Compressed air alternative solutions: Challenges encountered in deep level mining

DSM interventions usually require the upgrade of old technology, and/or the installation of new, more energy efficient equipment. Changes to the existing equipment will usually affect the entire mining process, whether it is directly or indirectly. Resistance to change and the structure of existing inspection protocols increase the difficulty of implementing new alternatives. The benefits of the new technology has to be weighed against the effects it will have on the existing system in order to determine the feasibility. To overcome some of the human-driven obstacles, a systematic approach is often followed to move away from compressed-air dependent systems. In compressed-air systems, a pressure reduction where feasible will in turn reduce compressed-air production costs. These projects can be costly exercises, and therefore high-pressure low-flow requirements are often identified and replaced by more efficient alternatives. Apart from the human reaction to the new interventions, operating and maintenance costs are often overlooked during the implementation phase of the project. This affects the potential savings of the project further down the five year lifecycle of DSM projects. To mitigate the various problems encountered, certain measures must be put in place to ensure that the interventions are sustainable and correctly serviced. When proper maintenance schedules are in place and compressed-air alternative solutions are included in inspection and maintenance protocols, project performance will be more sustainable.