KEEPING A LID ON LEAKS

COMPRESSED AIR LEAKS CAN WREAK HAVOC ON A MINE SITE. LUCKILY, FLIR HAS A SOLUTION.

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Air compressors are widely used in the mining industry, especially in the underground sector. Underground mining employs a wide range of drilling methods, which are heavily reliant on compressed air systems to flush debris and cuttings.

Air compressor systems also play a large part in blasting, producing high-velocity streams that trigger explosives safely.

In fact, they have become such a staple in the mining industry that they can be found in almost every corner of a mine.

But while compressed air has made mining safer and more efficient, it is not without its challenges.

Compressed air systems can be prone to leaks, which can drive up a mine’s energy costs due to wasted air. In fact, a compressed air system can lose 25–30 per cent of their air to leaks.

In response, FLIR Systems, a Teledyne Technologies company, has engineered a solution: acoustic imaging cameras.

“To meet the mining industry’s challenges, mining companies can turn to technology with a particular emphasis on condition monitoring,” FLIR said.