Communication, tracking
South African firm Becker Mining was present at the event to display and discuss its mining communications line, especially its BeckerCom Leaky Feeder Radio System. The information highway it has developed, the company said, is driven from a single cable that extends the entire area of the mine.
The system is made of several parts including its head-end base repeater station, an in-line directional amplifier, and a series of splitter/combiner units and line power supply and coupler units that take the information to every corner of the operation. Intrinsically safe, according to Becker, RF signals can be dispersed via the Leaky Feeder coaxial cable; that RF signal is maintained through the use of amplifiers/boosters along the way.
Also tackling the communication issue was Tunnel Radio with Ultracomm UHF Underground Radio Systems. West Virginia supplier Hughes Supply was in attendance at the symposium to speak to guests about the Ultracomm TR-500 and TR-900 Mhz radio systems that it said better covers operations than prior VHF technology and is able to pass through obstructions more efficiently.
The system consists of a base radio and interface unit as well as coaxial cable and its associated junction units and line amplifiers. In an emergency, the company said, its compatible portable radios have an emergency alert system that can be sent operation-wide from the dispatcher location.
On the tracking front, DKL International was present with its LifeGuard handheld unit. The unit, which has been used for port security and border control as well as disaster and wilderness searches, is also available for locating workers in a mine rescue mission.
The 1.0 model, which resembles a gun, is designed to seek out only living humans, can pass through virtually any obstacle and safely locates those trapped through passive detection. The unit can operate in any environment, the company said, and DKL’s interface software was compatible with Windows XP.
Gas detection
Gas detection and monitoring firm Conspec was also present at the WesBanco Arena for the April symposium with some of its products including gas monitoring controllers, integrated gas monitors, gas transmitters, ventilation fan controllers and calibration kits.
Conspec said it didn’t happen upon its units accidentally: “We gained our gas detection expertise by working closely with firms operating in the underground coal industry.” The company now also works in other sectors including chemical and power generation.
All monitors, transmitters and controllers feature easy-to-read LED displays that are clear and bright, the company said, and are designed specifically for the harsh underground environment.
Oxygen, refuge
Mine Safe House has attacked the issue of oxygen and refuge from two angles, through its developments of a mine saferoom/safehouse and refuge station as well as a self-rescuer cache house unit. Its entire line is built for protection of the worker: “The most important asset inside a shelter, refuge chamber or safehouse is not the airconditioner, air unit, battery pack, food, water or any consumable or component – the most valuable asset inside the structure is the miner.”
The company’s mine safehouse consists of one-touch breathable air units, battery backup, protection from explosion, airconditioning, additional self-rescuers, needed items such as light, food, water and toilet facilities, and technological advances such as methane and temperature monitors, communication devices and usage alert lighting.
Mine Safehouse also noted that the units are fire and impact resistant and provide breathable air for up to 72 hours without the use of external power (its battery pack will provide the same duration for lights and other electrical needs).
The company’s cache house is made of the same heavy-duty exterior as the mine safehouse and, just like the safehouse, can withstand exterior temperatures of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 24 hours. The airtight, waterproof cache house also will light up in the event of an emergency and is designed with shelving so that self-rescuers can be removed quickly and easily.
One portion of any good mine rescuer chamber will include a very integral unit – a respirable air unit. Canadian firm Rana-Medical was at the WJU event to showcase a solution, its Refuge One Air Centre, which can work independently of the operation’s power supply for up to 36 hours.
The relatively small, portable unit is available in two sizes that can be outfitted in a refuge shelter of any size, the company said. With a 30-hour oxygen supply and a carbon dioxide absorption estimate of 31 hours, the Refuge One Air Centre’s single bed unit can hold 15 workers, while its 30-person double bed unit has an oxygen cache of 20 hours and a carbon dioxide absorption estimate of 31 hours.
Rana-Medical said the unit is also ideal because of its ease of use. A simple five-step procedure can be followed to operate it, saving vital time in the event of an emergency while not adding additional stress to an already stressful situation.
Fire suppression
Fire suppression systems, while part of the industry for a long time, have been given the spotlight once again after recent mine fires at active operations. Cold Fire Super Systems, a self-contained system, has options for operations to utilise, push and pull models for manual equipment as well as large systems and pump skids.
The push and pull manual models, resembling a traditional fire hydrant, are designed to work in any position, even upside down. The company’s pull model, equipped with freeze protection and a pressure switch, has a 6-foot pull cable and can be operated remotely.
The larger system is an integrated unit that has...click here to read on.
