Oil-condition sensors can save miners money
2 Feb 2012
London – Unexpected equipment failure and unplanned down-time significantly impacts on operational costs throughout the mining industry.
Over the last year Tan Delta has been working in partnership with a distributor and one of its [unnamed] customers to evaluate the benefits of fitting real time oil condition monitoring systems.
Tan Delta fitted its oil quality sensors to a variety of critical heavy mining equipment. The sensors monitored the real-time condition of the oil whilst the equipment was in operation and provided total clarity of the deterioration trend of the oil.
The system immediately alerted the operators to any oil wear or contamination and therefore enabled them to take action to prevent any consequential equipment failure, according to Chris Greenwood, managing director of Tan Delta.
“The operators were also provided with a constantly updated oil wear and condition trend line which enabled them to accurately predict the optimum time for servicing,” said Greenwood.
“The result was a measurable reduction in equipment failures, the associated costs and improved efficiency through the development of a dynamic servicing schedule,” the MD added.
The sensors employ a patented technology, engineered, tested and certified for use in extreme operational environments, said Tan Delta technical director, Rick Booth. This, he said, provides a precise statement on the condition of any oil in real time.
“Due to our technology we estimate that our sensors are on average over 60 times more sensitive than any other product available on the market today,” claims Booth.
