It pays to do the right thing - New Compressor Management System from Sandvik
How can you help the environment while saving money? Sandvik Mining and Construction has developed a new Compressor Management System (CMS) that helps your blasthole drill rig do just that – by managing the volume of air required at all times, so that the compressor runs at full volume only when needed. Yet, full productivity is still delivered, with less expense on fuel, and fewer emissions into the atmosphere.
Drayton Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley Region of New South Wales, Australia, is an enthusiastic user of the system. The mine is saving 48 l/h (12.6 US gal/hr), reducing the average engine load factor from 78% to 53%. Several recent shifts have even set a productivity record while using CMS; operators are thrilled with the system.
The Compressor Management System will be an option on new Sandvik drills, starting with deliveries after May 1, 2011, but machines currently in the field can realize the immediate benefits as CMS is also offered as a retro-fit kit as well.
To ensure a proper roll-out for what is sure to be a popular retrofit, the system components and installation will be available to all customers with low-pressure Sandvik blasthole machines in Australia starting February 1, and in the rest of the world starting March 31.
The CMS concept is simple and intuitive, using "intelligent" implementation with a Programmable Logic Controller to drastically cut fuel consumption during tramming, setup and pipe handling, with the added benefit of allowing for cool shut-downs of the drill. When the drill is drilling, the system delivers precise air volume to meet flushing needs.
The result? Obviously it will depend on the drill, but the initial installation delivers total fuel savings up to 40%. Less engine load also means lower service costs, higher rig utilization, longer engine and compressor lives, and infrastructure savings. And it could represent a carbon savings of up to 40% a year for each year of service with CMS.
Let Sandvik Mining and Construction demonstrate the fuel savings when CMS is installed on your blasthole rig with the Sandvik Fuel Consumption calculator. Contact your local Sandvik representative to determine how much CMS can work to your benefit, and why it pays to do the right thing with Sandvik.
For further information, please contact:
Grant Field
Automation Product Line Manager
Surface Mining
Mobile: +61 400 701 815
E-mail: grant.field@sandvik.com