Mining sites are presented with complexities of industrial varying operations, machinery, and tools for different procedures that require a large amount of energy, manpower, and precision to get good results. Mining is also the toughest industry globally, and because of that, it requires reliable and strong equipment to ensure the efficient and safe extraction of minerals and metals.

Air compressors are useful in all stages of open-cast mining and underground processes, from providing safer air ventilation to powering drillers. Miners require a mining industry camera to detect compressed air leaks efficiently. An acoustic imaging camera is a good example of such a solution.

Understanding Acoustic Cameras

They are cameras with a microphone array used to find sound sources, such as gas leaks and partial discharge detection. Some feature AI-driven algorithms, performance enhancements, and innovative architecture, making them suitable for detecting gas leaks, mechanical faults, and partial discharge. In addition, some support gas leak estimation, abnormal localization of sound field, and PD fault type identification. Generally, acoustic cameras excel at converting a sound wave into accurate visual data. This process encompasses the following steps:

• Data collection: Sensors record sound attributes, like detection time, intensity, and frequency, transmitting data to central processing units.
• User interface: Users can interact with visual representations, allowing analysis and identification of sound sources.
• Sound wave capture: Sensitive sensors or microphones are placed strategically to detect sounds from different directions, thus registering variations in intensity and timing.
• Visual representation: Acoustic cameras present processed data visually, usually as a sound image or map, to display sound intensity and sources through color shades or coding.
• Data processing: More advanced algorithms help to analyze data, determining accurate source location by simply comparing sound intensities and time delays.

How They Work

In place of lenses that ordinary cameras use to collect light, acoustic imagers use a microphone array to collect sound. Signals from all the microphones pass to sophisticated processing systems that work where sounds are coming from.

Processing systems use this data to create acoustic images. However, it is important to note two points. First, the sound that acoustic imagers pick up and process is ultrasonic frequencies, which are higher than those that human ears hear.

Second, the array can be more focused due to its many microphones, advanced processing techniques, and special arrangement, making it possible for the system to locate sound sources accurately.

The Role Acoustic Cameras Plays in the Mining Industry

As mentioned earlier, the mining sector involves many complex operational procedures, including transportation, extraction, screening, and crushing. The unfavorable mining conditions at the mines may result in more difficulties in on-site supervision and operation.

This is where acoustic imaging cameras come in handy. It makes supervision more effective and smarter while increasing overall efficiency and minimizing unnecessary downtime and losses. Here is how the cameras help miners in the industry:

• Processing monitoring: Protecting your employees in an open and expansive area, like a large pit, may pose many challenges. As a site manager, you must carry out continuous safety monitoring of the whole process. Through acoustic cameras, you can track the whole operational process by using control systems connected to different solutions at worksites. This provides more secure and efficient remote management with maximum online protection.
• Remote detection: Acoustic cameras capture changes in temperatures in critical equipment or environment, detecting risks, like burning materials following long-distance transportation. When the system detects excessive temperatures, it will trigger alarms immediately on central platforms, equipping you with helpful data for responses.
• Timely awareness of safety risks through AI: Acoustic cameras support and give real-time alerts on equipment and asset abnormalities in various mining operations. Often integrated with on-site videos and voice reminders, AI platforms help miners automatically and intelligently identify all potential failures and intervene early, significantly minimizing asset downtime.
• Improved decision-making through diverse reports and data: Varieties of reports are presented to miners with a high level of visibility, giving important information. This, in turn, helps miners to handle emergencies quickly and make informed decisions.

Improving Mining Operations through the Cameras

Mining remains among the most regulated sectors, and for good reason. Although the global demand for quality minerals is increasing rapidly, it is natural for us to look for the best ways to process and extract raw materials.

Today, thanks to new developments in mining equipment, miners may run autonomously. More advanced equipment performs many important operations in some situations, minimizing human and workforce safety concerns.

When miners run their operations with high autonomy through technology, acoustic cameras become more important. Although the operations run themselves most of the time, acoustic cameras can immediately identify and fix any issues that might arise.

Choosing and Buying Acoustic Cameras

Acoustic imaging solutions are not new to us. For instance, sound mapping solutions have been there for some years now, primarily focusing on quality control.

Recently, some brilliant manufacturers pushed forward great ways to use the technology for monitoring applications in the mining industry, making it difficult for us to choose and buy acoustic cameras. To help you choose and buy the right acoustic cameras, here are tips to look at:

1. Look at the Performance

With many cameras on the market, we have noted that sensitivity is not distributed equally among all brands. Every camera comes with different sensors, all varying in number, starting from 60 to 100.

2. Prioritize Reporting Software

It is a great experience to venture into mining sites with your cameras and identify and document air leaks. With reporting software, you will have a solution that will give you instructions to your repair team. The software must recall the compressor data and provide simple and shareable PDFs across various digital platforms.

3. Consider Battery Life

A realistic battery life from an acoustic camera must at least get us to the midday portion of our workday or even beyond that. This may mean a minimum of 4-5 hours from the beginning of the day to our lunch break. On a single charge, a good camera boasts a battery life of between 4 and 6 hours.

In conclusion, mines are dark, humid, and dusty. They have a higher level of vibrations, too, making them unfit for very sensitive equipment. That is why we need solutions, like acoustic cameras, to monitor mines and detect compressed air leaks or partial discharge.