SAFETY
IIMAGING T
Kathrin Geisler discusses Ex-protected mobile thermal imaging in the mining industry
he issue of competitiveness is increasingly important in modern mining operations. To produce cost-effi ciently at the highest
level and to constantly maintain the equipment, mining operations depend on eff ective and reliable machinery, infrastructure and mainly, on a higher level, an outstanding networked system. In addition to the most important issue of all, employee safety, the topic of predictive maintenance is high on the agenda. A plant failure not only entails high costs, but in the worst case can also have catastrophic consequences for the safety of the staff .
THE IMPORTANCE OF THERMAL IMAGING Fortunately, nowadays fi res and explosions in mining have been greatly reduced by the highest safety standards. Today, the number of incidents caused by electrical ignition sources is low, and they mainly occur in coal mines with heavy coal dust exposure. Mining companies rely on thermal camera technology in a wide range of maintenance areas to detect any potential heat generation and therefore potential explosion hazards in most environmental conditions.
APPLICATION RANGE OF IMAGING TECHNOLOGY As the conditions in mining are generally dusty, all special equipment must not
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only be ATEX/IECEx explosion-proof but also certifi ed for mining use. T ermal imaging technology is used in the mining sector both with fi xed cameras and with mobile cameras to detect any heat energy. T e areas of application range from monitoring and inspection of shafts, conveyor systems, engines of machines but also of trucks used for the transport of metals or minerals, compressors to deposits and for industrial cables. On the forefront, the drillheads are therefore protected from overheating. In coal mining in particular, the stored coal must also be constantly thermally monitored so that spontaneous combustion cannot occur.
An expert in intrinsically safe mobile devices and solutions,
i.safe Mobile, recently introduced an attachable thermal imaging camera with ATEX/IECEx approval for mobile use in the mining sector. In combination with the industrial smartphone IS530.M1 (via the Seek T ermal app), the thermal imaging camera module IS-TC1A. M1 records temperatures in the Ex-range from -40°C to 330°C in a matter of
The IS-TC1A. M1 from
i.safe Mobile
NNOVATION The M1 product line
is proving popular for mining applications
seconds. T e thermal images and videos are processed and documented directly via the ISM interface of the IS530.M1 smartphone. T rough the fl exible use of mobile thermal imaging technology in combination with a wide range of digital partner solutions, alarming results can be forwarded immediately and problems can be resolved before a serious crisis situation arises. T e devices in the M1 product line
are popular in the mining sector due to their very high level of safety. T e product suite is complemented by the IS930.M1 tablet and a high-performance scanner, IS-TH1xx. M1.
Kathrin Geisler is with
i.safe Mobile.
www.isafe-mobile.com.
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