silo, as a pilot. The reef silo
contains the raw material from the mine site,
whereas the waste silo contains the left over
material after the ore production process.

00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014

 MINING SENSORS
The Emerson 3D Solids Scanner uses an array
of three antennas to transmit low frequency
pulses and to receive echoes of the pulses from
the material being measured
Emerson states; The 3D Solids Scanners
highly accurate volume reading and 3D graphic
output allowed the Moab Khotsong operation
team to protect the silos grizzly bar outlet by
making sure that not only was there enough
material in the silo to protect it, but that the
material was spread out with the right profile to
generate this protection and was covering the
outlet entirely. It also gave them the ability to
track build up as it occurs over time, eliminating
cases where production reports the silo as
empty when, in fact, it has bridges or blockages
that maintenance cant diagnose.
Following the successful pilot the waste silo
was also fitted with a 3D Solids Scanner. This
allowed operators and management to gain real
time control of reef quality, as this was the first
time they were able to compare reef volume to
waste volume and calculate water % in the reef.
This put an end to the arguments between the
mining and production teams with regards to
responsibility for lower than expected output, as
now management could calculate exactly how
much water was added to the ore and determine
whether the output was acceptable for that level
of dry reef.
Using 3D Solids Scanners, Ernst Smith, C&I
Manager, found that 3D Solids Scanners
provided us with an accurate measurement in
our large silos in order to protect our structure
and to measure our waste to production ratio.
This was all transmitted easily over our Ethernet
network to our control room for easy viewing.
Other users in Africa include copper miner
BCL in Botswana at Selebi Phikwe, which had
previously installed various different
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
technologies, the last of which was guided wave
radars, but due to the excessive dust of the
pneumatic filling process and the material
condition the units were removed as they were
not reliable. Three Emerson 3D Solids Scanner
units have been working reliably, accurately and
with no need for maintenance since their
installation. At the Gold FieldsBeatrix mine, the
customer had tried to estimate silo content
using two level devices for each silo, reaching
very poor performance. Emerson 3D Solids
Scanners installed on each silo now provide
accurate measures with optimal coverage and
the customer obtains the true volume of the
stored contents.
Elsewhere, Hawk Measurement Systems
(HAWK), the global provider of level, positioning
and flow measurement technology, has
announced the introduction of the MiniWave
Level Transmitter. The new non-contact HAWK
MiniWave is a cost effective, loop powered
ultrasonic level transmitter designed for reliable,
continuous measurement of liquids up to 12 m.
The company says it provides effortless and
intuitive operation with its refined, industry
leading, automatic echo detection & control
software designed specifically for the targeted
industries.
The 2 in transducer offers high chemical
compatibility which makes the MiniWave
suitable for multiple applications in all
industries, including mining. Easy and flexible
mounting along with the push buttons on the
front face make installation and configuration of
the MiniWave easy while a four line graphic
display allows for easy level indication and
configuration. The MiniWave has a robust
powder coated cast aluminium housing and also
has a glass window for easy viewing of the
display. The unit also comes with a HART, 4-
20mA output as standard.
Tyre TPMS solution update
Kal Tire Mining Tire Group is re-launching TTT,
its True Tire Technology system that it says will
considerably improve how mine sites monitor
tyre temperature and pressure in order to
increase safety, tyre life, fuel efficiency and mine
productivity. An in-depth article on the new TTT
will appear in the IM December 2014 issue.
Kal Tire states: It is a well-known fact that
tyres are one of the top three operating
expenses of a mine site. When they are running
at optimal pressure only then will a mine site
experience maximum value when it comes to
savings and productivity related to this
expense. In order to achieve this, a tyre
temperature and pressure monitoring system is
required that is well-designed, all aspects of it
works in all environments, and has web-enabled
management and reporting capability.
After consulting with dozens of mine leaders
around the world, we did a complete overhaul
on TTTs technology to better meet the needs of
todays mines with several innovative and
unique new features, says Mike Batka, Vice
President Technology, Products and Services at
Kal Tire Mining Tire Group. We wanted to give
our customers the most functional, user-friendly
tire monitoring system that will help make
mines safer and more profitable. A lot of time
and expertise was invested in redesigning most
of its features; from how it operates to its web-
based monitoring and reporting capabilities.
Highlights of Kal Tires new TTT include seven
configurations with the option to use WiFi, 3G or
a radio frequency network; real-time monitoring
with automatic refreshes every 30 seconds;
highly accurate, waterproof sensors built to
handle hot and humid conditions; and an in-cab
tablet display for vehicle operators with GPS
and data storage capabilities. It has an internet
accessible, user-friendly dashboard providing
one-click access to full fleet reporting and offers
online pre-configured reports to provide
transparency and consistency.
Unlike other tyre pressure monitoring
systems for earthmovers, the new TTT offers
real-time monitoring in radio frequency. The new
TTT is available in seven different configurations
to offer a communication channel
a 900Mhz standalone mesh network,
3G/GPRS cellular network and 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi,
which ensures it can work for any minesite,
whether it is underground or in a harsh, remote
location.
Kal Tires TTT vehicle kit has also been
upgraded so data is visible to operators on an
optional in-cab display, providing an extra layer
of safety for the operator as well as people
around the vehicle. Driver awareness and
safety is crucial, says Batka. We wanted to
provide operators with a design that would
allow them to see whats happening and react.
TTT constantly monitors the pressure and
temperature of mining tyres using its unique
sensor patch mounted inside the tyre. The
sensor is sealed in a golf ball-like cavity of
polyurethane, making it accurate and
waterproof in tyres with liquid additives as well
as durable enough for hot and humid
temperatures. An antenna sensor mounted
under the truck sends data as well as alerts.
Managers have easy access to monthly reports
and tyre technicians receive instant, paperless
tyre maintenance work orders.
On earthmover tyres, even minute increases
in temperature and air pressure can have big
consequences, from lost fuel mileage and tread
wear to blowouts and pyrolysis. Thats why it
was important to Kal Tire that the new TTT offer
real-time data. Unlike some TPMS systems that
 MINING SENSORS
update every five minutes, Kal Tire TTT sensor and patch. The system
has been updated and amongst other things
TTT updates data in the offers real-time monitoring in radio
cab, and on an online
dashboard, every second,
refreshing
automatically
every 30
seconds. This
provides
immediate
indication if there
is an issue rather
than a situation
where a system has
a five minute refresh
and a vehicle has
travelled several kilometres before the issue is
known. Thats the difference between saving a
tyre and a blowout. If you save one tyre with TTT,
it has paid for itself.
