Thus, implementation of an IPA
increases safety and operational
reliability, while speeding time to first
production, delivering an earlier
revenue stream and reducing total
cost of ownership. An IPA often costs
considerably less to engineer,
integrate and construct than a
structure built onsite. A value
calculator is available from Eaton to
help determine the potential savings.
Attention to safety eases
compliance
Any product that improves personnel
safety should not be overlooked
when choosing power distribution
products. Today’s mines put a
premium on safety to better attract,
retain and protect skilled talent.
Other factors affecting labour costs
are also at play.
Electrical workplace safety
standards have become increasingly
stringent. The National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) 70E
Standard directly prescribes steps
that must be taken to reduce the
exposure of personnel to electrical
hazards, such as shock, electrocution,
arc flash and arc blast.
Power system and arc‑flash studies
can help mine operators identify an
arc‑flash hazard and improve
electrical workplace safety by
meeting the latest requirements
outlined in the NFPA70E Standard. A
common recommendation following
a site arc‑flash study is to consider
specifying arc‑resistant low‑voltage
switchgear as an inherently safer
option over traditional switchgear.
The primary advantage of
arc‑resistant low‑voltage switchgear
is its ability to protect personnel from
dangerous arc-flash exposure. The
arc‑tested switchgear redirects or
channels arc energy out of the top of
the gear to protect people working on
or near the energised equipment.
A circuit breaker equipped with an
arc‑flash reduction maintenance
system selector can further improve
electrical workplace safety by
providing a simple and reliable
method to reduce downstream
fault-clearing time, while
maintenance persons are performing
live work such as troubleshooting.
This solution reduces the arc‑flash
incident energy generated when a
fault occurs by utilising a high-speed
alternative trip settings group that,
when armed, provides a fast acting
response to open the breaker to clear
the fault.
Eaton has a wide range of
arc‑resistant designs tested to
ANSI/IEEE C37.20.7 standard and
has also introduced the industry’s
first low‑voltage switchgear
technology designed to extend
Type 2B arc‑resistant ratings with the
instrument and breaker secondary
door open. The product is third-party
certified to the ANSI/IEEE industry
standards for assured compliance
with the industry’s highest safety
requirements. Arc‑resistant
low‑voltage and medium‑voltage
switchgear tested to IEC standards
are also readily available in markets
where these standards apply.
Designs also feature an optional
remote racking device tailored
exclusively to support Magnum DS
breakers. This allows the operator to
remain up to 25 ft away from the
arc‑flash hazard, while performing
racking open and close functions – a
significant advantage for personnel
safety.
Low-voltage switchgear is
available in a wide range of options
specific to mining applications. The
products are proven for harsh
environments, high altitude, high
temperatures and vibration. Fixed or
draw-out circuit breakers with either
the Digitrip 1150 or the 520MC trip
units allow flexible options capable of
meeting any variety of protection and
metering/monitoring needs.
Conclusion
By staying informed of the latest
power distribution and power
management equipment advances on
the market today, mining facilities
can better assure the best of power
quality, reliability and safety to
maximise production and profitably.
Facilities will see the greatest
combined savings in energy efficiency,
reliability and cost with integrated
vendor solutions. Many miners have
also realised quantifiable advantages
via maintenance, repair and
operations (MRO) supply agreements
based on aligning with a single
manufacturer for all electrical
equipment and support. High‑quality
vendors are those that can proficiently
assess a variety of options for
integrating some of the above power
management solutions with other
energy efficient offerings, such as LED
lighting and predictive‑maintenance
products that, can detect potential
system failures before they occur. .
References
1. ‘Tracking the Trends 2014’ (Deloitte;
2014), p. 14.
Arc‑resistant low‑voltage metal-enclosed Magnum DS switchgear.
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World Coal
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August 2015
