The need to produce higher tonnages at lower costs in order to retain competitive advantage has seen the evolution of high-energy electrical systems and a focus on control and monitoring to increase reliability.
Today’s mining environment is planning for 22KV or 33KV reticulation, 3.3KV mining machines, larger conveyor drives and 6.6KV motors for longwall installations. Key to the successful implementation of this equipment is ensuring the electrical distribution system is correctly specified, designed, installed, commissioned, operated and maintained safely and cost effectively.
In recognition of this, Ampcontrol has focused its R&D and engineering to ensure advances in mining electrical systems provide the end user with a more efficient mine while ensuring safety.
A recent example of this has been the design and manufacture of the world’s largest underground flameproof substation. Weighing in at 55t the 6.5MVA, 11KV/3.3KV, 10-outlet substation provides power to a high-energy longwall substation in north Queensland.
A key feature of the substation is the use of gas filled transformers. A distinctly Australian innovation this is a significant diversion from flameproof units used in other underground environments around the world. The gas filled units employ the technique of explosion protection by exclusion.
By maintaining a positive pressure inside the tank, methane, moisture and other contaminants cannot enter the transformer enclosure and cause an explosion. The gas filled transformer has undergone significant development since the first units were installed in the early 80s, to the point where the cooling characteristics are equal to similarly rated oil filled units.
This technology has been recognised as an advancement to reliability and safety and has now been adopted by many prominent coal producers in China.
Rectiformers
Ampcontrol is also a supplier of High Powered Rectiformers. Combining a transformer and rectifier in a single package, it converts large quantities of three phase ac electrical power, usually at very high voltages, into dc in a controllable form.
Output dc ratings range in voltages from 30V to 1000V, at currents up to and exceeding 120,000A. Usually applications requiring large amounts of dc power are electrolytic production and refining of metals such as copper, zinc, aluminium and magnesium.
Ampcontrol has developed the iMAC integrated monitoring and control system to improve the efficiency of electrical system energy and increase productivity. Installed on one of the Australia’s longest conveyors in Western Australia, the system provides monitoring and message referencing along the conveyor control pull wires. All data is available along the length of the 51km conveyor.
Recognition of these benefits has seen similar systems supplied for mining in the US and port facilities in China where iMAC is also used as a backbone for remote isolation and gas monitoring.
http://www.heavymachineryinfo.com/super/index.php?ToDo=createArticlePage
Be The First To Comment