Bestech Australia - Sensors and Measurement Instrumentation for Mining Applications

Bestech Australia is a specialist in sensors and measurement instrumentation, and many of its products have been used in various mining applications.

Strain gauges for stress analysis in mine shafts

Bestech is a specialist in strain gauges, and can supply strain gauges for various purposes and any environment. A strain gauge would typically be used for stress analysis in mine shafts, to warn against any impending collapse. They may be attached on to the concrete lining of a deep mine shaft to measure stresses in the concrete and provide indications as to whether the mine shaft is unsafe to work in or if reinforcements are needed.

Inclinometers and accelerometers for vibration measurement

Inclinometers can be used for measurement of vibration and any angles of tilt. These inclinometers can be highly sensitive and can be a simple safety device to be used down in the mines. Inclinometers can signal rock shifts and movements in the surrounding earth. Inclinometers can also be useful on civil engineering machinery, which is at the heart of any mining work.

Vibrations can also be measured using accelerometers, and there are accelerometers with large shock and vibration capacities that are used especially for this purpose.

Laser distance sensors and laser displacement sensors

The AR4000 laser rangefinder, a laser distance sensor, has been used quite recently for tunnel / shaft profiling in mining works. The laser rangefinder is used in conjunction with a precise spinning mirror assembly to provide a 360° profile of the mine shaft. The accompanying software is easy to use and allows for visual as well as numerical representations of the profile.

Laser displacement sensors have also been used to determine the sag in mining conveyor belts. The amount of sag is a measure of the ore on the conveyor belt. Together with a logger with date and time-stamped data, it becomes a neat solution for monitoring the loading of the conveyor belt.

Pressure transducers and handheld manometers

A large range of pressure sensors are offered, which are widely used in mining applications. Applications for these pressure transducers can include the measurement of drafts in the mine. There is also a range of general manometers with excellent specifications; Bestech can offer handheld manometers with good accuracy, and these have been requested in the past for mining applications. The LEO record can also be used to record pressure and temperature over long periods with high accuracy.

Gas concentration sensors

Bestech has sensors to measure the presence and concentration of various gases, including carbon monoxide (CO), in air. In addition, it can detect any excess harmful gases in mines due to insufficient ventilation or harmful gas particles released from mining activity. This device can measure the concentration of gases such as CO₂, carbon monoxide, NO₂, NH₃, oxygen, etc.

Explosion-proof sensors

Bestech also provides explosion-proof sensors, which is often a prerequisite in many mining applications. Various levels of environmental protection in most sensors can be provided; for example, for hazardous environments, high temperature, corrosion resistance, etc.

Load cells, draw wire sensors and submersible measuring equipment

There are many other sensors from Bestech that can be used in the mining industry. Load cells can be used for any weighing or force measurements, and very high capacities and accuracies are catered for. Draw wire sensors can also be used as a contact method of measuring displacement, and these can be low-cost and very accurate. In addition, Bestech has a variety of submersible measuring equipment, such as submersible LVDTs, for offshore mining.

Finally, signal conditioners, signal converters and data loggers for all instruments are also available, to enable the user to achieve the best possible measurement results.