# Mining Contract: Supplementary Technologies for Advanced Mine Communication Networks

Keywords:BatteriesCommunicationsGeneratorsInstrumentsWireless node communications systems

| Contract #                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 200-2008-24628 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
| 8/19/2008                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 12/31/2009                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| This contract will develop a Universal Signal Evaluation Package for 75- and 150-MHz bands, adapt a passive magnetic amplifier for 900-MHz, and investigate energy harvesting technologies. Prototype devices will be tested in a mine environment, as follows:
- An existing universal signal evaluation package will be enhanced through additional recording and mapping capabilities at the 75-MHz and 150-MHz frequency bands. This will permit equitable evaluations of most wireless communication technologies underground.
- An existing 2.4-GHz passive magnetic amplifier will be reconfigured for use at 900-MHz to increase antenna range and efficiency.
- Portable energy harvesting techniques such as the Stirling Engine, wind generators, induced currents, heat capture, and piezoelectric power will be investigated for possible application underground to charge batteries. |
| - Emergency Communications and Tracking                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

## Contract Status & Impact

This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.

Recording and mapping instruments for 75- and 150-MHz signal bands were delivered to NIOSH along with operation manuals for their use.

A small wind generator has been tested in the laboratory at velocities below six miles per hour and found to generate sufficient power for wireless communication nodes. A Stirling Engine has also been identified which can generate small amounts of power through magnetic induction by using a rare earth permanent magnet and a multiple turn coil.

A wireless access network has been installed in NIOSH's Safety Research Coal Mine to serve as a test bed for evaluating the signal recording and mapping instruments, the prototype energy harvesting, and future passive magnetic amplifier developed under this contract.

----

          - Communication Systems Research At Bruceton Safety Research Mine
          - Development of a Through-the-Earth Monitor System
          - Propagation of EM Signals in Underground Mines
          - Radio System Modifications for Improved Mine Safety (Medium Frequency)
          - Technical Services for Mine Communications Research: Task A, Task Order No. 1 - Applicability of State-Of-The-Art Voice Bandwidth Compression Techniques for Wireless Mine Communication
          - Technology News 544 - New Measurement Tool to Validate Wireless Communications and Tracking Radio Signal Coverage in Mines
          - Through-The-Earth Wireless Real-Time Two-Way Voice Communications
          - U.S. Bureau of Mines New Developments in Mine Communications
          - Underground Mine Communications
          - Wireless Through-The-Earth Modeling and Support

July 18, 2016

September 25, 2014

National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthMining Program

- Facebook
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- Syndicate