COMMUNICATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING FOR OPTIMUM SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY

Capacitive Coupler

Capacitive Coupler

Capacitive Coupler

NetworkSwitch

NetworkSwitch

PLC

PLC

Transformer Dis

trib

uti

on

BU

S

Text Message

Text Message

Text Message

Text Message

Text Message

AntennaAntenna

Antenna

VoIP

VoIP

VoIP

VoIP

VoIP

Wi-Fi BubbleWi-Fi Bubble

Display, CCU, etc

Display, CCU, etc

Electrical System

Electrical System

Profiler

Camera

Mine Network

Mine Network

Trailing Cable

Trailing Cable

(to surface)

(to surface)

Repeater

Controller

DCB

CONTINUOUS MINER

LONG WALL SHEARER

DCB

BPLM

BPLMBPLM

BPLM

NetworkSwitch

NetworkSwitch

Wi-Fi Bubble

Wi-Fi Bubble

Antenna

Antenna

AntennaVENTILATION FAN

AntennaSHUTTLE CAR 2

AntennaBREAKER / FEEDER

• Fault �nding • Productivity analysis• Video streaming • Con�guration

AntennaSHUTTLE CAR 1

Collects live operational data to surface from all Spitfires

Isolation Barriers protect equipment from high voltages on the pilot cores in the event of cable failure

Power Cores (Power Line Comms)

Isolation Barrier

Isolation Barrier

NetworkSwitch

PLC

Wi-Fi Bubble

Isolation Barrier

Trailing cables to other loads

BPLM data packets follow power cores to all loads

Ex d compartment

wall

Dis

trib

uti

on

Bu

s

Ex d power line bus cable

Power line commsusing 2x power cores

Ethernet commsusing fibre & CAT5/6

Wirelss comms 50m (approx) zone

NETWORK THESE MACHINES

Ex d power line bus cable

Power line commsusing 2x pilot cores

Ethernet commsusing fibre & CAT5/6

Wirelss comms 50m (approx) zone

Ex d compartment

wall

NAUTITECH® nautitech.com.au+61 2 9899 6857 NAUTITECH® nautitech.com.au+61 2 9899 6857 NAUTITECH® nautitech.com.au+61 2 9899 6857

The underground communications system is a world first for underground coal, and since being installed has been faultless.

– Brad Price, Ensham Electrical Engineering Superintendent

COMMUNICATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING

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“ ”

Underground mines are continually driven to

improve safety, productivity and efficiency,

which makes real time data capture and

communications between underground locations and

the surface an integral part of a mine’s operation.

Reliable transfer of information needs to address the

following needs which will allow for predictive and

preventative measures:

Efficiency ĥ Fleet optimisation

ĥ Remote monitoring from surface

ĥ Early warning of maintenance issues

ĥ Diagnostics

ĥ Potential remote automation

ĥ Maintenance records

Safety

ĥ Human movements underground

ĥ Health and Safety hazards

ĥ Emergency communications

ĥ Incident reports

Productivity

ĥ Operational monitoring, shift and maintenance reports

ĥ Real time machine data logging and fault analysis

ĥ Historical data capture with time stamp

ĥ Coordination of personnel

ĥ Communication (voice/messaging) without fixed infrastructure

ĥ Preventative maintenance

ĥ Live video streaming

COMMUNICATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING

Robust Communications in Hazardous Areas

Virtually every application in an underground mine

can benefit from the addition of reliable and real-time

video and data monitoring. Whether it’s a Continuous

Miner, Longwall System, Shuttle Car or other mobile

machinery, operational efficiency can be improved

significantly by establishing clear surface-to-equipment

communication.

It is well known that underground machines can log

valuable operational data. However, it hasn’t always

been easy to extract the data from these machines

and transmit it to the surface, where it can be analysed

for fault logging, productivity, and perhaps ultimately,

for remote operations. When an expensive machine

asset breaks down or is not running optimally, the

opportunity cost is hard to measure without reliable

data.

Underground Broadband Powerline Modem (Spitfire®

BPLM) solutions have proven to be extremely reliable

for Longwall Systems in underground coal mines

around Australia and abroad. That success has since

been transferred over to Continuous Miners and more

recently, Shuttle Cars.

Reaping the Benefits – Case Studies

When the Spitfire® BPLM solution was tested on a

Continuous Miner at Ensham Resources in Queensland,

benefits included:

ĥ Clear data communication to the CM

ĥ Data link retained when CM turned a corner

ĥ Successful data transfer across existing trailing cable lengths up to 500m

ĥ Connectivity between network-enabled gear such as VoIP phones, protection relays, and cameras

ĥ Protection from mining environment

ĥ Use of portable equipment without wires through Wi-Fi hotspots

ĥ Consistent high bandwidth

ĥ Coverage in areas where it is needed

ĥ Simple installation

ĥ Reliable communication with the surface

More recently, the Spitfire® BPLM solution was tested

on a Shuttle Car at Swanson Industries in New South

Wales. Results of the test showed:

ĥ Data could be transferred from a moving machine

ĥ Data rate was 20 Mbps

ĥ Distance tested 357 metres

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Mines of the Future

The underground broadband communications solution

has great possibilities for use on other machinery that

uses a trailing cable as a power source. Trials of the

Spitfire® BPLM solution in Australia and the US show

great results with enough data throughput for reliable

real time operational monitoring and enough spare

bandwidth to transfer video data for machines fitted

with HD or Thermal cameras.

Applications such as Shuttle Cars, Feeder Breakers,

Ventilation Fans, and Proximity Detection Systems

can be networked to transfer data and video from the

local system to the surface. Such valuable information

provided to the mine control room in real time will

no doubt offer additional opportunities to drive

improvements in safety, efficiency and productivity.

The use of efficient communication systems can also

minimise emergency response times, mitigate risks,

and ensure efficient incident management. More

importantly, the mines of the future will inevitably

increase their reliance on consistent mine-wide

communications, and can now include remote areas

with no fixed infrastructure.

The challenges facing the mining industry are significant

and increasing. Productivity must be maximised and

sustained while operating costs are driven down. The

cost of mine operations will remain a major challenge

in the mines of the future, therefore effective and robust

communications technology is essential to further

enhance performance improvements in complicated

underground terrain.. n

Nautitech Mining Systems offers a high–performing,

reliable, tested solution for communications between

underground mines and the surface. To learn more about

the Spitfire® BPLM, Super Spitfire® repeater, and the

Spitfire® Wingman controller, please contact:

Nautitech Mining Systems Head Office

3/9 Packard Avenue

Castle Hill NSW 2154

AUSTRALIA

+61 2 9899 6857

+61 2 8456 6004

enquiry@nautitech.com.au

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COMMUNICATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING

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