Modern Mining July 2021

hazards associated with high pressure gas cylinders and bulk cryogenic liquefied gas as well as sup‑ porting the bottom line for companies with a more cost-efficient long-term alternative gas source. On-site generators provide mines in Africa with a turn-key solution for getting a constant, reliable source of high-quality nitrogen where it is needed. It is clear that with responsible mining practices geared up for long-term sustainability, investments in quality equipment will be key to achieving both safety and sustainability goals. 

a continuous flow of gas extracted from the atmo‑ sphere and are an environmentally friendly method of delivery as they reduce the carbon footprint asso‑ ciated with having cylinders transported from an off-site facility – and then the return journey when they are empty. Producing high purity nitrogen from the air of up to 99,9%, this technology is cheap to run and once installed requires minimummaintenance. Generators are built to last, can operate in extreme conditions of temperature and pressure and are user friendly, making a nitrogen generator highly suitable for fill‑ ing truck tyres in a remote location or challenging environment. Tailored to requirements As with all high-quality engineering solutions, nitrogen generators can be tailored exactly to suit an individual mine’s requirements. They can be designed for outdoor or covered facilities and, as well as offering low energy consumption, a supplier should be able to provide on-site training to enable local employees to properly calibrate and easily maintain the system once it is operational, as well as full ongoing maintenance support. PSA equipment is bringing numerous advantages to the African mining industry, removing the safety

Key takeaways  Nitrogen-filled tyres protect mine workers by preventing fires when rup‑ tured – an extra tier of safety on large off highway trucks where the huge wheels are right underneath the driver’s position  Filling with nitrogen has a lot of advantages but it is imperative that there is a constant supply at mining sites so that truck tyres can be fully inflated to reduce the risk of critical air leaks and rapid deflation  Companies can avoid the hassle of having to outsource their gas by switching to an on-tap supply  Like oxygen tonnage plants, nitrogen membranes and PSA nitrogen gen‑ erators are efficient. Producing high purity nitrogen from the air of up to 99,9%, this technology is cheap to run and once installed requires mini‑ mum maintenance

July 2021  MODERN MINING  37