Innovative high efficiency power system for machines and devices, increasing the level of work safety in underground mining excavations

ended

The aim of the HEET II project is to improve labour standards of miners and energy safety in the mines as well as other industries and public services. Four main issues implemented in the project (single-wire energy transmission, wireless energy transmission, monitoring, management and communication, integrated composite monorail route) definitely provide an innovative solution for a highly efficient and safe electricity transmission system. The newly developed components in the HEET II will improve safety by minimizing electric shock hazard and by increasing reliability of the electricity network especially with regard to the reduction of energy costs and capacity of batteries. HEETII is focused on developing and testing the state-of-the-art systems for powering machines and devices, mainly operating in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as coal mines. The newly developed system will consist of four critical subsystems, which can be used together or independently. The area of application of the proposed solutions is very wide and also includes public transport. Two of the subsystems will concern high-efficiency transmission of electric energy. The energy transmission will be based on single-wire and wireless technologies developed by the consortium members. The purpose of single-wire technology will be to supply energy between a power supply and distribution points, reducing the number of cables and especially the wires in cables, taking into account the reduction of their cross-section. In addition, by using single-wire technology, the risk of electric shock to employees will be minimized. The purpose of wireless electricity transmission technology will be to continuously recharge mobile batteries in transportation devices moving on a route, like suspended rail. The technology developed in this project will therefore extend the working time of such devices, which is currently limited by the energy stored in the battery in a single charge. The technology will also enhance safety significantly by eliminating the need to route cables and disassemble and recharge the batteries, as is the current practice. Since the suspended rail will be used as one of the elements of the energy transmission system, it will be another of the subsystems bringing added value in the project. The purpose of the integrated roadway will be to enable wireless transmission of energy to a receiver located in a mobile device (moving on a suspended rail) and to enable on-line monitoring of electrical and environmental parameters responsible for the HEET II system's safety. The rail will be made of composite materials, which will enable reduction of its mass while maintaining the parameters of mechanical strength. The last subsystem of the HEET II system will be the monitoring and control system of the power supply network. The purpose of this subsystem will be to record online the electrical parameters of the power supply network, data sent from the mobile machine receiver and environmental parameters. The results will be analyzed on-line and sent to processing stations. From the information it obtained, subsystem will manage the distribution of electricity, increasing energy efficiency of the mine network by minimizing interruptions in energy supply. In order to achieve planned result, the HEET II project will develop and implement a new sensor network that will be integrated into the roadway and energy transmission subsystems. Integration of individual subsystems at the test stand will allow conducting tests in experimental mine. Obtaining a positive result from tests in the experimental mine it will allow to carry out the certification process and subsequent implementation of the HEET II system in the hazardous areas, like underground coal mines.