An underground mine is dark, damp, and heavily laden with a variety of heavy equipment. An electrician is needed just to power the mining equipment that might rely on over 500 machines. In order to power all these devices or any other device while mining, a utility truck is required for transport energy, and it can be used 24 hours without electricity supply.
All the tools that are required for mining are powered by electricity, and this electricity is generated in the utility truck (also called a generator truck). The vehicle runs on diesel or gasoline and has about six to eight generator units. With the help of these generators, it produces enough electricity for use during the excavation process.
The size of batteries determines how much power can be provided. The bigger the battery, the more power it can hold. The bigger the power output, the more batteries it can supply. The size of a battery depends mainly on what kind of mining you want to carry out. Different types of mining (such as underground) and different types of batteries are used for different lengths of time. However, all these batteries are necessary if you plan to do any type of mining.
After all the underground equipment is powered, you need to use the electricity back. You can use it for lighting, ventilation fans, lifts and other underground vehicles.
The two main types of batteries used are lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. The main differences between these two are that a lead-acid battery has plates, and plates are made up of lead-acid, while NiCd has sulfuric acid. Both types of batteries need maintenance in order to operate efficiently.
A lead-acid battery has a long duration of life and is also cost-effective. A NiCd battery can be charged much more quickly than a lead-acid battery, but it will discharge much quicker. For most types of mining, a lead-acid battery works well, but for deep mining, NiCd batteries are more suitable.
The lights that are used do not just provide light when the miner is working. They are designed to illuminate the work area at all times – even during the night.
Power is required for mining, and the last thing you want is to be stuck without it. Therefore, you need to keep track of the power needs of your equipment. In addition, you also need to have a well-equipped utility truck that can provide electrical energy for different types of mining equipment.
For nearly a half a century, Becker Mining has been at the forefront of mine power systems. Becker/SMC is the industry’s leader in increasingly more sophisticated electrical control systems.
