The Leaky Feeder System of Becker Mining Systems Obtains US Approval
23 July 2008
Becker Mining Systems, one of the world's leading suppliers for coal mines at risk of firedamp, has been able to chalk up a further success in its expansion into mining in the United States. After a 17-month examination of the leaky feeder system of Becker Mining Systems, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved it for operation in mines at risk of firedamp.
"The approval of the MSHA is a high hurdle for all products to be introduced to the US market," Max Brinckman, vice president for sales at Becker Mining Systems, says. "With this approval, we have taken a huge step forward on the US market."
Becker Mining Systems has obtained the approval for both its VHF and UHF technology, as well as for the pertinent power supply (MSHA Certificate No. 23-A080003-0 Title 30 "Code of Federal Regulations, Part 23"). Since Becker has already obtained the approval for a use of the systems in the state of West Virginia and expects to receive approval for Pennsylvania shortly, it can now install the system without delay.
With the approval, it is now also possible to have supplementary system components certified within the scope of an accelerated procedure. Michael Bruno, managing director at the South African Becker subsidiary Becker R&D, expects the approval of all components within a few months.
Becker Mining Systems has performed the entire certification procedure together with its US partners Pillar Innovations and SMC. In addition, Pillar Innovation is also seeking approval from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). At present, the NIOSH is evaluating the system in the Loveridge reference mine in West Virginia together with Pillar Innovations.
The Becker leaky feeder technology is the ideal communication system for mines at risk of explosion. It is based on a transmissive antenna cable that can send signals to the direct vicinity and also receive them. In addition to pure communication, the leaky feeder technology can also assume other message ransmission tasks, for example, for automation plants and tagging-and-tracking or collision-avoidance systems. Due to its upwards-compatible cables, the Becker leaky feeder systems are also designed for 2.4GHz WLAN technology, as well as for future applications with higher bandwidth.
With the new double and triple entry layout, the leaky feeder technology also provides opportunities to supply mines having several parallel access points with affordable wireless communication. In view of compatibility, VHF and UHF systems can be combined and previously installed cables in the mine can thus be integrated. In the process, the installation of a double or triple entry system is considerably cheaper than several independent systems. A double entry system thus costs about 60% of what two independent systems would cost. In the case of a triple entry system, the costs lie at only 43%.
Becker Mining Systems is one of the world's leading suppliers of bituminous coal mines with products from the areas of transport, communication, automation, energy, and expansion technology. The company offers a wide portfolio of firedamp-protected products, from overhead monorails and highvoltage transformers to WLAN and VoIP systems underground.