The benefits are substantial, says Batka.
Investing in TTT can quickly be offset by
extending the life of a tyre, reducing tyre-related
fleet down time, and improving fuel efficiency.
From an easy-to-navigate dashboard, site
managers have a one-click, instant perspective of
their entire fleets key operational components.
The group concludes: Customers need to be
able to quickly check on the health of the system,
the operational performance, as well as
understand the value it is bringing to their
operations.
PeopleNet, a Trimble company and leading
provider of fleet mobility technology, recently
announced that it was the first complete fleet
mobility technology to integrate with Valor TPMS,
one of Canadas leading tyre pressure monitoring
providers. PeopleNet Senior Vice President of
Product & Operations Rick Ochsendorf said, Our
integration with Valor gives our customers yet
another choice for providing real-time tyre-
pressure information directly to their
maintenance desk. Proactively managing tire
pressure gives fleets a huge opportunity to
reduce vehicle maintenance costs and improve
fuel economy and safety.
Valors says its advanced TPMS systems are
manufactured with the latest technology based
on its research and design institute. It believes
that it is the only tyre pressure monitoring
company that develops and manufactures the
complete tyre pressure monitoring solution from
sensor chip level to analysing software interface.
Were proud to be a key PeopleNet integration
partner, said Valor President Will Hu. Our
collaborative relationship enables us to provide
our advanced, patented Tyre Pressure Monitoring
System to PeopleNets customers. Our solution
integrates seamlessly within PeopleNets open
framework. In this way, we are able to deliver
reliable, timely data that leads to better tyre
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
efficiency, increased and for internal mounted sensors, the
safety, and overall temperature, and transmit this information using
logistic benefits. low power radio to an on board receiving and
The integration is the decoding unit. This ensures that any changes in
antidote for natural the measured parameters are detected very
leakage and seasonal quickly. This means that any parameters that
climatic changes have exceeded threshold can be indicated
that lower tyre quickly to the relevant party such as the driver,
pressure. shift supervisor and manager.
Providing The company adds: The increase in data
drivers a provided by new technology can be quite
visual cue is overwhelming. You can get the data texted or
the most emailed to you, access it on line via web site
effective way to alert them to logins or have it sent to your company servers for
check their vehicles' tyre pressure before integration into your whole company data
the pressure drops to lower-than-acceptable portfolio. The question has to be what data do
levels, which prevents unnecessary tyre failure you need and how do you interpret the data to
and tread wear, increased stopping distance, make efficient use of it.The data from the Tire
reduced fuel economy and the overall threat to Monitor System sensors can be displayed on the
vehicle safety. TMS operator interface unit, a small display unit
AM Bromley has been delivering their OTR that can be sited in the cab for the driver to see,
TPMS system for the last 10 years providing data showing real time tyre pressures and indicating
to drivers, shift supervisors and managers to any thresholds that are exceeded. The data can
help provide cost-saving benefits, improve also be forwarded via the add-on telematics unit
safety, and increase tyre life. Sales Director offering all the advantages of remote data
Mandy Bromley comments: Tyres are the second access.
most expensive operating cost for mine vehicles Instant notification enables drivers and
after fuel. Tyres typically account for 25 to 30% of managers to become quickly aware of potential
haulage operating costs in quarries and open pit tyre performance issues, and to take the
mines and it is now understood that an necessary remedial action immediately. TMS
underinflated tyre can cost an additional 4 to 6% helps them to achieve the cost benefits resulting
in fuel. OEM OTR tyre manufacturers state very from extended tyre life, reduced tyre
clearly that regular pressure checks are critical as maintenance expenditure, improved fuel
well as visual inspections, maintaining the efficiency, and reduced vehicle downtime.
correct inflation pressure for a working OTR tyre TPMS solutions provider, Advantage
is the single most important means of PressurePro has announce a strategic alliance
maximising tyre life, site tyre life can vary by 30% and pending integration with GPSTrackIt.com, an
or more depending on pressure maintenance industry leading fleet management solution
quality. So monitoring tyre pressures is provider. The integration, projected to be
therefore a key parameter. completed in November 2014, will utilise
All TPMS systems start with monitoring and PressurePros advanced FlexIO protocols to
collecting data by sensors. The AM Bromley Tire enable complete tyre performance information to
Monitor System (TMS) is a direct wireless TPMS be delivered via GPSTrackIt.com's
where the sensors are placed in direct contact communications capabilities.
with the air pressure,
either mounted
internally inside the tyre
or mounted directly
onto the valve stem. The
sensors continually
sample the air pressure
The AM Bromley Tire
Monitor System (TMS)
is a direct wireless
TPMS where the
sensors are placed in
direct contact with the
air pressure, either
mounted internally
inside the tyre or
mounted directly onto
the valve stem
 MINING SENSORS
As fleets continue to battle heightened
operation costs, increased regulations and more,
we see more and more companies wanting to
utilise remote monitoring options, stated
Vanessa Hargrave, PressurePros Director of
Marketing. These options empower fleet
managers and controllers with the information of
how every tyre in their fleet is performing,
instantly. This revolutionises tyre maintenance
programs by not only identifying problem tires
while on the road, enabling controllers to pre-
plan a remedy and minimise costs and downtime,
but by also helping recognise problem tyres or
problematic tyre trends, before they ever hit the
road.
Giving users a comprehensive view of tire
performance not only provides the information
needed to increase fuel efficiency, extend tyre
life, decrease downtime, reduce maintenance and
more. It also arms fleets with the information
needed to add comfort and safety for drivers.
This strategic alliance with PressurePro couldnt
come at a better time, says John Stull,
GPSTrackIt.coms President and CEO. As driver
safety is our biggest priority and tyres being the
life blood of any vehicle, this fully integrated real-
time solution will help to ensure driver safety as
well as help reduce and control vehicle
maintenance expenses.
