Choosing the Right Transformer for the Mining Industry
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Executive Summary
The mining industry occupies a significant position in the US economy. With no shortfall in the demand for
minerals and ore, one can only expect the industry to keep growing.
One worrisome aspect of the mining industry in the US, however, is its excessive demand and
dependence on energy. Highly automated, the industry demands trillions of Btu (British Thermal Units) of
energy every year; the industry’s high demand for energy has also made it easily affected by the
fluctuating international prices of fossil fuel. While other sectors of the US economy are searching for
greener, more cost-effective energy options, the mining industry has also come under pressure to follow
suit.
Transformers are a key element in collecting and transporting energy on the national grid and their
efficiency has always been a source of debate. This whitepaper seeks to address this crucial question of
selecting the right transformer for the mining industry.
While the mining industry is critical to the economy, it is, by its very nature, full of hazards for both
manpower and machines. The transformers used have to be robust and technologically advanced to
function in dust, dirt, chemicals, and in the presence of high levels of moisture both above and below
ground. Despite the high levels of automation in this industry, it is also manpower intensive in certain
areas, which means that people are often working around all kinds of dangerous machinery; transformers
should not have to be included in that category.
This whitepaper delivers useful information about the role of transformers in the mining industry, the
various types of transformers and some tips on how to select the right one. The whitepaper also takes a
look at the need for energy-efficient mining, and Pacific Crest Transformers’ offerings to the industry.
Introduction
The US has one of the largest mining industries in the world - an industry closely linked with the