© Stock.Adobe.com/au/Dusko
EDGE COMPUTING UNEARTHING NEW VALUE FOR MINING AND METALS APPLICATIONS
The mining and metals industries are embracing digital transformation, including IIoT technology and concepts, to achieve new levels of production efficiency.
I
n addition to fluctuating demand for extracted commodities, the mining and metals industries face several new challenges, namely balancing profitability and production efficiency while managing sustainability and minimising environmental impact. These industries are embracing the digital transformation journey, which includes incorporation of IIoT technology and concepts so data can be leveraged to achieve new levels of production efficiency. Gathering, storing and analysis of production and machine data form the building blocks in this strategy and are integral to the implementation effectiveness. Mining, like many other industrial sectors, generates large volumes of data. Much of the initial IIoT discourse focused on cloud computing, which meant that large quantities of raw data would be dispatched to cloud-based data lakes, analysed and used in optimisation algorithms to drive real-time decision-making.
16 PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - NOVEMBER 2021
Naturally, mining operations are often distributed throughout many remote locations with limited infrastructure, and this presents some connectivity challenges. When factoring in cloud architecture, data costs and latency, a pure cloud computing solution may not be the best answer to realise the full potential of digital transformation.
Process overview Mining and metals processing operations consist of many areas with opportunities for improvements through automation and data gathering (Figure 1). Sometimes the automation and communication platforms are delivered as part of OEM machinery or equipment skids, while other times they are ‘stick built’ with equipment and systems constructed in the field. PLCs play an important role in almost every area and may include local HMIs. Remote terminal units (RTUs) are also widely used, providing some functionality similar to PLCs and adding remote connectivity features. Increasingly, systems incorporate intelligent field devices like variable frequency drives (VFDs) that can supply extensive operational and diagnostic data. Larger processing areas may rely on a DCS and plant-wide operations may be monitored by a SCADA system.
www.ProcessOnline.com.au
