Mine power load center

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Ingenieur

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hope it's the right forum

basically a mv to lv dist box
1 to 2 mva or larger
in 12.47 or 7.2 kv
out various 480/575/950
evrtything is connected cable/plug-recept

section 1
mv input disconnect sw
 
Don't know how to do mult pics

xfmr section
all mv sections have cover switches
pull a cover incoming powrr is killed
 
Often times there is also a label on the inside side of the panel.
I will say that is not a Square D or Cutler-Hammer or Federal Pacific.
 
bigmansq said:
Often times there is also a label on the inside side of the panel.
I will say that is not a Square D or Cutler-Hammer or Federal Pacific.
Click to expand...

These are built by specialty shops using various mfgs components
all similar basic layout
output config varies
 
Besoeker said:
Will it be installed in the mine i.e. underground?
If so, are there special requirements for the enclosures like having to be explosionproof?
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yes, underground
non xp if away from the face (where coal is cut and methane released)
And in a well ventilated area
if not, xp, which they try to avoid due to hazard and cost
A load center like this new 200k, to rebuild like this 100k, perhaps less on this one since it is not stripped and painted
double or more for xp

the network/single line
surface sub drops 12.47 or 7.2 kv down a borehole into the mine into a switch house
it will divide as necessary, basically 1 out per mining section
the mv is run thru the mine into switches to feed other sections (if req) or feed load centers for belt conveyors or at the end of line for the actual mining
this is extended/repeated as mining advances deeper into the coal seam
miles, 5 or 10
when v drop of pf becomes an issue a new sub/borehole is constructed and the whole sequence repeated
 
Ingenieur said:
yes, underground
non xp if away from the face (where coal is cut and methane released)
And in a well ventilated area
if not, xp, which they try to avoid due to hazard and cost
A load center like this new 200k, to rebuild like this 100k, perhaps less on this one since it is not stripped and painted
double or more for xp

the network/single line
surface sub drops 12.47 or 7.2 kv down a borehole into the mine into a switch house
it will divide as necessary, basically 1 out per mining section
the mv is run thru the mine into switches to feed other sections (if req) or feed load centers for belt conveyors or at the end of line for the actual mining
this is extended/repeated as mining advances deeper into the coal seam
miles, 5 or 10
when v drop of pf becomes an issue a new sub/borehole is constructed and the whole sequence repeated
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm aware of the cost element.The requirements are quite onerous. The VSDs we did for coal mining were fitted in huge cast iron boxes. The bolts holding the covers on had a maximum spacing between and the cover mounting flanges had to be a certain width something like 100mm. The idea behind this, I was told, was that if the guts of the kit exploded the hot gasses produced would cool suffiently before they escaped with the extent of the path.

Interesting application. I wasn't involved in the EEXd design or certification. We just supplied the equipment to go inside the box to a UK company. Their market was mainly China, the UK coal industry died a death in the seventies. Mods, apologies for the little digression.
 
Besoeker said:
Yes, I'm aware of the cost element.The requirements are quite onerous. The VSDs we did for coal mining were fitted in huge cast iron boxes. The bolts holding the covers on had a maximum spacing between and the cover mounting flanges had to be a certain width something like 100mm. The idea behind this, I was told, was that if the guts of the kit exploded the hot gasses produced would cool suffiently before they escaped with the extent of the path.

Interesting application. I wasn't involved in the EEXd design or certification. We just supplied the equipment to go inside the box to a UK company. Their market was mainly China, the UK coal industry died a death in the seventies. Mods, apologies for the little digression.
Click to expand...

exactly and no digression imo, perfectly relevant
the flame path would cool the gases
it is meant to prevent an explosion inside the box from escaping and igniting gas in the environment
the gaps are checked weekly 0.003" go / 0.005" no go

We test as follows
tap a 'spark plug' ignitor into the box being tested
fill it with 10% methane (lel to uel 5-15%)
place this into a large xp enclosure/room (has blast relief/deflection panels just in case)
fill the room to 10%
then fire the ignitor....and pray lol
 
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Now that is eye candy :cool: Never seen mining equipment before, and I have to admit its something I wouldn't mind doing.
 
mbrooke said:
Now that is eye candy :cool: Never seen mining equipment before, and I have to admit its something I wouldn't mind doing.
Click to expand...

It's good work
the shop guys do all right but the underground guys really make hay
complex, critical work in a hostle production oriented environment
shift work for some
I am involved in the certification process
the 'official' mine electrician responsible in charge might make 150k plus bonuses
his crew 80-100k with ot
a lot of ee and eet grads are going into it
takes 5 years underground and 2 tests to get certified, a bs degree cuts a year off
 
Ingenieur said:
It's good work
the shop guys do all right but the underground guys really make hay
complex, critical work in a hostle production oriented environment
shift work for some
Click to expand...

Interesting thought about shift work.
Where I worked had a three shift system. The night shift ran from 22:00 to 06:00. Go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. Sleep through the daylight hours.
Down a coal mine, it is Stygian blackness all the time.
Hard to describe unless you have been there and done that.
 
Besoeker said:
Interesting thought about shift work.
Where I worked had a three shift system. The night shift ran from 22:00 to 06:00. Go to work in the dark, go home in the dark. Sleep through the daylight hours.
Down a coal mine, it is Stygian blackness all the time.
Hard to describe unless you have been there and done that.
Click to expand...

Shift work is tough on the body
the shifts rotate
Week 1 7 am to 3 pm
2 11 pm to 7 am
3 3 pm to 11 pm
repeat

you got it right about the blackness
you literally can't see your hand in front of your face
we do rescue training where we fill an area with inert 'smoke' (theater fog machines)
even with a cap lamp can't see more than a foot or two, you navigate by 'feel' and touch
we are tied together with a rope and follow coded lifelines
with a Draeger on your back
 
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