ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Underground

Radio Remote Monitoring of Environmental and Conditional Data

Underground » Maintenance

Published: December 99Project Number: C5421

Get ReportAuthor: Richard Danell, Mark Downey | BHP

This report presents the results of the development of a radio based system for the reliable transmission of condition monitoring data of a bandwidth of up to 10 kHz from a piece of mobile mining machinery to a location outside of the operations path of the unit and associated equipment. Alternatives for transmitting condition monitoring data from mobile mining machinery include power line systems (trailing cables). A radio based system offers greater flexibility and allows any piece of machinery to be monitored, potentially at lower cost.

This work was conducted under three ACARP projects entitled "Intrinsically Safe Remote Sensor for Monitoring the Condition of Underground Mining Equipment" (C3062), "Interfacing Radio Transmitted Machine Condition Data to Mine Communication Systems" (C4021) and "Radio Remote Monitoring of Environmental and Condition Data - Extension of C4021 and C3062" (C5421).

Test work during the project determined that a digital transmission system, operating in the 900 MHz to 1 GHz frequency range, offered the best combination of bandwidth, transmission in the underground environment, avoidance of noise from electrical equipment underground, and transmission power allowable under Australian broadcasting regulations. A prototype Remote Sensor system for the collection and radio transfer of condition based monitoring (CBM) data based on a digital radio system was completed. The system:

  • reliably transmits realistic CBM vibration data over a distance of > 65 m on line-of-sight and 40 m off line-of-sight,
  • transmits reliably in areas with moderate levels of electrical noise,
  • is capable of simultaneously capturing and transmitting data from multiple locations on a mobile machine to a single monitoring station,
  • is designed to meet Intrinsic Safety requirements.

Recommended further steps include:

  • evaluation of the system in an active continuous mining operation, with the objective of determining the transmission performance in the high electrical interference environment and identifying the range of safe positions for locating the Receiver unit in normal operation,
  • assess the transmission characteristics in a variety of seam conditions, to confirm the conclusion that the system will transmit with acceptable levels of attenuation in the full range of conditions found in Australian underground coal mines,
  • commercialise the technology through an established supplier of electrical equipment to the underground mining industry. Discussions have already been held with potential suitable companies.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC