Mine Electrical Systems

Electrical equipment for the mining industry requires unique construction and arrangement to meet the harsh operating conditions and specific regulations and standards for underground and surface mines.  Intermountain Electronics has the knowledge, experience and capabilities to provide the equipment necessary to meet these rigorous requirements.  We can build completely new or reconditioned electrical equipment as well as repair or modify existing equipment utilizing our extensive knowledge and experience of technical and operational requirements of these applications.

Intermountain Electronics ensures that the equipment we provide operates efficiently and safely while still being user-friendly for the individuals who operate and maintain it.  We work closely with our customers to verify that there is compliance with the appropriate standards and regulations.

Mine Load Centers/Power Centers

Mine Load Centers, also known as Power Centers, are used to transform high voltage, usually in the 5 kV to 15 kV classes, to low voltage.  The low voltage outputs of these units, with typical voltage ratings of 480 to 1000 volts, are generally provided with appropriate overcurrent protection, monitoring, metering and a means for disconnection.

Intermountain Electronics can provide durable and reliable power centers of the highest quality, custom designed to meet the customer’s specific physical and electrical requirements.

Switchgear are used to isolate and protect high voltage circuits in underground mines, surface mines and in surface substations.  This equipment can vary in dimensions from very low-profile units for underground mines to full height arrangements designed for “walk-in” buildings.

Intermountain Electronics can design and build switchgear to meet the most stringent physical and electrical specifications to assure safe and efficient protection of your high voltage distribution system.

Switchgear

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Power Centers Switchgear Motor Starters Longwall Controls Distribution Boxes
Substations Capacitor Banks Diesel Generation Sets Leaky Feeder Radio Systems
Vehicle Tracking Systems

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Motor Starters

Motor starters are required throughout the mining environment to energize and control drive motors for equipment such as conveyors, pumps and fans.  These applications can range up to thousands of horsepower with low, medium or high voltage motors.  The starters may be simple Across-the-line (ATL) arrangements, sophisticated PLC controlled Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s), Soft-Starts or some combination.

Intermountain Electronics integrates these requirements to design and build these starters for your specific requirements with all the physical or technical modifications necessary.

Longwall mining is a very highly productive method of recovering coal, trona and other minerals from underground mines.  This method of mining requires large horsepower motors with complex control arrangements.  These controls may be housed in either explosion proof (permissible) or non-explosion proof enclosures.

Intermountain Electronics can provide these types of controls and the associated engineering, design, MSHA approval applications and start-up support required for this system of equipment.  Our knowledgeable and experienced personnel can help to smoothly coordinate the utilization of these Longwall Mining systems.

Longwall Controls

Distribution boxes are used to properly protect low voltage circuits that must be extended to one or more pieces of equipment.  These applications may be in permissible explosion proof or non-explosion proof enclosures.  Each box may have multiple output circuits depending on the mines requirements.

Intermountain Electronics can configure these distribution boxes as needed to provide the most effective and convenient arrangement for the customer.  We can also assist in obtaining MSHA approvals for permissible systems when required.

Distribution Boxes

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Substations

Substations are used by underground and surface mines to transform utility
or generator supplied electrical power to the required voltage and protective
arrangement for a specific application. These substations can be arranged as
a permanent conventional design with individual stand-alone components,
in a pre-assembled skid-mounted design or any desired combination.
Intermountain Electronics has full metal fabrication capabilities for design
and assembly of steel structures for supporting bus, switches, arrestors,
insulators, etc. as required for open designs. We also design and build steel
buildings or enclosures for switchgear in indoor, outdoor, or walk-in
arrangements. These substations can be skid-mounted in a durable, heavy-
duty design for portability and versatility in relocating by skidding or
trucking to various locations. Our portable substations have been operating
for years in harsh mining environments ranging from the extreme heat and
blowing sand of the Mojave Desert, the frigid temperatures, snow and ice of
the U.S. Continental Divide, the jungles of Nicaragua, and the extremes of
the high altitude Andes Mountains in Chile.

Capacitor Banks are used to improve the power factor of the distribution
system. This improvement can greatly reduce the costs of power from the
utility company serving you and can improve the efficiency and ease of
starting motors.
Intermountain Electronics can assist in the analysis of your electrical system
to determine your capacitor requirements. We can then provide these
capacitors in a package to suit your specific needs. Arrangements can
include open, pole-top assemblies, or enclosed banks for indoor, outdoor or
underground applications. These banks may be fixed for continuous
operation, switched for utilization as required or a combination of fixed and
switched capacitors. Intermountain Electronics has years of experience in
providing the correct capacitor assemblies for our customers’ specific
requirements.

Capacitor Banks

Diesel Generation Set

Diesel powered generator sets provide a portable power source for applications where utility supplied power is not available.  These generator sets are typically used for mine start-ups, back-ups for ventilation fans and to move mining equipment on the surface or underground.

Intermountain Electronics  is an industry leader in providing large generators for moving shovels and drills in surface mines or compact, low-profile, skid-mounted units for utilization in underground mines.  These custom-built units comply with all applicable standards and regulations for safe and efficient operation.

Leaky Feeder is a partially shielded coaxial cable used to distribute radio frequency (RF) signals throughout an underground environment.  It has proven itself as a superior method for underground wireless voice, data, and video communications.  The leaky feeder network can also interface with other surface and underground communication systems.  The benefits of a leaky feeder network are; Improved emergency/production/breakdown response of key personnel, remote monitoring by video and or data of underground equipment, and remote or automatic control of equipment.

Intermountain Electronics can analyze your specific situation to determine the most effective solution for your communication needs.

Leaky Feeder Radio Systems

Vehicle Tracking is a radio Frequency Identification system consisting of tags, reader, network, computer and software that will provide a graphical representation of various items such as personnel, vehicles, products, and equipment.  Vehicle Tracking provide timely and accurate location data  that can be used to meet safety, production, and cost reduction targets.  Some benefits include; Location positioning of personnel and vehicles, monitor and review production vehicle cycles, adjusting ventilation based on number of cycles and type of vehicles, and resource tracking history.

Intermountain Electronics can analyze your specific situation and tailor the vehicle tracking system to meet your needs.

Vehicle Tracking Systems

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