At MINExpo 2012, GE highlighted products and services from across its three business units – Digital Energy, Industrial Solutions and Power Conversion – that help mining customers minimise downtime and better manage their electricity needs. The company states: “As the global mining industry expands to deeper, more remote and extreme locations, mine operators are under increasing pressure to find and utilise electrical power more safely, efficiently and reliably. GE is fulfilling this need by offering mining customers innovative solutions that allow them to reliably transmit electricity from the generation source, safely distribute electricity to users and ingeniously convert electricity into motion.
GE’s Digital Energy business, for example, is working with mining customers to deploy network communication solutions that can withstand the harshest environments. Whether it is the monitoring of gas levels, controlling ventilation fans or providing live video, Digital Energy’s industrially hardened Multilink switches manage the Ethernet LAN throughout a mine. In addition, the business’ MDS line wireless communication devices allow secure and cost-effective data acquisition from remote sensors, meters, alarms and relays throughout a mine.
For safe and reliable distribution of electricity, Industrial Solutions’ Arc Vault Protection System can stop an electrical arcing fault in in less than 7 milliseconds – a fraction of the time that conventional systems require. By reducing equipment and facility downtime and minimizing switchgear damage, it enables mine operators to maximise their return on investment through enhanced productivity, all while reducing the risk of on-site injuries. “When you consider that a typical arc flash produces temperatures as high as 35,000 degrees and blast waves strong enough to collapse a worker’s lungs, it becomes abundantly clear why electrical safety is a top priority for our mining customers,” said Brian Donovan, Global Leader, Vertical Markets for Industrial Solutions. “In addition to offering comprehensive arc flash studies, through continuous research, product development, technical publications and industry support, we demonstrate our resolve and commitment to lead the way in arc flash hazard reduction at mine sites around the globe.”
The Power Conversion business provides highly reliable, efficient and adaptable power conversion systems engineered with the customer’s needs at the core of their development. GE engineers are placing robust and dependable technological solutions with very little routine maintenance requirements in some of the world’s most challenging mining environments. As an example, Power Conversion’s alternating current (AC) excavator solution, which consists of drives, controls and motors, is designed specifically for challenging surface mine applications and environments.