Ampcontrol supplied a full turnkey electrical solution for the project, including engineering, manufacture, installation, testing and underground commissioning support to its customer – an unnamed Xstrata mine in New South Wales.

As part of this project Ampcontrol developed a new intrinsically safe LED lighting system, an innovative 11-kilovolt protection scheme and a SIL-3 rated high-integrity isolation system.

The 11kV longwall system eliminates the operational problems normally associated with starting large-capacity motors on AFCs when powered at the existing standard voltage of 3.3kV.

Ampcontrol power division general manager Keian Barnard said these problems included excessive voltage drop, significantly reduced motor starting torque, reduced motor efficiency, increased short-circuit currents and cable-handling issues.

Powering three 1600-kilowatt AFC motors, the Ampcontrol 11kV electrical system addresses all of these issues and has provided a step change in AFC capacity to deliver increased production rates along with the potential for increased coalface widths which were not feasible using 3.3kV.

“This project has delivered real results for our customer and provides worldwide opportunities for Ampcontrol’s innovative technology,” Barnard said.

“Recognition by Engineers Australia through the Engineering Excellence Award is testament to the skills of our people and our capacity to engineer, manufacture and commercialise innovative technology.”