SAFETY
HOW DOES THE TECHNOLOGY WORK?
Te system uses a multi-stage filtration process comprised of two pre-cleaning filters and two high-flow HEPA filters for particle separation. Te two pre- cleaning elements protect the HEPA filters from heavy dust exposure to prolong filter life. Te system works by first passing air
continuously monitored both inside the vehicle and remotely via telemetry. “Te mining industry has recognised the issues of dust ingress and recently implemented the new standard for vehicular cabin air quality, ISO 23875,” continues Gleadhill. “Te key benefits of SAFEair listed above are directly called for by the standard to ensure high level filtration of both outside and recirculated air, high cabin pressure, fast removal of residual dust within
through a cyclonic dust ejection system that filters out heavy dust particles and then through a second pre-cleaning filter to remove coarse dust particles. Two stages of HEPA filters then eliminate 99.995% of sub-micron particles to achieve full cabin air exchange within 20 seconds. As well as filtering outside air entering the cabin, the SAFEair product also draws and filters air from within the cabin to ensure a dust-free environment. Te HEPA-filtered air then re-enters the vehicle cabin via the air vents into the operators’ breathing zone, while also allowing some air to escape the system for fresh air exchange. Ultimately, the system provides hospital- grade air at ambient CO2
levels that are
the cabin and fresh air exchange for CO2 abatement.” According to Gleadhill the system
offers advantages that he believes cannot be found on other comparative OEM or
The system delivers ISO-compliant filtration
aftermarket filtration systems. “In addition to overall system performance, controls and telemetry set SAFEair apart,” he says. “System condition can be monitored directly on dash displays or remotely via wireless, satellite or 4G to any device, including mobile apps. Mining sites find this to be an amazing predictive maintenance and OHS tool, the system displaying and transmitting data such as temperatures, pressures, gas and dust levels, location and full air conditioning parameters, to name a few. Likewise, the system can be adjusted and maintained remotely, often eliminating a requirement for live works.” Alongside improving the safety
conditions for the operators inside the cabin, the system also helps to protect the vehicles and their components from mining dusts. For instance, the HEPA level filtration of recirculated air protects air conditioning
Operators are fitting out their fleet with
Freudenberg’s solution
components such as fans and evaporative coils from dust-related damage. In many cases, this can lead to considerably reduced maintenance costs that ultimately outweigh the upfront cost of installing and upkeeping the system. “A lot of work we do is on vehicles without operators, with our systems being used to protect electrical control units on autonomous vehicles,” Gleadhill explains. “A recent example was the fit out of over 200 CAT 793 haul trucks that were having major maintenance and cost concerns through dust fouling their autonomous controls. Dust-related maintenance drops to zero with SAFEair.”
Tis not only has positive ramifications for maintenance costs, but also helps to improve on-site safety through ensuring the vehicles’ autonomous controls are functioning correctly. He adds, “High voltage cabinets on electric drive trucks is also a major focus for us, and we are fitting out many models, including those of Komatsu and Terex. Again, the relatively minimal cost far outweighing the downtime cost encountered by operators of these machines due to dust ingress.” In terms of compatibility, Freudenberg has a large and continually expanding data base covering most major OEM equipment within the mining sector, Gleadhill says. As a result, the system is compatible with equipment ranging from light vehicles and underground equipment to the largest dozers, haul trucks, draglines and excavators.
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