FIBRE OPTIC SENSING

FOR UNDERGROUND COAL MINES

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CRCMining – TRANSFORMING MINING

CRCMining is the pre-eminent, industry-driven centre

for global mining research and innovation.

We deliver transformational research and innovations

that maximise mining productivity and enhance

resource utilisation and sustainability.

We develop highly-skilled leaders to drive the

adoption of new mining processes and technologies.

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CRCMining – RESEARCH STRATEGY

› Members develop a common research vision with a

20 year timeframe

› Develop a rolling 8 year roadmap to achieve major

research outcomes for meeting the vision

› From the roadmap continually identify and deliver

solutions that have immediate impact to our

members businesses

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WHAT WILL THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

Data Analytics “Companies that successfully use data outperform their peers by

20% and continue to generate additional value through analytic

insights that enable informed data-driven decision-making at an

executive level.1”

1. Mitchell, P 2014, ‘Productivity in mining: now comes the hard part, A global Survey’, Ersnt &

Young and SMI report.

Automation

Real time visualisation

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A UNIQUE SENSING ENVIRONMENT

• Extensively distributed Environment

• Hazardous Area Restrictions

• Oppressive Environment • Dust

• Humidity

• Water

• Corrosion

• No GPS!

• Constantly Evolving Mine Plan

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SENSING REQUIREMENTS IN MINING

Hazardous Area Compatible

High Reliability & Stability

Long Range Remote Operation >20km

High Bandwidth and Sensitivity for Excellent Performance

Small and Lightweight Sensors

Minimum Maintenance in Harsh Operational Environment

Low Life-cycle Cost

Accurate, real-time Measurement

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FIBRE OPTIC SENSING

(QOREX, 2013)

A single optical fibre can replace thousands of conventional sensors

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DISTRIBUTED SENSING - THE FIBRE IS THE

SENSOR

• Technology capable of turning regular fibre optic cable into an

array of temperature or acoustic sensors

• Uses a laser light pulse and the “Rayleigh scattering” effect to

measure strain in the proximity of the fibre

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WHAT CAN WE MEASURE WITH FIBRE

OPTICS?

Rotation

Humidity

Position Sensing

Acceleration

Small Displacements

Strain

Shape

Gas Concentration

Gas Velocity

Acoustic Noise

Pressure

Torque

Temperature

Force

Vibration

FIBRE OPTIC METHANE SENSING

FOR UNDERGROUND COAL MINES

Transforming Gas Monitoring

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FIBRE OPTIC METHANE DETECTION

Spectroscopic Detection:

Molecular finger print ( to avoid cross sensitivity)

Sensitive

Real-time detection

No electrical power at sensor

Low Cost sensor

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CRCMINING PROTOTYPE METHANE SENSOR

SYSTEM

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CRCMINING PROTOTYPE METHANE SENSOR

SYSTEM

• Six channels fibre optic input/output

• Infra-red laser of 1654nm/ low power

• Outputs RS 485/USB

• Low Cost sensor head

• Early lab results exciting

• Single Calibration

DISTRIBUTED CONVEYOR MONITORING

Transforming conveyor operations through real-time conveyor

monitoring and failure prediction

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DISTRIBUTED TEMPERATURE SENSING

Temperature is measured to a spatial resolution of 1 m with accuracy to within ±1℃ and at a resolution of 0.01℃.

Optical fibre: Linear Temperature Sensor

Control unit : Laser source, Optical module, Receiver and Micro-processor

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SITE TRAILS – DISTRIBUTED TEMPERATURE

SENSING

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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LABORATORY TEST – DISTRIBUTED

ACOUSTIC SENSING

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FIELD TEST – DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING

Fibre Optic Cable

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ACOUSTIC FAILURE SIGNATURE

FAILED IDLER 6 AT STRUCTURE 72

A GOOD IDLER (REFERENCE)

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WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Opportunities for your operations?

• Gases

• Ventilation air velocity

• Humidity

• Dust Levels

• Personnel Detection

• Rock fall Detection

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A VISION FOR TRANSFORMING

MINE SENSING

• CRCMining is developing a suite of fibre optic

sensing solutions for underground coal mining

• High quality stable and accurate, distributed

sensing solutions

• Extensive sensing network is a key enabler for

technology and innovation in underground coal

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CRCMINING TRANSFORMING MINING