Mining Company Ups the ROI
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
- Sensors - Level Sensors
- Mining
- Field Services
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
At Los Pelambres, 55 Komatsu mining trucks play a critical role in the mining of copper and other minerals. These super-large dump trucks, used to move the copper along the different processing centers, are known throughout the industry for their reliability and are often used in remote and difficult applications. In an effort to maximize asset utilization, the mine adopted a fast refueling system that would reduce refueling time from 25 to approximately 5 minutes.
This initiative to improve operations came with an unexpected series of issues that offset the intended goal. Specifically, the rupture of the factory-installed fuel sensors due to pressure. Without a working fuel sensor, drivers had to guess when it was the right time to refuel and could only estimate how much fuel actually needed to be added back into the tank.
Los Pelambres
Los Pelambres is a copper mine located in Salamanca, Chile, and owned in part by Antofagasta Minerals. The mine is the seventh largest producer of copper in the world and sits at an elevation of over 3,000 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains. More than 365,000 tons of copper are transported every year through 50 square kilometers of uneven terrain.
The solution selected at Los Pelambres was developed by Tarco LTDA, a Chilean integrator that specializes in developing custom tracking and monitoring solutions for the mining industry. The PCR 1000—Tarco’s state-of-the-art remote fuel monitoring system—constantly monitors tank levels and transmits tank-level data as well as other vehicle telematics data back to a centralized application in real-time using ORBCOMM’s IDP-782 terminal.
Since mining trucks operate in remote areas, satellite connectivity is a must to ensure the timely and consistent delivery of data. The IDP-782 transmits data over the cellular network when available and automatically switches to a satellite data service when cellular is down for uninterrupted connectivity. The ruggedized, fuel monitoring system is capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions, including heat, cold, water, dust, altitude, and vibration.
To solve the refueling issues, ORBCOMM’s IDP-782 dual-mode terminal continuously collects, processes, and transmits data from the truck
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