A final report from the Ontario Mining Association’s (OMA) compressed air leak management program, Implementing a Sustainable Compressed Air Leak Program, indicates mines in Ontario are now better prepared to launch energy conservation programs.
“The sustainable air leak management project was a worthwhile and successful initiative,” concludes the report, which was funded in part by the OMA. “Now equipped with templates, leak tags, fact sheets, posters, case studies as well as monitoring equipment and metrics, the industry has moved the yard sticks on its ability to manage one of the most costly and inefficient draws on the bottom line.”
The participating mines saw almost immediate results in energy savings. Lessons learned include the recognition of the role that people and leadership play in saving energy; better use of equipment and instrumentation; and the development of new procedures and streamlined processes.
The three mines used an electronic model, which helped assess the magnitude of compressed air savings. The model will help other mining companies determine the status of their compressed air systems and develop a plan to get the most out of existing systems.
Some of the successes reported from the three pilot sites include: fixing one leak that allowed a 200-horsepower compressor to be shut down; instituting best practices into new mine development; building a culture of conservation at work; improved installation and maintenance of couplings; conservation measures that led to putting off the purchase of new compressors; and the benefits of baseline data to keep improving the system.
Ontario’s mining industry spends more than $500 million annually on energy, which represents between 15% and 30% of operating costs at various mining operations. Compressed air consumption can represent between 20% and 40% of those costs.
All OMA members will receive a copy of the report and a workshop is being planned for the fall.
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