Australia-headquartered Klinge now has a
web-server based in Africa supporting its Total
Tyre Control Web Edition. Total Tyre Control Web
Edition is an innovative product designed for tyre
professionals, tyre owners, tyre dealers,
manufacturers, retreaders, repairers, service
providers, owner operators, vehicle/equipment
manufacturers, dealers and hire companies,
enabling them to easily collect tyre performance
information to measure costs and improve
productivity while on the go. It is the latest
addition to the Klinge tyre management suite of
software applications. It is a web-based
application that caters for complete tracking of
tyres and their usage in any environment. It has a
subscription-based licence and so does not
require any software installation on customer
hardware. The system is hosted by Klinge, who
guarantee the security of the data.
Automation and sensing
Neptec Technologies, a provider of real-time
intelligent 3D robot vision products, and Peck
Tech Consulting, a thought leader and provider of
advanced technology solutions for the mining
industry, have announced the formation of a joint
venture to deliver innovative sensor-driven
automation products and services to the global
mining market. The mining industry is
embracing technology to improve the safety and
cost effectiveness of their operations, and while
factory-delivered autonomy solutions have been
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
getting much of the attention, there are also
huge benefits to be gained from intelligent
sensor-driven safety and operator-assist
solutions for mobile mining equipment that
deliver immediate operational benefits and ROI
for early adopters, says Dr Jonathan Peck,
President and CEO of Peck Tech Consulting. Our
new venture combines Peck Techs intimate
understanding of the mining process and
technology needs with Neptecs excellence in
technology innovation and its full product
realisation capabilities to bring new and practical
aftermarket product solutions to our mining
customers.
Neptec Technologies and Peck Tech have
been working together for more than three years
on adapting Neptecs Space technologies for the
mining market, and now were combining our
strengths to create a unique venture to address
the immediate need of our clients for innovative,
machine-agnostic products and services for both
open-pit and underground mining, said Mike detecting explosives, measuring flammable
Sekerka, CEO of Neptec Technologies.
New sensory technology
The sensing industry relies on technology
evolution. Panorama Synergy says that it has
demonstrated its ability to simultaneously
stimulate the working parts of MEMS sensors
and measure their data using the same optical
laser. The company also states that it has lodged
two new patent applications related to this
breakthrough in Australia and the US.
Panoramas optical readout system works by
sending an infra-red laser-light through an optical
waveguide, which guides the laser light in the
same way as an optical fibre would. This is used
to sense the movements of tiny micro-cantilevers
using very sensitive optical interference and
therefore take readings of the MEMS sensor's
motion.
Each micro-
cantilever can be
coated with a
substance that sticks
to the specific
chemical being
measured, therefore
changing its rate of
vibration. These
changes in vibration
alter the amount of
light that reaches the
other side,
determining the
presence of the
Screenshot from a
FRITSCH
ANALYSETTE 22 laser
fine particle analysis
chemical being measured. The micro-cantilevers,
or working parts of the sensor, vibrate at their
natural resonance, but require stimulation to
initiate this vibration. Typically this has been
initiated through an electrical circuit.
However, in a world first, researchers at the
University of Western Australia working in
collaboration with Panorama, have used that
same optical waveguide to initiate the movement
of the micro-cantilevers using optical radiation
pressure via a short, high powered laser pulse.
This removes the need for another piece of
electronics on the chip. The laser, which now
both initiates the micro-cantilever movement and
provides light to measure its ongoing
movements, can either be mounted on the chip
with the cantilevers, or placed remotely using an
optical fibre to connect it to the chip, which can
support multiple sensors.
This means that in environments where it is
undesirable to introduce electricity such as
gases in a mine, or where there is a degree of
electrical noise or interference in the
environment - any electronic components can be
located remotely with the sensor itself consisting
only of optical components. Furthermore, it
potentially reduces the cost of production of the
LumiMEMS Reader.
In some markets such as specialist non-
metallic minerals mining and processing where
fine grinding is used, particle size analysis is a
key capability. With the FRITSCH Laser Particle
Sizers ANALYSETTE 22 MicroTec plus (0.08-2,000
m) and NanoTec plus (0.01-2,000 m) particle
measurement becomes simpler matter in
production and quality control or in research and
development as no prior knowledge is required.
The operator just starts the program, selects a
SOP and adds the sample the rest takes place
completely automatically.
 MINING SENSORS
Each ANALYSETTE 22 is delivered
automatically with MaS control software
containing predefined SOPs for nearly all
typical measurement tasks. But the user also has
the possibility to modify these SOPs via a well-
arranged input mask to perfectly suit your
measurement requirements: The dispersion
process and duration, measuring frequency, time
intervals and many other parameters can be
easily selected and saved as separate SOPs.
In addition to integrated standard reports, the
freely editable report generator allows
measurement reports to be organised exactly
according to user needs. The reports can
integrate graphs as well as all measurement
parameters, statistical values or selected
measured values. Also the integration into a local
computer network is simple matter.
Each ANALYSETTE 22 consists of a compact
measuring unit that can be quickly and easily
combined with various dispersion units for dry
respectively wet measurements. The FRITSCH
AutoSampler for easy automation of
measurement series can be placed on top of the
wet dispersion unit and is immediately ready for
use, without requiring any manual connections or
annoying cables. Up to 26 samples in 40 ml
containers can be measured simultaneously:
sample feeding, dispersion, measurement and
cleaning are performed automatically.
Since 1992, Dutch company Rhosonics has had
experience with ultrasonic measurement
technologies for process industries. This mainly
involved concentration and solids meters, most
of this which works by measuring the speed of
sound in a slurry or a liquid. This is done by using
a piezoelectric element which generates
ultrasonic waves. And because of the fact that in
mining and mineral processing industries the
slurries are very dense, a lot of ultrasonic waves
are absorbed by the slurry which means
measuring speed of sound is quite difficult. Also,
within ultrasonic technology there must be a
non-flush sensor inline which is likely to suffer
wear within weeks or even days in the most
environmental heavy applications. So the
measurement of sound velocity may not the best
way to determine density, TSS or TDS in process
lines like concentrators, thickeners and cyclone
feed lines.
The mineral processing industry requires a lot
of monitoring which includes density and mass
flow. Metering these kinds of parameters has if
anything become more and more important.
Currently, most companies in mineral processing
make use of nuclear density meters, where
gamma radiation is beamed through slurries and
liquids. On the opposite side of the nuclear
source there is a sensor which counts all
particles which reach the sensor while other
particles are reflected by the slurry.
