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underground safety equipment Safety Advances with Longwall Power Systems VFDs become an accepted technology on the road to full automation BY STEVE FISCOR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF If mines are to achieve automated longwall mining, advanced electrical systems will play a significant role. A number of new longwall mines have started up in the Illinois Basin in the last few years. One aspect that distinguishes these longwall systems from others is the technological and design innovation of the electrical distribution systems. Another distinguishing characteristic is the company who manufactures these systems: Intermountain Electronics, Inc. (IE), a Utahbased company that is competing successfully in this space against traditional providers such as Line Power and SMC. IE has been maintaining, rebuilding and upgrading longwall electrics for 20 years now. However, the Foresight Energy installations were the first systems wholly designed and manufactured by IE. The systems involved innovative uses of VFDs, ground faults and other devices, aimed at greatly improved safety and reliability. IE worked closely with the customer to meet its operating requirements while managing the certification and approval process with MSHA's Approval & Certification Center (A&CC;) in Tridelphia, W.Va. IE has assembled a team of 15 experts with hands-on experience in the area of longwall electrics. "We pride ourselves on our service capabilities," Phil Blackburn, IE's chief commercial officer, 44 www.coalage.com said. "Foresight Energy wanted help with electrical engineering and they also wanted the service and support after the sale. Once they learned about the depth of our team, they recognized that we could be a great asset to their longwall programs both before and after delivery." Getting the Green Light Foresight Energy first approached IE for the electrical system on its Deer Run longwall. The company's other operating longwall mine, Mach, also wanted a set of electrics—its second—to rotate in and out with its first set. "We received the purchase order for the Deer Run system first," Blackburn said. "The original plan was to deliver it by the end of 2011. The service aspect was a big issue for them." The second order, for the Mach mine, followed shortly. When Mach,one of the most productive mines in the U.S., surged ahead of its production plan on its existing longwall panel, IE was asked to bump its electrics ahead for a December 2011 delivery. Deer Run's system then followed in May. IE delivered two brand new systems in the first half of 2012. Deer Run has since ordered a second set from IE that will be delivered in the summer of 2013. May 2013