EASE Deliver Underground Dust Extraction System for QLD Coal Mine

RIO TINTO's Kestrel Coal Mine, located 40 kilometres north-east of Emerald in Central Queensland, approached Emerald Air Starters & Equipment's Workshop Department seeking a Dust Extraction System suitable for use in their hazardous underground mining environment.

Kestrel Mine is an underground coal mine which uses the longwall and continuous miner method to mine high quality coking and thermal coal for export. The coal deposit is part of the Bowen Basin, a significant Permian coal basin stretching 600 kilometres long and 250 kilometres wide.

After initial investigations EASE found that the most suitable model, a Hare & Forbes DC-7 Dust Collector, was a 240V electric powered unit - this posed a significant problem as all underground coal mine's require systems to be 'spark proof' or air powered to avoid explosions occurring from electrical sparks coming into contact with flammable/toxic gasses.

EASE pride themselves on being Central Queensland's premier pneumatic tool suppliers, so we knew we could adapt one of our many Air Motors to this product, making it both mine-site compliant and safe/suitable for use underground. RIO TINTO approached the team at EASE because of our long standing relationship with them helped illustrate over the years the fact EASE think outside of the box, using our in-house workshop resources to resolve mining equipment problems/issues that no other Central Queensland retailer can!

The DC-7 Dust Collector was to be operated in confined underground areas of Kestrel Mine - areas where there is little to no ventilation. It's purpose is to extract harmful coal dust ('coal fine') from the underground atmosphere, making it safe to breathe for miners operating underground without specialised breathing apparatus. Though our extensive range of Air Motors & Air Starters EASE was able to easily procure an Air Motor from from one of our suppliers, PT Industrial, that exactly matched the specifications of the Electric Motor found on the DC-7 Dust Collector. The EASE workshop was then able to quickly and easily retrofit a GLOBE VS8C Geared Vane Air Motor to replace the DC-7's electric starting motor.

GLOBE Geared Vane Air Motors are of the vane type and available with a standard range of worm and coaxial gearboxes. They generate high torques and low speeds of rotation required in many applications. Power ranges up to 8,3 kW at 6 bar air pressure. The motor and gearbox are directly mounted onto each other, making them compact and excellent resistible against outside influences.

Emerald Air Starters & Equipment's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Innovation - System Reliability - Safety and most importantly Site Compliance. This project was delivered on time and within budget. Click below to view the full range of Ventilation Equipment currently available at EASE.