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
The density can be measured by counting the
amount of particles which reach the sensor. This
technology is widely accepted because of its
liability. But more and more governments and
companies are banning and blocking this
equipment due to the issue of nuclear waste,
potential dangers and other ethical issues not to
mention licensing.
Rhosonics says it has found a way to measure
density by making use of ultrasonic waves. This
does not measure the speed of sound but the
acoustic impedance. In a nutshell, the acoustic
impedance is calculated by measuring the
reflected energy which is generated by a
piezoelectric element. As within water based
slurries the speed of sound is known, the density
can be calculated. Within this technique there is
also no intruding sensor needed. A sensor which
is completely flush with the line or pipe is
actually needed to prevent the sensor from being
ruined by the slurry.
The ultrasonic equipment can be used in lots
of mineral processing applications where there is
a constant feed of slurry in a pipeline or launder.
Water based densities of 2,000-2,500 g/l are not
an issue to the Rhosonics ultrasonic technology
and particle sizes up to 3 mm can be measured.
Rhosonics states that this makes ultrasonic
density measurement a very friendly tool to
monitor your production processes if you are
talking about density.
In temperature sensors, STW has announced
the release of the T01 CANopen temperature
transmitter. This is a temperature sensor which
was developed for use in commercial vehicles as
well as the mobile off-highway market. It uses
the highly accurate PT1000A temperature
element welded in a robust stainless steel
housing. Extensive testing combined with high
quality materials make the T01 compatible with a
wide range of media and exhibits a high level of
mechanical strength.
STW has many years of experience in the
mobile hydraulic application sector, where
particular attention was paid to typical harsh
conditions such as vibration, EMC, thermal stress
loads and other external influences. The T01 can
handle an operating temperature of -40C to
+125C, is rated IP67 and is available with either
plastic or metal M12 electrical connections.
Currently the T01 is only available in CANopen
and supports 11 and 29 bit identifiers. The J1939
version is expected to be released in the first
quarter of 2015.
ACO has developed a new sensor generation
for measuring bulk goods the AMMS all-in-one
which offers direct measuring, digital processing
and analogue output. ASO says the offering is a
combination of approved measuring systems,
long-term experience and close cooperation with
clients. With this new Analogue Moisture
Measuring Sensor ACO offers a compact sensor
suitable for nearly all bulk goods, granules,
powders, mixtures, paste-like materials and
substances from various industrial fields.
The high quality sensor is equipped with user-
friendly calibration by calibration software and
multi-calibration of up to 10 calibration points is
possible. Calibration directly in process is a big
advantage and for easier handling calibration
directly at the sensor is possible as well. The
measuring range or average value can be
adjusted conveniently directly at the sensor. All
electronics are embedded in robust durable
stainless steel housings with a highly resistant
ceramic disc. Due to its identical dimensions the
new AMMS sensor can be easily upgraded in any
existing process.
Pipeline sensing and flow control
Pressure and temperature measurement in
pipelines and pressure vessels is common
practice in mineral process control. Tracking
pressure and temperature fluctuations and
maximum pressure and temperature levels is
essential for structural safety and operational
efficiency. Unfortunately, many conventional
temperature and pressure gauges require an
opening into the vessel or pipeline so that
replacement of the sensor during operations is
not possible. Also, since most gauges are
electrical-based devices, they can pose a hazard
when employed in flammable environments.
FOX-TEK offers fibre optic sensor systems that
measure pipe or pressure vessel pressures with
high accuracy. The sensors are ideal for operation
in flammable environments or in close proximity
to electrical equipment because they are passive,
non-electrical and immune to electromagnetic
interference (EMI). They operate continuously at
temperatures as high as 300C. FT sensors are
available in a variety of configurations, and
because of their flexibility, are easily bonded to
structures of complex curvature. Remote,
continuous monitoring or periodic on-site
measuring systems are options available to the
user with FOX-TEK FT sensor monitors.
In April 2014, CiDRA Minerals Processing
announced the successful deployment of its
SONARtrac flow technology in OceanaGolds
Didipio gold mine in the Philippines. The
SONARtrac system is a non-contact and non-
invasive flow meter solution which enables the
accurate volumetric monitoring of slurries as well
as the presence of any entrained air or gas.
CiDRA and Hidromac, CiDRAs representative for
the Philippines, successfully installed the
SONARtrac system on the Didipio sites
hydrocyclone feed line in March 2014, and the
operation concluded without the need for any
process interruption. We are delighted to have
this opportunity to support OceanaGold and

improve their process optimisation said Mike
Murphy, Managing Director, CiDRA Pacific Rim,
this also represents our first success in the
Philippines and we are excited with our plans for
growth in this region and elsewhere in Asia.
Brennan Lang, General Manager for
OceanaGolds Didipio Operations said: We were
interested in the SONARtrac system for our
operations due to its non-invasive and high
reliability capabilities. We were impressed with
the ease of installation, and its immediate
operational value at Didipio.
In June 2014 CiDRA also announced that it had
entered into a distributor agreement with
Yokogawa Australia & New Zealand where
Yokogawa will sell CiDRAs SONARtrac range of
flow meters into the Australian and New Zealand
minerals processing sector. Due to their non-
intrusive design, SONARtrac flow meters do not
have any moving or process-wetted parts that are
subject to wear, or inherent drift mechanisms,
and are installed externally to the outside of any
type of pipeline. This non-intrusive design
translates into long life, no maintenance,
improved safety, and enhanced operational
effectiveness for the monitoring of mining flow
processes.
John Hewitt, Managing Director of Yokogawa
Australia and New Zealand said the opportunity
to distribute the SONARtrac line of flow meters
from CiDRA was very welcome as it provided
Yokogawa with access to a product that our
customers have been asking for. We look forward
to a successful partnership with CiDRA in
providing a cost effective and reliable flow
measurement solution for our mining clients.
David Roberts, CiDRAs country manager for
Australia and New Zealand, is very pleased to
have Yokogawa on board. "Yokogawa Australia &
New Zealand is a leading supplier of process
control systems and instruments into the
Australian and New Zealand mining industries.
Their depth of knowledge and presence in
Australia mining and mining processes, together
with CiDRAs SONARtrac flow technology, will
help serve the broader market in Australia and
New Zealand.
