HIGH PROFILE
Monitoring screen for a mine smartflow leaky feeder system
infrastructure provider Becker have ensured the system is vendor agnostic .
“ Having installed the smartcom ® LTE system at one of our underground test facilities in Canada , we have been able to improve on our product offering by ensuring the solution is robust and
reliable thru continuously testing and improving the solution . The goal is to optimise the signal distribution network and reduce the cost of deployment in an underground mine while ensuring the safety of mine personnel underground ,” says Albert Bower , CEO Becker Varis ( Canada ).
There are numerous advantages of radio communication via leaky feeder
Becker Mining Systems is recognised as a global communication solution provider , with decades of experience with service centres across the globe . The company is focused on design , supply and service of underground communication systems . " This knowledge and expertise have helped develop a creative approach on how to deploy an underground LTE system and we believe it is the best way to deliver an LTE network with mine-wide coverage ” says Jonas Maximilian Becker CEO , Becker Mining Europe ( Germany ). But even the most advanced technology is only of any use if you have the experienced personnel and partner to help you implement it .
LTE is promising to provide broadband highspeed connectivity with extremely low latency , providing unprecedented connectivity for mine more frequencies in a passive circuit . Possible sources are poor connections , damaged cables or water infiltration . n Throughput : LTE throughput is based on modulation type , Transport Block Size Index and TBS size . The original specification of the LTE standard states downlink peak rates of 300 Mbit / s and uplink peak rates of 75 Mbit / s . Whereas , real-world speeds fall well below this rate and will be closer to 60 Mbit / s for the Downlink and 40 Mbit / s for the uplink . n Installation Techniques : All RF cables need to be placed on hangers and separated from all other cables , something that isn ’ t always practical . Depending on the cable used this will require special cable spacers to ensure separation from the wall and other personnel in an ever increasing connected world . infrastructure , often 10 to 15 cm / 6 in . With LTE being a data only platform there is the consideration is to be given for the system challenge of user acceptance and moving away layout considering future layout changes . from the standard MR single key push to talk or n After Sales Service : Availability and support of group calls . vendor and equipment supplier . Is the vendor
LTE was originally conceived as a data only available 24 / 7 to assist with breakdowns and proposition and voice transmission was added into system issues ? the standard latter . This feature is referred to as a n Scalability : What scalability is available with Voice over Long Term Evolution ( VOLTE ) allowing regards to the system and equipment ? As the for voice calls to be transmitted as data flow within LTE standard keeps evolving there will be the LTE Network . continued standard updates . The industrial smartphone range IS540 and n Analytics : With the increasing ability to connect industrial Tablet-PC IS930 from Becker Mining everything and everyone the need for analytics
Systems allows for a systematic migration and goes hand in hand with the need for broadband user adoption of the LTE system . data .
Becker Mining Systems suggests that
To conclude , it is important to understand that a underground mines consider the following seven mines communication network does not serve things when looking at LTE networks . Challenges itself . It is the basis of a more transparent , efficient to consider when selecting an LTE solution or and safe business operation . To do so , the vendors are : operating data of machines and general equipment n RF Propagation : Several studies have been is key , from transformers and substations to fans conducted by respective safety organisations and pumps to mobile and mining machinery to globally to identify the optimal RF frequency for crushers and conveyors and sometimes even to the mines and tunnels to insure optimal RF processing side of things . Becker Mining Systems propagation . offer a wide range of hardware solutions in all of n Passive Intermodulation : One cause of selfdisturbance in LTE networks is Passive distribution , transport and mining infrastructure .
these areas in particular : automation , energy
Intermodulation or PIM . PIM is an interference The integration of all this equipment - from sensor resulting from the nonlinear mixing of two or to database - is key . IM
Collision Avoidance System testing at a Vale operation in Canada
22 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2024