Mexico's Peñoles advances deployment of mine LTE network and advanced beneficiation control system

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 9, Mexican mining company Industrias Peñoles disclosed progress in its mine intelligent technology deployment, advancing advanced process control (APC), industrial control system upgrades, mine communication technology transformation, and LTE private network construction at its mines and beneficiation facilities. Among these, the Velardeña mine's beneficiation plant has already implemented its second advanced process control system for real-time control of the grinding circuit.

The control system deployed at the Velardeña project uses predictive models to perform coordinated control of the SAG mill and its feed equipment, while also covering parameters such as the hydrocyclone clusters corresponding to 3 mills, the feed rate of the coarse crusher, and the particle size P80 entering the flotation stage. The system incorporates key operating variables from the grinding, classification, and crushing stages into a unified control logic.

Peñoles has also deployed an LTE network in its mine communication infrastructure and continues to upgrade on-site automation and remote data acquisition systems. The company's official technology framework lists artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, and integrated sensors as its mine digitalization technology directions, while its technology R&D center CIDT is responsible for process improvements and the introduction of new technologies in production units. Projects currently involving CIDT also include improving metal recovery rates, reducing tailings moisture content, and conducting ore processing technology research for exploration projects.

Peñoles had previously deployed equipment condition monitoring and automated maintenance systems at various mines. The Sabinas mine uses a haul truck telemetry system to monitor diesel engine operating conditions, and equips vehicles with anti-collision, overspeed alarm, driver fatigue monitoring, and reversing camera systems; the Capela and Velardeña mines have already applied systems that automatically generate maintenance work orders to manage maintenance for low-profile mining trucks, drill rigs, and load-haul-dump machines.