Open pit and fleet sensing and survey
Every major mining equipment provider has a
wide offering of application solutions to help
miners control those factors they can positively
impact and perhaps first among these
applications are those that support fleet
management programs. There are also many
specialised applications that cross into other
areas. With a renewed focus on safety, many
equipment manufacturers have also developed
machine health monitoring systems. Todd Rigby
at Rajant told IM: Under the safety umbrella,
there are applications that monitor driver
MINING SENSORS
alertness, applications that identify objects to
avoid, and applications that notify operators
where other equipment and vehicles are to
minimise risk of, accidental collision. On the
production side, applications that assist shovel
operators delineate between ore and waste.
Applications can help grader operators put the
correct slope on a curve and help RTD operators
keep the loading floor level. They even have an
app to identify and record rough spots in haul
roads.
He adds: The common thread through all of
these applications is sensors. Todays mining
equipment has sensors for GPS, gyroscopes,
radar, laser, temperature, speed, video cameras.
It is not uncommon for a haul truck to have up to
2,000 different sensors. These sensors produce
data and lots of it. Some applications run on-
board the vehicle, while other applications run on
centralised servers. In both cases, large amounts
of data are transmitted between mining
equipment and servers in the LAN. In order for
these applications to function properly, it is vital
to have a reliable network capable of
transporting this data between the mining
equipment, supervisor vehicles and the
application servers.
Rajants infrastructure solutions leverage
Kinetic Meshing technology and have formed the
network of choice among many of the worlds top
mining companies. Rajant BreadCrumb nodes
provide secure, reliable, high-performance
networks in which everything can move. Its peer-
to-peer networks use a proprietary protocol
called InstaMesh which provides extremely fast
responses to network topology changes. Despite
InstaMesh having been deployed and functioning
well for 12 years, Rajant says it continues to
improve and enhance its performance. Even
though InstaMesh is proprietary, it is standards
compatible. Rajant uses 802.11 standards for the
physical layer, and protocol route packets at
Layer 2. In simple terms, if data can be sent over
Ethernet, it can be sent over Rajants Kinetic
Mesh. InstaMesh is a completely distributed
protocol. It has no central controller, no central
decision maker, and no single node to create a
big-picture of the network. Rigby states: This is
good for two reasons. First, it takes time to create
the big-picture of a network, and secondly, since
the mesh doesnt have to continually update the
big-picture, InstaMesh runs with far less
administrative overheads than competitive
networks. This means more available throughput
for application data and elimination of any single
point of failure.
InstaMesh always prefers the fastest route to
any destination. This is based on the radio
frequency (RF) environment at the time in which
the packet needs to be transmitted. In other
words, routing decisions are made on a packet by
packet basis. Rajant does this by allowing each
BreadCrumb in the Mesh to track its own RF
environment, and its own traffic statistics. Each
BreadCrumb shares a small amount of
information with its immediate peers in a low-
overhead InstaMesh packet header. This
approach allows the network to make extremely
fast local decisions, and react immediately to
changing RF and network conditions. By
constantly adapting to local conditions, Rajant
Kinetic Mesh Networks have demonstrated highly
consistent performance in a dynamic
environment.
3D Laser Mapping has announced
SiteMonitorSV as the latest offering from its suite
of SiteMonitorsolutions. The system, which
builds upon the proven SiteMonitor4D system,
integrates advanced 3D laser scanning
technology with simple to use software, enabling
stockpiles to be monitored and managed safely
through automated cost effective means.
SiteMonitorSV provides up to date inventory
that reects current stock levels. Volume
measurements require regular surveys of the
same area followed by a comparison to a
reference plane or surface, which through
conventional methods is resource intensive and
therefore costly. The automation enabled
throughthe SiteMonitorSV system allows for
repetitive daily, weekly or monthly volume
surveys of stockpiles to be completed faster than
when using traditional survey methods.
Dean Polley, Regional Director for Africa at 3D
Laser Mapping, openly champions the credibility
of SiteMonitorSV: One of the great things about
this as a solution is its versatility SiteMonitorSV
can be mounted on conveyor structures, light
poles or any existing infrastructure. It really is a
cost effective, low maintenance and easy to use
solution.The visual representation resulting from
multiple scanners working together makes
SiteMonitorSV easy to measure and manage
stockpile volumes, creating an accurate
inventory.
The system, which uses a multi-axis laser
architecture to generate an accurate point cloud
will capture the full range of information and
regularly updates itself, thus ensuring an
accurate record of stock and movement. The
SiteMonitor collection provides specialist
systems, software and support solutions for the
mining industry and includes SiteMonitor4D,
SiteMonitorGS and now SiteMonitorSV.
ON Semiconductor says it is driving energy
efficient innovations by enhancing the charge-
coupled device (CCD) image sensor portfolio
recently acquired from Truesense Imaging with
new technology that improves imaging
performance for industrial applications.
The new KAI-08051 Image Sensor provides
improved light sensitivity, reduced read noise,
NOVEMBER 2014 | International Mining 00
 MINING SENSORS
and improved colour accuracy compared to the
previous generation device, expanding
opportunities for 8 megapixel image capture in
demanding imaging applications such as
industrial inspection in mines.
CCD image sensors continue to provide the
critical image quality required in many key
applications, said Chris McNiffe, Vice President,
Image Sensor Business unit at ON
Semiconductor. The enhanced performance
available from the new KAI-08051 Image Sensor
reflects our on-going commitment to improve the
capability of our existing products and to deliver
the industrys most advanced image sensors
using both CCD and CMOS technology.
The KAI-08051 Image Sensor shares the same
advanced 5.5 micron pixel architecture, 8
megapixel resolution, 15 frame per second
readout rate, and 4/3 optical format as the
existing KAI-08050 Image Sensor, but improves
key performance parameters through the use of
an improved amplifier design, newly optimised
microlens structure, and new colour filter
pigments in both Bayer and Sparse colour
configurations. The KAI-08051 is backward
compatible with the KAI-08050, requiring at most
minor modifications to the firmware used in
existing camera designs. This allows the new
image sensor to retain plug-and-play
interoperability with the full family of 5.5 micron
Interline Transfer CCD devices, enabling a single
camera design to support image sensors ranging
in resolution from 1 to 29 megapixels. The KAI-
08051 Image Senso is available in Monochrome,
Bayer Colour, and Sparse Colour configurations.
