Home > Mining > View from the Top

Reducing Energy Expenses for Operators

Bernardo Salcido - Técnica Salgar
Director General

STORY INLINE POST

Wed, 10/19/2016 - 11:11

share it

Q: How has mining’s energy-intensive nature influenced Técnica Salgar's decision to invest in the sector?

A: In mining activities, the energy expenses represent a high percentage of the total production cost, reaching shares as high as 48 percent in some mining facilities. Técnica Salgar recognized the potential of energy efficiency to increase the competitiveness of the mining industry, which encouraged the company to invest in the creation of tailored energy management solutions. The Cananea mine in Sonora became the first customer that we supported by improving its energy practices. The vast extension of the mines’ infrastructure and operations entails the performance of analyses across many areas in order to identify specific energy needs. Using this strategy, Técnica Salgar has been able to identify the sections in which the implementation of energy efficient solutions might be the most effective such as in the pumping or leaching processes. The opportunities created by the Energy Reform include the development of renewable projects, as in the case of Industrias Peñoles’ wind farm, and the installment of cogeneration systems such as the two 250MW generators in Cananea.

Q: How has Técnica Salgar entrepreneurial spirit revolutionized the energy efficiency industry?

A: We have stood at the forefront of innovation in the sector by being the first company in Mexico to develop an automatic harmonic filter. A few years ago, Técnica Salgar also developed a filter for mining shovels that was extremely successful, and to date it is a flagship product for the company. Furthermore, Técnica Salgar remains the sole manufacturer of high-voltage reactors in Mexico, another popular product for the mining industry. The demand for this kind of reactor has been increasing as the interest for cogeneration projects rises in the sector. An interesting product that Técnica Salgar offers to the mines is the winch filter, which utilizes a regenerative brake to produce power while the winch is being raised. In this case, early communication with the mine is important as the equipment used in the winch must comply with certain characteristics in order to work properly and must eliminate the use of internal capacitors or power electronic devices.

Q: What kind of solutions does Técnica Salgar offer for avoiding energy losses in the mining industry?

A: Técnica Salgar has different technological solutions for avoiding heat losses in power generation equipment. These also achieve considerable energy savings, and have been certified by IIE, CFE’s specialty unit of engineering, and IPN. To award the certification, the institutes measured the energy consumption of different devices in a manufacturing plant in San Juan del Rio before and after using the energy efficiency solutions. The results showed energy savings of 7.8 percent, a rate that would represent considerable savings for a company consuming significant amounts of energy.

We have worked on a number of successful projects in the mining industry including Cananea, Nacozari, Saucito, and Náica. A flagship project is Industrias Peñoles’ mine La Herradura, in which Salgar collaborated since the beginning of the project, and delivered one of the most efficient facilities of the operator. In this case the success was due to the engagement of the company from the planning stage of the project, which allowed Técnica Salgar to assess the mining company in the purchasing and installment of the equipment. This project was so successful that Industrias Peñoles decided to invite Técnica Salgar to participate in a new mine development in Chihuahua.

Q: How is Técnica Salgar helping to solve the main challenges faced by the mining industry?

A: The most popular solution for the mining industry is the isolation of electricity connections by means of three high-voltage reactors and harmonized current filters. The purpose of this arrangement is to control the energy flux the mine receives from the grid, eliminating distortions and avoiding the breakdown of the facility's transformers. The reactors work as a wall, blocking the path of high currents directly to the transformers while the filters are connected to the reactor to allow for the use of cross-flow electricity. The aforementioned arrangement diminishes the system's energy losses and improves production by allowing the mine's equipment to function at full capacity and obtain substantial energy savings.

You May Like

Most popular

Newsletter