Compressed air that survives the mine site
Dust, altitude and long duty cycles decide what mining equipment can run on. Here is how to size an air system — and the mobile power that keeps it running — for drill, ventilation and workshop duty.
Quick answer: Most mine sites pair portable diesel compressors for drilling and distant fronts with a stationary station at the workshop — selected on FAD at real site altitude, not nameplate figures.
One supply decision. Two duty points to satisfy.
[ 01 · At a glance ]
Mining air at a glance
The four constraints that shape every mine-site selection.
EnvironmentDust-heavy, often high altitude
Air demandDrilling, ventilation assist, workshop tools
Typical setupPortable diesel + stationary station
Decide byFAD at site altitude and duty cycle
[ 02 · Site demands ]
What a mine site asks of an air system
Two very different duty points, one supply decision.
A.The moving front
Drilling and bolting rigs follow the face. Air arrives by towable diesel compressors that must deliver rated flow at altitude, run long shifts unattended, and tolerate dust loading that would choke a stationary intake.
B.The fixed base
Workshops, blasting preparation and ventilation stations draw from a central plant. Here the choice is an energy-efficient stationary room — piped out to the yard — sized for the mine’s full shift profile rather than a single tool.
[ 03 · Equipment ]
Recommended SIND equipment
The two product families mine operators pull from most.
[ 04 · Before you specify ]
Six checks that keep a mine-site quote accurate
- Site altitude, for true FAD correction
- Ambient temperature range across seasons
- Simultaneous tool demand at the face
- Run length per shift for the diesel units
- Workshop base-load versus peak demand
- Power available for the stationary room
[ 05 · Quick estimator ]
What altitude does to rated flow
Thin air cuts delivered output. Estimate the sea‑level rating behind your site demand.
Sea‑level equivalent rating
40.7 m³/min
at 26.3% output loss vs sea level
for 30 m³/min delivered at 2500 m
[ 06 · FAQ ]
FAQ
What size compressor does a drilling rig need?
It depends on the rig’s required pressure and total simultaneous air demand — confirm both against the rig datasheet before selecting a portable unit, then correct for site altitude.
Why does altitude change compressor output?
Thin air reduces intake mass, so a compressor delivers less usable flow at elevation. Duty tables should always be corrected to the real site altitude, not sea-level ratings.
Can one generator run both compressors and camp load?
Only if its kVA rating covers the combined starting and running load with headroom. Size the genset from the full simultaneous demand, not from nameplate compressor power alone.
