Implementing a Tracking and Ventilation Control System

1
Implementing a Tracking and Ventilation Control
System

• Anton Meyer
• Senior Engineer
• Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
• Carlin, Nevada, USA

2
Introduction

• Recent mine accidents have highlighted the need
  to track and communicate with personnel
  underground
• New Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) regulations
  will require better management of mobile
  equipment and underground mine ventilation
  systems
• Rising energy costs mandate some type of energy
  management system
• Improved communication will lead to a safer, more
  productive mine

3
Barrick Goldstrike Location
4
Barrick Goldstrike Property
Truckshop/Admin
Mill/Autoclave
Betze-Post Pit
Roaster
Rodeo
Meikle
5
The Extent of the Mine
6
Underground Mine Long Section
Meikle Production Shaft
Rodeo Shaft
Betze Portal

• Main Shafts/Airways
• Meikle Production Shaft (intake)
• Meikle Exhaust Shaft and Borehole
• Rodeo Shaft (intake)
• Rodeo Exhaust Shaft
• Betze Portal

7
Main Exhaust Fans
Meikle Exhaust Fans 2x Centrifugal, 1300kW,
Fixed Speed, Adjustable Inlet Vanes. 1x
Centrifugal, 520kW, Fixed Speed, Adjustable Inlet
Vanes.
Rodeo Exhaust Fans 2x Axi-Vane, 2.74m,
1120kW, Variable Speed 0-1200rpm.
Total Air Exhausted 1080m3/s (2.1 million cfm)
8
Typical Booster Fan Installation
Fan sizes vary from 75 to 375kW
Booster Fans installed in bulkhead
9
Typical Auxiliary Fan Installation
Auxiliary Fan installed in drift
10
Typical Air Regulator Installation
Regulator Actuator
11
Mine Monitoring Control System

• GE Fanuc CIMPLICITY HMI
• A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
  (SCADA) system, or Human Machine Interface (HMI)
• Interface with Process Controllers (PLCs) and
  other devices
• Provides Visual Display of all fixed plant at the
  mine
• Logging and Trending of data Alarms Reports
• Micromine PITRAM Dispatch System
• Mine Dispatch System to track, store and report
  underground activities
• Data Acquisition module to capture data during
  shift
• SQL Server 2005 database
• DOME web-based reporting application
• Communication Networks and Systems
• A-B Data Highway Plus (fiber optic and twisted
  pair) for PLCs
• Ethernet (wireless underground in some areas)
• LonWorks Digital Network for gas and ventilation
  monitoring
• Modbus for power monitoring devices
• Leaky Feeder for voice/radio

12
Existing Control Systems
Limited interaction between systems
Ethernet, DH Lonworks
13
Overview of CIMPLICITY HMI System
14
Refrigeration Plant Overview
15
Fan Monitoring and Control
16
Ventilation Monitoring and Control
Main Fans
Air Flows
Gas Monitors
Air Doors
Booster Fans
17
Ventilation Monitoring and Control
Booster Fan
Gas Monitors
Auxiliary Fan
Air Flow
18
Mobile Load Center

• Twelve 480V Circuits
• Individual Pilot Checks
• Circuit Breaker Monitors
• Allen-Bradley SLC-5/04 PLC
• Interface to DH Control Network
• Remote Control of Underground Fans

19
Remote Fan Control from MLC
Remote Fan Control
20
Required Improvements

• Communicate with miners underground in the event
  of an emergency
• Track miners to determine their location in the
  event of an emergency
• Track vehicles in the mine in order to control
  ventilation, control access to mining areas,
  locate vehicles
• Monitor and control DPM by adjusting ventilation
  where possible
• Reduce power consumption by shutting off fans in
  areas of no activity
• Upgrade Mine Dispatch System to leverage new
  features and allow better integration with Mine
  Control System

21
2007/2008 Enhancements

• Personal Emergency Device (PED)
• A one-way through-the-earth emergency
  notification system for personnel and mobile
  equipment
• Wireless LAN
• Extend Ethernet LAN to underground with Wireless
  Access Points (WAPs) at strategic locations
• Cap Lamps (ICCL)
• Integrated Communication Cap Lamps (ICCL) with
  PED receiver and Wi-Fi tag for tracking
• Vehicle Interface and Tracking
• Wi-Fi tags on vehicles to track location
• Interface with mobile equipment to upload
  critical engine performance data and payload data
• Energy Management System
• Interface with Mine Control and Data Systems to
  provide Ventilation-on-Demand
• PITRAM Dispatch Version 3
• Upgrade to new version of PITRAM with DOME
  Reporting

22
Mine Control System
The Mine Management Systems all work together
using the available input data (from sensors,
tags, other devices) and other support data (SQL
data, eAM, EPS) to manage the various output
devices (fans, regulators, pumps, etc.).
Components used with permission from BESTECH
23
Personnel and Vehicle Tracking

• Wi-Fi 802.11b tags are installed in cap lamps and
  on mobile equipment
• Wireless Access Points (WAPs) installed in the
  mine detect the tags
• Tag data is logged in a SQL database and
  displayed on screens showing tag location
  (AeroScout Engine with MobileView)
• Zone Display Units mounted locally show tag names
  and numbers detected in the area
• Tracking data can be used for access control,
  time and attendance, vehicle location, fan
  control, etc.