An evaluation kit is available that allows the
imaging performance of this new device to be
quickly and easily examined in detail without the
need to develop a full camera design.
The Trakka system from Dingo helps mines
organise and better visualise data from mining
assets. The company told IM: Commercially
viable sensors still dont accurately indicate the
severity of wear particles or contaminants that
are circulating within an engine or other
lubricated component. A heavy reliance on
sensors means people are neglecting the parts of
the machines that cant talk and often provide
the early warning signals to the failure modes
that ultimately the online sensors identify. Most
mines collect oil samples and inspect magnetic
plugs and filters to check their assets, but they
often neglect to make effective use of that
information and it is only when a sensor alert
triggers that they take action.
Trakka is a highly specialised proactive
maintenance system that is designed and
developed to run condition management
programs in asset-intensive industries. There are
two key differences between Trakka and other
systems. First and foremost, we focus on
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
maintaining the health of the asset versus simply
collecting and monitoring the data. Second, we
achieve this by bringing all of a customers asset
health data under one roof whether it comes
from the mine, the machine, or a third party
vendor. By analysing this seemingly disparate
data and looking at the complete picture, we can
quickly pinpoint the corrective work necessary to
keep the asset healthy and drive tangible cost
and productivity savings.
Key features that aid with data organisation
and visualization include customisable reporting
and dashboard which are available anytime and
anywhere; with seamlessly integration with ERP
systems. The user interface was specifically
created for end users in mining to optimise
usability and provide visibility across all
stakeholders in maintenance such as engineers,
planners, supervisors, technicians and
management.
Trakka also allows users to capture,
manipulate, and view the data to align it with
operations and maximise utility, such as having
mag plug, filter and oil information all in one
place. It has the ability to generate maintenance
work orders and notes and has an open issues
tracking system designed to drive issues to
resolution. It also incorporates a sophisticated,
rules-based decision-making engine built on a
wealth of industry expertise.
Its financial tracking capability quantifies the
value of the decisions being made and tracks this
over time. Finally, the system is extremely flexible
and allows for a high degree of customisation,
with alerts down to the component level if
needed
Dingo states that a number of its mining
customers currently use Trakka to manage all of
their asset health data, ranging from mobile
(trucks, dozers, and loaders) to field (draglines,
shovels, and drills) to fixed (processing plants,
crushing stations).
Summarising the offering, the company told
Graphic showing one of Dingo Trakka Component
Health dashboards (at the top) supported by a
detailed Component Trend report that leverages
multiple data types to provide a comprehensive
picture
IM: One of the challenges with the sensor
technologies is that they are generating a ton of
new information, and companies havent figured
out how to manage it or extract the value from it.
In response to this issue, we developed a
platform that unites the offline data (fluid
analysis, thermography, vibration, visual
inspections) with the exception reporting that
comes from the sensor data. This view provides
the customer with one, centralised decision-
making platform to proactively manage the
condition of their assets. Trakka is a cloud-based
tool that requires no additional hardware. Dingos
solution can be implemented and generating
results in weeks rather than months. We also
offer Condition Intelligence support, which is
conducted by a team of experts who analyse the
data to proactively identify issues and provide
clients with the corrective actions to quickly drive
issues to resolution.
Newmont has been leveraging the Dingo
solution to manage its condition data for a
number of years.Justin Harkness, Surface
Maintenance Planner at Newmonts Carlin mine
in Nevada states: With Trakka, I have the ability
to see all of the important information in one
place, which allows me to make better
maintenance decisions. The system also
integrates with our ERP system so that the
corrective maintenance work identified flows
directly into work orders. This type of end-to-end
solution drives efficiency and helps us keep the
focus on condition-- not just tasks. Since 2007,
the Dingo partnership with Newmont has saved
over $37 million through breakdown avoidance
and component life extension.
It is estimated that in the open-pit mining
environment approximately 65% of truck haulage

accidents are directly related to driver
fatigue or exhaustion. In response to
this, SAFEmine has developed patent-
pending FatigueMonitor, an innovative
solution that integrates data
from fatigue detection and
collision avoidance units to minimize
accidents involving mining vehicles.
FatigueMonitor helps operators maintain levels
of attention that are required during mining
operations, while providing the management with
driver fatigue profiles and traffic-related data.
Based on scientific research done by the
Universities of Zurich and Berne, intelligent
fatigue assessment algorithms are used to
estimate current driver fatigue levels and to
predict fatigue development. The blackbox
recording technology provides a reliable tool for
analysing incidents. FatigueMonitor is operator
friendly and does not require drivers to wear
additional equipment such as glasses or caps.
Traffic safety in the open pit can be
significantly enhanced by closely monitoring
vehicle movements, operator fatigue, and
operator distraction. SAFEmines FatigueMonitor
accomplishes this by integrating data from four
inputs: attention-level detection (PerClos),
vehicle dynamics (inertial sensors), body clock
(circadian rhythms), and individual traffic
behavior (from the Collision Avoidance System).
The FatigueMonitor back-end consists of a
comprehensive live web platform that provides
dispatchers with real-time fatigue analysis
associated with the entire fleet. In addition,
reporting services provide supervisors with
updates via email or text messages. When the
mine-management team is alerted that an
operator is experiencing early stages of fatigue,
they can dynamically manage and reassign
operators to maximize levels of safety and
efficiency within mining operations.
FatigueMonitor is a simple upgrade to any
existing SAFEmine Collision Avoidance System.
Thus, SAFEmine brings to market a solution
specially designed for the surface mining
environment that integrates physiological and
traffic data (both real-time and historical) to
prevent vehicle collisions and improve mine
efficiency.
Booyco Electronics state-of-the-art on-board
monitoring device is fitted to underground
mining equipment to measure a spectrum of
parameters that affect both equipment and
operator. These include detailed, accurate and
real-time data indicating the operating, standing
and idle hours of vehicles, the percussion
running hours of drill rigs and roof bolter
machines, as well as machine abuse.
The ability to monitor the percussion hours of
a piece of machinery provides management with
detailed information on how many hours the drill
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
FatigueMonitor from SAFEmine is operator
friendly and does not require drivers to wear
additional equipment such as glasses or caps
bit worked, as well as the actual production
hours of the machine when the percussion was
running and the amount of vibration to which the
operator was subjected.
