Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring


Environmental monitoring in hazardous areas

July 2016 Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring

Sperosens is well known in the mining industry for its underground fire detection telemetry systems in SA’s deep gold and platinum mines. Over the past 20 years, the SL2010 system has became popular when it comes to underground environmental monitoring in deep mines.

Since the deep mining environments very seldom need equipment that is rated as explosion safe for hazardous gases, the SL2010 system was never designed for deployment in hazardous coal mining environments where methane gas is a common threat.

EnvironEx changes the game

Sperosens has now announced that all this has changed with the introduction of its new intrinsically safe telemetry system – EnvironEx. As the name indicates, it is fully certified to Ex ia I.

EnvironEx has the same simple architecture as the SL2010 and uses the same rugged communications technology. To deploy EnvironEx in a coalmine a DC power supply must be installed in a safe atmosphere (which can be either a suitable substation, gate-end box or a flameproof box). A single cable run of up to 1000 m can now be routed through the coal mining sections that need monitoring. Both DC power as well as digital communications is fed on this single cable, which can be any standard 4 core armoured type. Green line cable, very popular in the coal mining industry, is extremely suited for this purpose. The cable can also be configured as a number of branches by simple T-connections, providing flameproof junction boxes and glands are used.

EnvironEx utilises up to 10 of the new Sperosens SmartSensors per power supply/cable installation, which are connected to the network cable. SmartSensor measures up to four gases (including CO, CH4, O2, SO2, H2S and others). It also has connection facilities for external smoke and air velocity sensors, both intrinsically safe. Therefore a total of seven channels can be monitored by one device.

In addition, SmartSensor also houses the digital circuits necessary to communicate over the cable network back to the power supply, where a router is located to give connectivity to the mine’s underground Ethernet or fibre networks.

A full EnvironEx system consist of a large number (>500) of individual networks with power supplies and SmartSensors as described above. These individual networks are all tied together by the mine’s underground data backbone. The EnvironEx data measurements are monitored in the surface control room by a scada solution built on Adroit’s EMS technology.

SmartSensor is also available in a standalone version for connection to conventional telemetry systems using a 4-20 mA interface.

For more information contact Johan Lombard, Sperosens, 086 177 3767, johan.lombard@spero.co.za, www.spero.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Getting the chemistry right
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Grace’s European production site has relied on analogue compression load cells from Minebea Intec for decades, with the long-proven measurement concept now serving as the reference for new silo projects as the company expands its capacity.

Read more...
Why measurement matters in smelting
Endress+Hauser South Africa Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
South African smelters returning to operation after energy constraints face new demands for tighter control, better visibility and environmental compliance. Endress+Hauser explains how modern measurement technology supports safer, more efficient furnace operation and local beneficiation.

Read more...
Sun tracking with pinpoint precision
Senseca Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca has introduced the SEMS-2000 solar energy measurement system, a 2-axis solar tracker with pinpoint sun-pointing accuracy that automatically monitors direct, global and diffuse irradiance for unattended outdoor solar installations.

Read more...
AMETEK expands 993X gas analyser series with explosion-proof enclosures
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
AMETEK Process Instruments has added ATEX and IECEx Zone 1-certified explosion-proof enclosures to its 993X series of gas analysers, enabling reliable installation in Zone 1 hazardous locations where purge gas is unavailable.

Read more...
Why medical device leak testing matters for South Africa's MedTech future
ATEQ South Africa Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
As South Africa works to grow local medical technology manufacturing, non-destructive leak and flow testing is becoming a strategic quality assurance tool, helping manufacturers verify device integrity, meet regulatory requirements and improve production efficiency.

Read more...
Moving forward with reverse osmosis
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Rising water costs and pressure on infrastructure are changing the way industries view reverse osmosis. G-Chem Aquacare is developing tailored, containerised solutions that make the technology more accessible for South African industry.

Read more...
Meteorological data logger with up to 32 analogue sensors
Senseca Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca has introduced its advanced data acquisition system for environmental monitoring, which has a universal data logger for up to 32 analogue, pulse and smart digital sensors.

Read more...
Importance of gas analysis in the petrochemical industry
Elemental Analytics Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Gas analysis plays a critical role in petrochemical operations, supporting process optimisation, product quality and plant safety. As an experienced and expert gas analysis supplier, Elemental Analytics can provide the correct analyser and sample system package to meet individual plant requirements.

Read more...
Fully integrated standalone thunderstorm warning system
Senseca Sensors & Transducers Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca South Africa has introduced its BTD-1 fully integrated, standalone thunderstorm warning system, which detects lightning by monitoring the background quasi-electrostatic field. The system can generate alerts before the first lightning strike, with a detection raterange of up to 83 km.

Read more...
Environmental monitoring with testo Saveris 1
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The testo Saveris 1 environmental monitoring system has been in continuous use since 2010 at Jungbunzlauer, a biotechnology company in Germany, providing seamless temperature and humidity data for audit-ready, GxP-compliant processes across laboratories, warehouses and production areas.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved