Fundación COPEC-UC has a broad portfolio of technological innovations in a variety of areas, which are at the service of industry and society. We invite you to get to know them.

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MINING

Researchers

Jorge Ramos.
Civil Industrial Engineer, PhD.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Javier Vera Hofmann.
Mechanical Civil Engineer, MSc.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Guillermo Zañartu Apara.
Mechanical Civil Engineer, MSc.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Jorge Ramos.
Civil Industrial Engineer, PhD.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Javier Vera Hofmann.
Mechanical Civil Engineer, MSc.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Guillermo Zañartu Apara.
Mechanical Civil Engineer, MSc.
School of Engineering.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Contact information

Fundación Copec-UC.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Ignacio Jeria Pérez.
CEO.
ifjeria@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

Fundación Copec-UC.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Ignacio Jeria Pérez.
CEO.
ifjeria@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

Beneficiary

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Intellectual property

Application 3215-2017 "SGM equipment and method for the manufacture of axi-symmetric objects of revolution". In patenting process at national level and is close to enter international processes.

DESCRIPTION

AMLAPS is a device for the manufacture of parts through Additive Manufacturing or 3D Printing in metallic materials. It uses SLM (Selective Laser Melting) technology, in which a laser system melts layers of metal powder to form a three-dimensional part. AMLAPS, unlike other technologies, uses a polar coordinate system that allows it to print parts continuously, reducing manufacturing times and increasing the strength of the parts.

ADVANTAGES

  • It is possible to manufacture parts in different metal alloys, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, cobalt chromium alloys, titanium, aluminum, even among many other materials such as polymers.
  • The manufacturing time of the parts manufactured on our machine is reduced by 40% to 50%, in relation to the times of a similar machine with a Cartesian printing system.
  • 15% to 20% increase in system energy efficiency just by reducing manufacturing time (can be further improved with hardware changes).
  • 15% to 20% increase in system energy efficiency just by reducing manufacturing time (can be further improved with hardware changes).

MARKET

The manufacture of parts through Additive Manufacturing in metallic materials is not a recent invention. The technology has been around for about 25 years, however, in the last 5 years these technologies have aroused great interest from the manufacturing, mining, energy, space and aeronautics, automotive, forestry and other industries.

Currently, there are different 3D printing technologies in metals, which are able to manufacture parts of great complexity and in a wide variety of materials. However, there are two major problems that technology has not been able to solve effectively: Increasing printing speed and manufacturing large volume parts.

It is in the UC, where the opportunity to solve at least one of the major problems through AMLAPS is born. Through a master thesis work begins the development of this initiative to achieve new advances in 3D printing.

How AMLAPS manages to solve the speed problem? Our prototype is based on the current technology of using metal powders and a laser to achieve the fusion of the particles, however, the powders are deposited in a spiral-shaped chamber (polar coordinates).

Currently, all technologies use layers in a Cartesian system, which forces the interruption of the laser (when depositing the powder in a plane) limiting the maximum manufacturing speed. AMLAPS would achieve a 40% to 50% reduction in manufacturing times. This, in conjunction with other measures, will have the secondary effect of increasing the mechanical strength of the parts.

Researchers

Davor Cotoras Tadic.
Biochemist (UCH). PhD in Sciences (Technical University of Braunschweig).
BIOHIDRICA.
dcotoras@biohidrica.cl

Davor Cotoras Tadic.
Biochemist (UCH). PhD in Sciences (Technical University of Braunschweig).
BIOHIDRICA.
dcotoras@biohidrica.cl

Contact information

Copec-UC Foundation.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

BIOHIDRICA.
Davor Cotoras.
General Manager.
dcotoras@biohidrica.cl
+56 2 2239 3822

Copec-UC Foundation.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

BIOHIDRICA.
Davor Cotoras.
General Manager.
dcotoras@biohidrica.cl
+56 2 2239 3822

Beneficiary

BIOHIDRICA

Intellectual property

Biotecnologías del Agua Ltda., UXMAL S.A. and COPEC-UC Foundation
Invention patents:
Peru: "Acidithiobacillus strains for bioleaching processes at low temperatures". Registration No. 9242.
Chile: "Isolated bacterial strains of Acidithiobacillus capable of adhering to solid supports separately or in consortium to form a biofilm, process for a continuous inoculation of an inoculant and its uses of the strains in bioleaching processes of sulfide minerals". INAPI N°0250-2012.
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DESCRIPTION

The innovation consists of a new sulfide bioleaching process at low temperature for high mountain and pre-cordillera sites. This process uses as inoculants a consortium of new microtolerant strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, called Puri, Yaku and Acidithiobacillus sp., called Uma,

All of them are able to grow in low temperature ranges (5°C to 10°C), oxidize ferrous ion and reduced sulfur compounds and all of them have the ability to form biofilms on solid supports.

The generation of these biofilms allows the continuous production of an inoculant solution from fixed bed bioreactors filled with inert support materials, colonized with the consortium of microtolerant bacteria.

ADVANTAGES

  • Bacteria are used that allow copper to be bioleached at low temperatures (between 5°C and 10°C), a range typical of mining sites located in desert areas and at high altitudes.
  • The use of these microorganisms allows copper to be obtained without the use of complementary systems for heating the heaps
  • It is a process that uses less acid consumption.

OPPORTUNITY

In the process of obtaining minerals, particularly copper, there is the alternative of using microorganisms to extract it from sulfide materials of this mineral. This process, called bioleaching, has been gradually developed and incorporated in the industry.

For the system to be incorporated more massively, better performance is required in the mining environments in Chile. This requires bacteria and archaea suitable for the dissolution of metals and appropriate environmental conditions for their growth, temperature being a fundamental parameter of the process.

The high mountain climate of our country is a difficulty for this process, since it currently requires important energy expenses for the preheating of the leaching solutions and a significant effort to maintain the temperature in the heaps.

Researchers

Francisco Suarez.
Civil Hydraulic Engineer. Mg. in Engineering Sciences. Ph.D in Hydrogeology.
Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering.
School of Engineering.
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
fsuarez@ing.puc.cl

Christian Guzmán.
Civil Electrical Engineer Ph.D in Physics.
Andes Scientific Instruments.
cdguzman@ing.puc.cl/

Amokrane Berdja.
Physicist. Ph.D in Astronomy.
Andes Scientific Instruments.
aberdja@ing.puc.cl

Francisco Suarez.
Civil Hydraulic Engineer. Mg. in Engineering Sciences. Ph.D in Hydrogeology.
Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering.
School of Engineering.
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
fsuarez@ing.puc.cl

Christian Guzmán.
Civil Electrical Engineer Ph.D in Physics.
Andes Scientific Instruments.
cdguzman@ing.puc.cl/

Amokrane Berdja.
Physicist. Ph.D in Astronomy.
Andes Scientific Instruments.
aberdja@ing.puc.cl

Contact information

Copec-UC Foundation.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

DICTUC S.A.
Mariela Silva Rojas.
Corporate Affairs Manager.
msilva@dictuc.cl
+56 2 2354 579

Copec-UC Foundation.
Atilio Ziomi.
Commercial Manager.
aziomi@uc.cl
+56 2 2354 1942

DICTUC S.A.
Mariela Silva Rojas.
Corporate Affairs Manager.
msilva@dictuc.cl
+56 2 2354 579

Beneficiary

DICTUC S.A.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property shared with Fundación Copec-UC (35%) and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (65%). Licensing through DICTUC S.A.
The patent "System and method for monitoring evaporation on a large scale" was applied for at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI).

DESCRIPTION

TURBU-VAP is a large-scale (100-500 m²), low-cost evaporation measurement system. Measurements are based on energy conservation principles and turbulence models in the atmospheric boundary layer. This system consists of:

An optical instrument that measures atmospheric turbulence, consisting of a low power laser propagated through the area where evaporation is to be measured and a telescope that focuses this laser.