To avoid driver fatigue, this innovative on
board monitoring technology can also be
configured to automatically shut down machines
at pre-set intervals and only allow them to be
restarted once the rest period is over.
Detailed reports of the various data are
accessed via a fixed reader connected to a fibre
optic backbone that is linked to a server on the
surface, or via a portable tablet or PC fitted with
a reader.
Measuring pH in flotation
With its significant influence on z-potential
process pH has a major impact on flotation
product quality, process yield, process efficiency
and chemical consumption. The accurate control
of pH however, says Mettler-Toldeo, has always
been a challenge due to the poor ability of pH
electrodes in dealing with the tough conditions
found in flotation cells. Advances in sensor
technology and intelligent automation of the
measurement point, enable accurate and
dependable pH measurement in the most
challenging process environments. From that
perspective, an investment in pH control is
extremely beneficial.
Mettler-Toledo notes that in order to
MINING SENSORS
overcome difficulties with the hostile
environment in flotation cells, sensor
manufacturers are very creative in their choice of
sensor design. It is possible to find pH electrodes
with a ceramic, plastic, rubber or even a wood
reference diaphragm. Still, their performance can
be severely limited as the colloidal particles and
sulphides interfere almost instantly with the
reference system. The sensors maintenance
requirement is therefore high, requiring very
frequent cleaning and calibration, and usually
sensor lifetime is short. So, it has designed the
InPro 4260i pH electrode with Xerolyt Extra
solid polymer electrolyte. The InPro 4260i does
not have a diaphragm and instead features an
open junction, which is an opening that allows
direct contact between the process medium and
the electrolyte. Contrary to the miniscule
capillaries of any other type of diaphragm in
conventional pH electrodes, the company
reports, the diameter of the open junction is
extremely large and much less susceptible to
clogging or fouling. Another significant difference
is in the choice of polymer electrolyte. Xerolyt
Extra has been designed specifically for service in
tough environments and provides a strong and
lasting barrier against sulphide poisoning. The
InPro 4260i pH electrode has proven to be
exceptionally resilient under flotation process
conditions and is extremely reliable, even after
months in service. A new, intelligent sensor
system goes beyond smart, by using the
information gathered to provide guidance for
sensor maintenance and replacement. That is,
maintenance becomes predictive rather than
periodic.
Intelligent Sensor Management (ISM) is
described as a revolutionary platform based on
sensors with embedded digital technology and
sets a new standard in pH management. The
integrated system consists of a digital sensor and
ISM-compatible transmitter. The key to the
technology is a
microprocessor which is
contained within the
sensor head and is
powered by and read
through the transmitter.
Critical sensor
information such as
identification, calibration
data, time in operation
and process environment
exposure are all
The state-of-the-art on-
board monitoring device
from Booyco is fitted to
underground mining
equipment to measure a
spectrum of parameters
that affect both
equipment and operator
 MINING SENSORS
recorded. The data is utilised to continuously
monitor the health of the sensor and using this
information recommend appropriate actions
based on actual sensor exposure. The adaptive
diagnostic information directs preventative
maintenance, thereby reducing downtime and
minimising plant operating costs. The output
signal of the electrode is digital rather than
analogue, safeguarding a reliable measurement
value under the toughest conditions. System
operation and user benefits at various stages of
operation include:
n Easy installation plug and measure
functionality
n Calibration pre-calibration, Adaptive
Calibration Timer
n Trouble-shooting enhanced diagnostics
n Sensor replacement Dynamic Lifetime
Indicator based on exposure history and
sensor aging
n Sensor management iSense Asset Suite
software.
Installation of a new pH electrode typically
requires a first step of calibration, using pH
buffer solutions and performing a two-point
calibration. In addition to being time consuming,
this critical step may need to be conducted
outdoors under adverse weather conditions, or
when exposed to an uncomfortable or hazardous
process environment. One particularly useful ISM
function is that electrodes can be calibrated
offline using iSense Asset Suite software via a
simple USB connection to a laptop or desktop
computer. This means electrodes can be pre-
calibrated in a convenient, comfortable location
such as the instrumentation workshop or
laboratory, and stored until they are required.
Such functionality eliminates the need to carry
cleaning agents and buffer solutions through the
plant to do on-site calibrations. Pre-calibrated
sensors carry all configuration data on the
integrated microprocessor and share it with the
transmitter immediately upon connection. This
avoids any possible configuration errors and
ensures the electrodes are immediately ready for
measuring.
Advanced diagnostics provide a continuous
flow of status and maintenance information to
the transmitter. Along with monitoring glass and
reference impedance, ISM basis its diagnostics
00 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2014
on actual process exposure history. By constantly
keeping track of process pH value, temperature
and operating hours, ISM calculates when sensor
calibration, cleaning or replacement will be
needed. Any maintenance requirement is
therefore recognised at an early stage. All data is
easily accessible through the transmitters user
interface. The same data is also available via
HART protocol, and on Foundation fieldbus or
Profibus networks.
A major advantage of ISM is sensor lifetime
monitoring. The ability to accurately forecast a
sensors remaining life decreases maintenance 1,000 m intervals to form a self-healing mesh
costs associated with unnecessary sensor
replacement and minimises unexpected process
shutdowns due to sensor failure.
Exposure to aggressive process conditions
directly impacts the lifetime of a chemical sensor.
High and very low pH values adversely affect pH
electrodes, as do elevated temperatures. Since
the pH electrode contains a temperature sensor
used for pH compensation purposes, historical
temperature exposure, pH values and other
process conditions can be used to forecast
remaining useful life. The Dynamic Lifetime
Indicator (DLI) uses a proprietary algorithm to do
just this. The DLI is displayed on ISMcompatible
transmitters and the iSense Asset Suite.
By continuously monitoring reference
impedance, pH glass impedance and temperature
exposure, the Adaptive Calibration Timer shown
on the transmitter, predicts when calibration is
next required in order to maintain measurement
reliability.
Gas sensors
Trolex in association with Strata Worldwide, has
announced the successful launch and MSHA
approval of its new Sentro Wireless Gas
Detection system. Sentro Wireless is the only
truly wireless gas detection system available in
the mining sector with no power or comms
cabling required at any point in the topology of
the system underground. This not only reduces
the purchase cost of the system through
eliminating expensive cabling, but it also
massively reduces installation, commissioning
and maintenance costs. The entire system is
battery-powered and consists of only two
elements: wireless sensors and wireless nodes.
