To ensure a ventilation solution that fits the operational and organizational demands of different clients,
ABB Ability™ Ventilation Optimizer is configured in three implementation levels.
The first involves centralized supervision and control from ABB Ability™ System 800xA Operator workplaces, meaning equipment can be remotely started and stopped from the control room, and scheduled, negating the need for personnel to venture hundreds of kilometers underground to start a fan.
Level two makes use of more information that is available. For example, tracking on demand functionality allows us to assess the significant differences in ventilation demands from electric and traditional diesel vehicles – control is of major importance in a combined hybrid fleet.
We use that information to ventilate where clean air is needed and in the correct quantities. Subsequently we can adjust the mine-wide ventilation system based on the current air flow levels.
Level three utilizes sensor feedback and advanced multivariable control technology to govern and optimize air flows and quality in the entire mine, while minimizing energy consumption in real time.
Level three involves fully automatic, closed loop ventilation. Algorithms calculate the optimal set points of the fans and the regulators depending on demand. The flow sensors then tell us how well we did, and we can update the algorithm depending on that initial measurement.
Boliden employed
ABB Ability™ Ventilation Optimizer at its Garpenberg mine in Sweden; energy consumption by fans fell by approximately 900kW, which equates to a reduction of around 40 per cent.
At Garpenberg, they have VoD level two up and running, and level three. We are also working with LKAB. They are putting a lot of effort into transitioning to an electric fleet, autonomous driving and increasing productivity by 50 per cent. LKAB has a thousand fans underground, and so VoD is a major part of that transition from an energy point of view.