A meteorological station that measures net radiation, heat fluxes to the ground, air temperature and relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.

A computer in charge of data acquisition and processing for the calculation of evaporation, based on the principle of energy conservation and atmospheric turbulence models.

A platform for deployment and analysis of both results available online (in the cloud).

VENTAJAS

  • Greater range than current point and non-representative large-scale surface methods.
  • Higher accuracy and reliability than manual measurement methods.
  • Lower cost than other methods available on the market.
  • Lower cost than other methods available on the market.
  • Automatic and real-time measurement method (does not interfere with operational processes).

MARKET

TURBUVAP aims to be a solution for mining sites, agricultural crops, wine production and hydrological and hydrogeological systems, where evaporation is significant and uncertain, so its real-time measurement can improve the management of water resources. It can also be used by academics and researchers in the aforementioned areas.

Researchers

Xavier Emery.
Mathematical civil engineer. PhD in Geostatistics.
Department of Mining Engineering.
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
University of Chile.
xemery@ing.uchile.cl

Alejandro Cáceres.
Geologist. Master of Science, mention in Geology.
Department of Mining Engineering.
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
University of Chile.

Xavier Emery.
Mathematical civil engineer. PhD in Geostatistics.
Department of Mining Engineering.
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
University of Chile.
xemery@ing.uchile.cl

Alejandro Cáceres.
Geologist. Master of Science, mention in Geology.
Department of Mining Engineering.
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
University of Chile.

Contact information

Copec-UC Foundation.
Alfonso Cruz.
Executive Director.
acruzn@ing.puc.cl
+56 2 2354 2092

University of Chile.
Rodrigo Cortés.
Technology Transfer Manager, Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC).
rodrigo.cortes@amtc.cl
+56 2 2977 1005

Copec-UC Foundation.
Alfonso Cruz.
Executive Director.
acruzn@ing.puc.cl
+56 2 2354 2092

University of Chile.
Rodrigo Cortés.
Technology Transfer Manager, Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC).
rodrigo.cortes@amtc.cl
+56 2 2977 1005

Beneficiary

University of Chile

Intellectual property

Intellectual property shared with Fundación Copec-UC (35%) and Universidad de Chile (65%). Commercial rights must also include the counterpart company Geoinnova. The source codes of the program were registered with the Directorate of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DIBAM). The GeoGnoSim trademark and logo were registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI).
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DESCRIPTION

The evaluation of mineral resources is largely conditioned by geological properties such as rock types, mineral zones or alterations, which define homogeneous domains called “geological units” that partition the deposit to be evaluated. Currently, such units are usually modeled deterministically, based on available sampling information and expert knowledge. This approach leads to models where the geological boundaries are smoothed and do not reflect the real geological variability in the reservoir. In this context, the project has developed the GeoGnoSim software for stochastic modeling of geological units, which allows to generate multiple scenarios homologous to reality that help to quantify the geological uncertainty and support decision making in the valuation, planning and operation of mining projects.

ADVANTAGES

  • GeoGnosim allows to quantify the uncertainty in the spatial extent of geological units, integrating the necessary tools to carry out the modeling and management of geostatistical simulations for decision making. This has an impact on the various stages of a mining project, particularly in the evaluation of the grades and quantities of metal contained in the deposit, the design and planning (sequencing and definition of a production program) and the economic evaluation of the project, its risks or opportunities.
  • The software is characterized by its flexible modeling, adaptable to complex geologies, in particular to deposits made up of numerous geological units whose contact relationships are varied.
  • The software also stands out for its ease of use and ease of learning for end users (mainly resource geologists).

MARKET

The software is aimed at geologists and engineers working in mining companies and mining resource and reserve evaluation consulting firms, as well as academics and researchers working in universities that teach mining engineering or geology.