Underground Mine Electrical Equipment and Safety

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Underground Mine Electrical Equipment and Safety

• Andrew Harris
• 09905192P

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Types of Mines using Electricity

• Open Cut Metalliferous
• Open Cut Coal
• Underground Metalliferous
• Underground Coal

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U.G. Metalliferous Electrical Equipment

• Mobile Equipment
• Loaders
• Trucks
• Personnel Vehicles
• Drill Jumbos

• Fixed Plant
• Crushers
• Ventilation Fans
• Mine Winders
• Conveyor Belts

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U.G. Coal Electrical Equipment

• Mobile Equipment
• Long Wall Miner
• Haulage Carts
• Personnel Vehicles

• Fixed Plant
• Conveyors
• Winders
• Haulage Shafts

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Longwall Coal Miner
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U.G. Metalliferous Problems

• Dust
• Cooling Problems
• Increased circuit resistance
• Water
• Corrosion
• Short Circuit
• Electrocution

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U.G. Coal Problems

• Explosions
• Coal Dust
• Gases
• Dust
• Build up
• Water

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Safety/Protection Requirements

• Equipment Approval for Conditions
• Intrinsic Safety
• Protection Devices
• Protect Life
• Protect Equipment

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Devices and Testing

• Automatic Circuit Breakers
• More Robust Equipment
• Testing of Equipment
• Simulate conditions
• Modes of failure
• Failure response

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Safety Benefits

• KPI improvement
• Financial Savings
• Worker health
• Statutory Fulfillment