24
802.11b Wi-Fi Tags
Miners Cap Lamp Integrated Communications Cap
Lamp (ICCL)
Tag for mounting on a vehicle
Tag located inside Miners Cap Lamp
25
Wireless Access Point
Remote Antenna
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
Hybrid Copper/Fiber Cable
26
Mine Local Area Network Layout
27
Typical Layout of Underground Level

• WAP installed at Shaft Station
• WAP installed near Powder Magazine and Shotcrete
  Plant
• WAP installed near Backfill Plant and Ramp
  intersection
• Install Exciters to determine location of tags
  more precisely

Ramp to S Meikle
Ramp to other levels
Ramp to S Meikle
Meikle 1075 Level
28
AeroScout Tag Configuration
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AeroScout Asset (Tag) Locator
30
Ventilation Control System

• Underground ventilation is monitored
• Air Flow, Air Direction, Oxygen, CO, CO2, NO2,
  SO2, NH3, and Air Wet Bulb and Dry Bulb
  Temperatures
• Auxiliary and Booster fans are monitored in real
  time and can be controlled remotely from HMI
• Equipment engine monitoring will allow real time
  machine performance to be monitored by
  maintenance personnel
• Integrating the above systems with vehicle
  location information (tracking system) can
  produce a Ventilation-on-Demand solution using
  an Energy Management System, such as Bestech NRG-1

31
Energy Management System

• The Bestech NRG-1 Suite consists three modules
• Time of Day Scheduling module
• Real Time Control module
• Event-based module
• NRG-1 features include
• Centralized management and control of booster and
  auxiliary fans
• Secure online interface through a web browser
• Integration with existing automation
  infrastructure, such as PLCs
• Reduces energy costs by controlling energy
  intense assets (such as fans) during shift
  change, and other periods of reduced activity
• Increased revenue by scheduling routine tasks to
  optimize production schedule

32
Energy Management System
Modes configured to shut down auxiliary fans at
shift change (Time of Day Scheduling)
33
Ventilation-on-Demand (VOD)

• Typical scenarios for a Ventilation-on-Demand
  System
• Auxiliary Fans are stopped automatically at shift
  change (Time of Day Scheduling module)
• Increased CO gas readings detected after a blast
  can re-start Auxiliary Fans in the area (Event
  Based module)
• Equipment or personnel tags detected in an area
  can trigger Auxiliary Fans to start, or adjust
  air flows using regulators or adjustable pitch
  fans (Event Based module)
• If equipment and personnel leave an area, and no
  tags are detected for 10 minutes, Auxiliary Fans
  can be stopped (Event Based module)
• When ventilation changes need to be effected on a
  level Dispatcher can stop selected fans on the
  level and put them offline (Real Time module)

34
PITRAM 3 with DOME

• PITRAM is a Mine Production Management and
  Control system that allows the mine to record,
  monitor and control production activities in real
  time
• A PITRAM System includes
• A real-time control room Data Acquisition
  application
• A Table Maintenance tool to manage reference data
  
• A Shift Processing facility to upload shifts to
  the PITRAM Data Warehouse
• An Event Editor to modify recorded data
• PITRAM 3 utilizes SQL Server 2005 to allow
  multiple concurrent Data Acquisition
• PITRAM Automation utilizes ruggedized on-board
  computers with touch screens for Data Acquisition
• PITRAM Mobile also interfaces with engines to
  gather engine performance data
• Equipment location and engine performance data
  used by NRG-1 to adjust ventilation accordingly
• DOME Reporting provides for automated extraction
  of data from various sources with Web-based
  reporting tools

35
Progress to Date

• PED Emergency Notification installed and in use
• ICCL (cap lamps) with PED and Wi-Fi Tags
  purchased and in use
• Several WAPs (15) installed and configured
• AeroScout Engine and MobileView installed and
  configured to track tags
• NRG-1 Suite installed and configured for
  Time-of-Day scheduling to control auxiliary fans
  at shift change
• Vehicle tags and AutoPED units purchased not
  installed
• PITRAM3 upgrade completed

36
Remaining Tasks for 2008

• Purchase/install additional WAPs for remaining
  levels, main intersections, footwall drifts and
  other mining areas
• Install the Wi-Fi tags on all vehicles (about
  150)
• Mine Site Technologies developing output driver
  for AeroScout tag data for use by NRG-1, PITRAM3,
  and other users
• Configure NRG-1 for Event-based control to
  control auxiliary fans and air flow regulators
  based on presence of tags
• Purchase/install engine dataloggers on main
  production fleet for real-time engine performance
  data
• Purchase/install DPM monitors (when available)
  for area monitoring
• Integrate tracking data, engine performance data,
  DPM data, and ventilation data for
  Ventilation-on-Demand

37
Mine Control Room Philosophy
Total Mine Control System
38
Concluding Remarks

• Enhanced communication with miners, vehicles and
  fixed equipment leads to improved safety and
  productivity
• Real time tracking of miners and vehicles
• Quicker response in the event of mine emergencies
• Access control
• Ventilation control
• Vehicle engine performance monitoring
• Dust, DPM and temperature control
• Energy management