Case Study: Implementation of SL2010 Underground Mine Telemetry System at a Platinum Mine in South Africa
Project Overview
The SL2010 Underground Mine Telemetry System was implemented at a platinum mine in South Africa. The project was undertaken by Sperosens, leveraging EnOcean products supplied by Holders Technology.
Client Profile
The client is a globally renowned mining company known for extracting ore from extremely deep hard rock mines. Their operations require precise and real-time environmental monitoring to ensure safety and efficiency in such challenging conditions.
Design Brief
The primary goal was to develop a system that could monitor and record real-time environmental data from all active mining areas. Key parameters to be tracked included toxic gases, smoke, heat, humidity, ventilation velocity, and fire system statuses. This comprehensive monitoring was essential for ensuring the safety of the mine’s operational environment, given the hazardous conditions present underground.
Initial Challenges
One of the most significant initial challenges was the harsh environment of the mine, located more than 4km underground. The lack of power sources for sensors and the regular expansion of the mine necessitated a flexible and scalable telemetry system. The sensors and communication systems had to be resilient enough to operate in this extreme environment without a dedicated power supply.
Key Project Challenges
The project faced several critical challenges:
- Robust Communication: The telemetry system needed to provide low-bandwidth communication over very long distances, with power and communication signals sharing the same cores in a common mine power cable.
- Extended Range: The system required a communication and power distribution range of over 10km to cover the expansive mine.
- Scalability: With the mine’s continuous expansion, the telemetry system needed to grow in a free topology manner, allowing for seamless integration of additional sensors and components.
Solutions Provided by Holders Technology
Holders Technology supplied a Smartserver IoT Edge Server equipped with an MQTT and Lonworks PL20 interface. This solution met the stringent requirements for robust communication and scalability in a challenging underground environment.
Implementation and Results
Sperosens successfully installed the telemetry system, overcoming the project’s significant challenges. The Smartserver IoT Edge Server facilitated reliable, long-distance communication and seamless power distribution within the mine. The free topology capability allowed the system to expand easily as the mine grew.
The EnOcean Smart Server IoT, supplied by Holders Technology, played a critical role in the SL2010 Underground Mine Telemetry System at a platinum mine in South Africa. Designed for extreme environments, the Smart Server IoT facilitated long-distance communication and power distribution, ensuring reliable real-time monitoring of key environmental factors such as toxic gases, ventilation, and fire system statuses. Its scalable design allowed seamless integration of new sensors as the mine expanded, enhancing safety and operational efficiency in this challenging setting. This solution has since been adopted across multiple hard rock mines in South Africa, proving its reliability in the mining industry.
Client Success
The successful deployment of the SL2010 Underground Mine Telemetry System brought several benefits to the client:
Real-time Monitoring: The system provided comprehensive and real-time environmental data, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Scalability: The system’s ability to expand with the mine’s growth ensured long-term utility and adaptability.
Industry Adoption: The success of this system led to its adoption in most hard rock underground mines in South Africa, showcasing its reliability and effectiveness.
Post-Installation Support
While no additional post-installation services such as maintenance contracts or analytics were provided, the robust design and implementation ensured that the system continued to perform optimally, meeting the client’s needs without requiring further intervention.
Stakeholders
The major stakeholders in this project included Sperosens, responsible for the implementation, and Holders Technology, which supplied the critical EnOcean products necessary for the system’s success.
Conclusion
The implementation of the SL2010 Underground Mine Telemetry System at the platinum mine in South Africa stands as a testament to the robust and scalable solutions of EnOcean Technology. Through the collaboration with Sperosens, the project successfully addressed the challenges posed by the harsh underground environment, delivering a reliable and effective telemetry system that enhances safety and operational efficiency in the mining industry.