INVESTIGATION INTO THE DESIGN OF A 6600V LONGWALL MINING SYSTEM Presented by Adrian Trevor

2 Overview What is a Longwall? Why bother moving to 6600V? Predicted Future Power Requirements Cable size selection Power flow modeling of proposed system Future work

3 Used because of efficiency ( Cutting and recovery rates) Continuous process once started Overview

4 All Drives at 3300V Shearer > 2MW AFC (Armoured Face Conveyor) 2.55MW BSL (Beam Stage Loader) 300kW Crusher 300kW Hydraulic Pumps 600kW Shearer Water Pump 200kW Electrical Overview

5 Ultimate reason is to improve torque for motors Also allows increase in installed power without extremely large cable sizes Allows longer monorail hence less flits Why 6600V?

6 Motor Torque The torque of a motor is proportional to the voltage squared. At 3300V, currents are drawn which causes voltage drops in all supply cables At 6600V, currents, and any voltage drop is a % of rated voltage Ideally in new system we want torque to remain above 90% at all times.

7 An increase in voltage allows power increases to be obtained without increases in conductor sizes –E.g Type cable with 50sq mm conductor can carry 170A which at 3300V is approx 970kW compared to 1940kW at 6600V –However physical dimensions and mass of cable marginally due to extra insulation required In most cases cable sizes will be reduced Increased Power

8 Voltage allows potential length of monorail to be increased by voltage drop If monorail length is doubled this has the potential of reducing monorail flits from approx 8 per block to 4 –Each flit takes approx 8 hrs –8hrs production = tonnes x 4 flits = tonnes –56000 tonnes x $40 = $2.24 million!! per block Longer Monorail

9 Predicted future power requirements Cable sizing calculations Power flow study Work Completed

10 Future power requirements can not simply be increased linearly. i.e. increase all items by 10% Each piece of machinery requires its operation to be analysed to determine what, if any power increases are required. Shearer –Increase in cutter motors to 1000kW each –Increase in traction motors to 165kW each –Total installed shearer power of 2.4MW Future Power

11 AFC –Considering increase in face width to 400m from 265m –Increase in power to 4 x 1000kW motors BSL –Increase in power to 2 x 300kW motors Crusher –Increase in power to 1 x 300kW motor Hyd Pumps and Shearer Water Pump –Increase hydraulic pumps to a total of 1000kW (Fat Face) –Determined that current SWP is suitable Future Power

12 This will result in a total installed power of 8.6MW, which is an of approx 50% on present Future Power LONGWALL POWER RATINGS EquipmentPresent Rating (kW)Future Rating (kW) Shearer2050kW2385kW AFC2250kW4000kW BSL300kW600kW Crusher300kW400kW Hydraulic Pumps600kW1000kW Shearer Water Pump200kW Total5700kW8585kW

13 Cable selection is dependant on 2 main conditions –Current carrying capacity –Voltage drop Current carrying capacity relates to the thermal limit of the cable –Heating effect of current in a cable (I 2 R losses) –Ability of insulation to dissipate this heat Voltage drop is dependant on cable size, length and current –Must remain below 5% to keep torque above 90% Cable Selection

14 The heating effect on a cable occurs over a continuous time, and instantaneous values are not of a large concern. FLC of motors NOT used to determine this. Future average currents are used by projecting present averages to future Voltage and Power levels. Present averages determined via Scada over a fixed period of time. Current Carrying Capacity

15 Cable Selection Example of Scada Data for TG AFC Motor with calculated average.

16 Most important at motor startup Full Operational Load (FOL) currents were determined by using the future FLC of the motor and allocating each motor a load factor. PF=0.85% and n=0.9% Voltage drop calcs performed using FOL in that cable plus the starting current (6xFLC) of the largest motor. Voltage Drop

17 Main Limiting factor was the voltage drop, most cables are significantly overrated in current carrying capacity to achieve acceptable voltage drop levels. Cable Selection

18 A load flow simulation was completed at future levels using EasyPower simulation software. Results confirmed calculated values 3 scenarios were simulated –Full operational load –Full operational load with TG AFC Motor starting –Full operational load with 1 Shearer Cutter Motor starting Load Flow Simulation

19 Load Flow Simulation

20 Investigate issues that DMR has –Presently CMRA prohibits voltages >4kV Investigate availability of equipment e.g motors, plugs, cables switching gear etc –Also sizing due to creepage and clearance values Investigate issues with fault current energy, in relation to flame proof enclosures. Investigate effects of EMI on control systems –Clearances inside enclosures –Effect on pilot core communication systems Future Work

21 Questions??