Both sensors and nodes are simply hung or
mounted in convenient locations, allowing an
entire mine-wide gas detection system to be
installed and commissioned in a few hours.
Wireless nodes have a signal range of around 1
km and are distributed around the mine at 500 to
network that gives outstanding reliability and
speed of response. It also gives massive
improvements in flexibility, allowing systems to
be reconfigured and repositioned instantly and
without the need for expensive and time-
consuming cabling work. Battery life of the
sensors is 45 days even with infrared sensors for
methane and carbon dioxide monitoring
installed. The wireless nodes have a minimum
guaranteed battery life of 10 months. A full range
of toxic and hazardous area gasses can be
monitored. Sentro Wireless incorporates Sentro
eModule technology allowing quick and easy
calibration and replacement of sensors even in
hazardous areas. Battery replacement is also fast
and this means a sensor can be calibrated and
have new batteries installed in a matter of
seconds at the point of use.
True wireless sensor networks
In mining, live sensor data is critical for safety
and plays a paramount role in the efficiency of
mining and material handling. With new
emerging radio technologies such as chirp
spread spectrum, the ability to combine real-time
sensor data with precision real-time tracking has
become a reality. When considering the
requirements of a Wireless Sensor Network
(WSN) a two-way or bi-directional link is required
to receive data from sensors and also to be able
to push data back to them. Sensors are referred
to as nodes of the sensor network. The term tag
is used if the primary purpose of the sensor or
node is to track the person or the asset that it is
attached to. German company nanotron
Technologies told IM that it provides true real-
time tracking with the ability to continuously
monitor up to 3,000 objects between any two
readers spaced up to 500 m apart, with an
accuracy of 1-2 m, and an update or blink rate
of once every 10 seconds, whilst also providing a
real-time two-way data link to and from sensors.
The system is fully flexible, allowing smaller
numbers of objects to be located with a higher
update rate as required.
The system integrator deploys the fixed
readers also called anchors along tunnels, using
existing networking infrastructure as the data

With new emerging radio
technologies such as chirp
spread spectrum, the
ability to combine real-time
sensor data with precision
real-time tracking has
become a reality
backbone. Inside the control room a server is
used to run the nanotron location engine
software (nanoLES) which allows the tags and
sensor nodes to be located. In addition it
provides a standard way for all sensor data to be
received and for data and messages to be
pushed back to the tags. The central Mine Safety
and Productivity Application is created by the
system integrator and is customised according to
the functionality requirements of the mine
location. An application programming interface
provides system integrators with access to both
the tag location data and sensor data from
wireless nodes.It allows to also push data to the
nodes or tags.
The data gathered by the Central Mine Safety
and Productivity Application is made available to
all the different teams involved in running the
mine. There are several emerging applications for
wireless sensor data to be combined with precise
location information of the sensor even if it has
been moved or is mobile altogether. Tying the
physical location of the data source automatically
to the data provides radically new insight with
regards to managing the safety plan and the
production work-flow. One of the most important
situations to be able to detect quickly is when a
person is no longer moving. The ability to detect
this rapidly is vital in order to respond quickly. To
detect who is moving and who is not helps to
prioritize rescue efforts in the event of a serious
accident.
This functionality is accomplished by
combining a high-sensitivity 3D movement
sensor within a tag
placed for instance in the
cap-lamp. The data from
the 3D movement sensor
gets continuously
communicated by each of
the periodic tag blinks. If
several consecutive tag
blinks arrive with zero
movement readings or a
man-down signature has
been detected in the
movement pattern an
alarm can be triggered
to alert people in the
control room so they
are aware of the
problem.
Temperature or
gas sensors are
connected to the
network in the same way
regardless weather fixed
or mobile. A small radio
module is used by the
system integrator in
conjunction with the
sensor to report data and location to the server
in real time, using one and the same wireless
network. New developments in gas sensor
technologies are permitting the use of small,
high reliability gas sensors integrated inside the
cap lamp. Such smart cap-lamps can also use a
wireless module to allow gas events to be
recorded immediately at the control room.
Software systems can automatically make
decisions to evacuate sections by sending
evacuation messages to the cap lamps, whilst
alerting the rescue services. The attached image
shows the most recent model of German cap
lamp provider KSE Lights (see this months
feature on lighting for more info on KSE).
Data from vehicles and machines can be
visualised in the same way. For example oil
temperature, water temperature, exhaust
temperature or any other parameter can be sent
using the wireless sensor network, so that
vehicle service and maintenance can be better
organised according to a machines exact usage
pattern, distance travelled etc. It also allows for
vehicle usage to be optimised for the purpose of
dispatching and to improve material workflow in
the mine.
When deploying wireless sensor networks in a
mine, it is important to know when batteries
need recharging or replacement. Often sensor
nodes need to work for long periods of time
without maintenance. Nanotron says it provides
very low power radio modules capable of running
for more than one year from a single 1,200 mAh
cell. The module has the ability to send battery
MINING SENSORS
status information with every blink allowing the
control room to automatically schedule
maintenance. It is useful in general to be able to
push data from the server to a specific sensor,
perhaps to change a parameter or to issue a
warning to an operator of a danger. This
functionality is provided as part of the modules.
When a nanotron radio module is embedded into
a smart cap lamp, data from the server can be
used to issue a warning to mine workers for
example to make a short regular interruption in
the light to signal a problem,
or to send
a short
text
message.
For safety
related applications it is very
important to know if a message has
been correctly received by a specific tag or
node. It is possible each time a message
is transmitted from the server to a tag or
sensor node to send back a radio
confirmation acknowledging the message was
received. This message can be automatically
channelled to the nanoLES server interface so the
Central Mine Safety and Productivity Application
knows the received status.
The company The mine is rapidly evolving to
become an interconnected Wireless Sensor
Network (WSN), where data from hundreds of
nodes is processed centrally then made available
to different teams for correct management.
Nanotron has created a range of modules based
on their Chirp radio technology that combine bi-
directional wireless data with precision location.
They provide a modular approach to system
deployment with software interfaces allowing
mining system integrators to rapidly construct
very powerful mining applications that bring both
safety and return on investment productivity
rewards to their mining customers. IM
NOVEMBER 2014 | International Mining 00