Testing the Elios Drone at a High Altitude Mine in the Andes

The Elios 2 was put to the test at a high-altitude mine located nearly 3 miles above sea level in the Andes Mountains. The drone performed exceptionally well, meeting all the expectations set by the mining personnel. Operating in such extreme conditions proved successful, showcasing the drone's robust capabilities.

Key Benefits in Brief

High Altitude Performance

At an altitude of 4,600 meters (approximately 2.86 miles), the Elios 2 operated smoothly, capturing all the necessary visual data without a hitch. Its performance under such demanding conditions was nothing short of impressive.

3D Models

The high-quality 3D models generated from the drone's data provided mining personnel with invaluable insights into the mine's interior. These models helped in enhancing safety, identifying additional ore deposits, and ensuring precise locational awareness.

Accessibility & Lighting

The Elios 2 easily navigated through tight spaces like chimneys, stopes, and orepasses, providing adequate lighting to capture essential visual data. This capability ensured comprehensive coverage of even the hardest-to-reach areas.

Challenges of Mining at High Altitudes

Volcan Compañía Minera SAA, a Peruvian mining company established in 1943, operates several silver, zinc, copper, and lead mines, along with hydroelectric power plants. Many of its mines are situated high in the Andes Mountains, presenting unique operational challenges due to the extreme altitude. Any new equipment introduced into these high-altitude mines must be rigorously tested for functionality in an oxygen-depleted environment.

One of Volcan’s largest mines is the Andaychagua mine, located in Campamento Minero at 4,600 meters (2.86 miles) above sea level. This altitude significantly impacts the types of robotics that can be effectively utilized in mining operations. Solutions that work well at lower altitudes often fail under these conditions.

The Andaychagua mine features two access points reachable via one-lane roads and extends to a depth of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet). The mine operates continuously, with blasting occurring daily at 6 p.m., followed by ore removal throughout the night. During daylight hours, workers focus on securing and inspecting the mine in preparation for the next blast cycle.

This intense activity results in the extraction of approximately 2,500 tonnes (5,511,557 pounds) of minerals per day from the Andaychagua mine.

Flying a Drone Inside a High Altitude Mine

The administrators at the Andaychagua mine are always seeking innovative tools to enhance operational efficiency and safety. Upon hearing about Flyability’s Elios 2 drone, designed specifically for harsh internal environments, they decided to test it at the extreme altitudes where they operate.

The primary objectives of the test were:

  • Capabilities: Can the Elios 2 function indoors at 4,600 meters above sea level?
  • Visual Data: What type of visual data can the drone capture, and what is the quality of this data?
  • Lighting: Is the drone’s lighting sufficient for detailed inspections, or does it require additional lighting?
  • 3D Models: Can 3D models be created from the data collected by the Elios 2, and how long does this process take?

Surveying a High Altitude Mine with the Elios

Despite the inherent challenges of flying at such high altitudes, Volcan’s test at the Andaychagua mine proved successful. All planned inspections were completed, and the drone exceeded the team’s expectations.

During the test, the Volcan team conducted around 40 flights. The assets targeted for inspection included chimneys, ore passes, ventilation tunnels, and stopes. Mining personnel aimed to gather visual data on the conditions within these areas and utilize the data to create 3D models for enhanced visualization.

In total, four 3D models were produced, including detailed models of stopes and tunnels. Detailed 3D models were created using software from Pix4D, requiring several hours of processing time. These models were precise enough to potentially identify additional ore deposits and assist with future planning.

Sparse 3D models were also generated using Flyability’s Inspector 3.0 software, which allowed mining personnel to quickly locate points of interest within the visual footage. These models required only 20-30 minutes of processing time, making them more immediately useful.

Best Practices for High Altitude Drone Operations

Flying a drone at such high altitudes required careful preparation. Here are some key tips from Flyability’s team:

  • Flight Time: Expect a 30% reduction in flight time due to the increased workload on the motors in low-density air.
  • Motor Maintenance: Allow motors to cool for about 10 minutes between long flights to prevent overheating.
  • Ascension Challenges: Long ascents are difficult due to overheating; consider descending from the top or using a fishing line to lower the drone.
  • Fishing Line: Attach a fishing line to the drone when navigating orepasses and chimneys to manage motor stress and wind effects.
  • Temperature Considerations: Let the drone adapt to the environment by leaving it outside the box for 10-20 minutes before flying. Clean the lens before starting.
  • Wind Considerations: Flying in Altitude mode requires manual wind management.

With the successful outcome of the test, Volcan Compañía Minera is now considering adopting the Elios 2 for inspections across multiple high-altitude mines in Peru.

Industrial Water Chiller

Introduction to GENT industrial water chiller

The classification of industrial water chiller is based on the application fields of water chiller. Applying water chiller to industrial field is not only feasible, but also indispensable in many key processes. Its application can cover everything from traditional manufacturing to high-tech products, so we have divided the category of industrial water chiller.

Applicable scenarios of chillers in industrial field

1. Manufacturing industry

Water chiller can be used in plastic processing, metal processing, and electroplating/surface treatment.

2. Food and beverage industry

Chillers can be used in post-pasteurization cooling and dairy/beer fermentation and other production processes.

3. Other industrial scenarios

Cool water chiller can also be used for centralized cooling in scenarios such as laboratory equipment, data centers, and central Air Conditioning systems.

Core advantages of industrial chillers

Industrial chillers hvac can achieve efficient temperature control, adapt to complex environments, and have both stability and durability, so they are suitable for industrial scenarios.

Comparison with other cooling solutions

1. Cooling tower: Some Water Chiller System with cooling tower is suitable for scenes with large flow and does not have strict requirements on water temperature, but it occupies a large area and the performance of the unit depends on the ambient humidity.

2. Air conditioning system: The air conditioning system is mainly used for indoor space cooling and cannot meet the high-precision cooling needs of industrial equipment.

3. Industrial water cooler: It is the first choice for process cooling because it is efficient, precise and flexible.

Therefore, the chiller air conditioner is suitable for use in the industrial field. Users who have cooling water and cooling needs in the industrial field can consider this kind of unit.

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