A global building supplies provider has installed dataTaker DT80 Intelligent Dataloggers at one of its mining quarries to address regular downtime problems. The datalogging solution was supplied by CAS DataLoggers.
Mining Quarry
At the mining quarry, raw materials were moved using conveyor belts. Inconsistencies existed between the throughput and stoppages reported manually. The company decided to install an automated monitoring solution to find out the cause and location of these discrepancies. A dataTaker DT80 Intelligent Data Logger device was installed on top of the conveyor belts. The belt scales of the conveyor were connected to the device through 4-20 mA current outputs and pulse outputs. The pulse outputs provided the total tons per shift and the current outputs monitored the rate as tons/hour. The device has four high-speed hardware counters for monitoring the belt scale pulses. These features helped the company to reduce downtimes. The device also features a rugged construction to withstand the harsh environment.
The dataTaker DT80 can be expanded to 300 single-ended or 200 isolated analog inputs and 100 channels. The device can monitor and log 15 current sources through universal analog sensor inputs. Measurements are recorded with an 18-bit resolution across a range of ±30 V. The device features a programmable serial sensor channel and phase encoder inputs. The resistance, strain gauges, bridges, frequency, 4-20 mA loops, temperature, current and voltage measurements can be scaled and logged.
The DT80 Intelligent Data Logger device has an improved web interface that allows viewing of graphical indicators, which provide the current throughput. This allows the plant to address the problem when it occurs. The logger can communicate through Ethernet, smart serial sensor channels and can interface with Modbus sensors, SDI-12, RS422, RS232 and RS485 sensors. The device has a built in FTP and web server. In addition, the dataTaker features a dEX graphical interface that can be accessed remotely.
The mining quarry applied the system to other manufacturing processes and weighing systems which resulted in increased productivity.