News (June 01, 2001)

High-voltage Electrical Cleaning Service

An electrical company in Timmins, Ont., has a unique method for cleaning on-line electrical systems. Highvec Canada Inc. specializes in cleaning electrical power distribution centres in underground and surface mines. The method is especially useful in trackless mines, where diesel emissions can contaminate electrical systems. Highvec scans the live equipment using an infrared camera to find weaknesses and bad connections, and then “sand-blasts” the wiring and connections using high quality equipment and environmentally-friendly, sand-sized ground corn cob. The oil and dirt adheres to the ground corn cob, which is vac-uumed up and disposed of.

Company president Chuck Humphrey says that cleaning the power distribution system once every few years (depending on the environment) cuts costs by eliminating expensive repairs, reducing downtime and reducing the possibility of injury.

The company has built up a regular clientele since 1992, including Homestake Canada Inc. and Teck Corp.’s Williams mine at Hemlo, Ont., where Highvec has worked for three years. The mine’s electrical planner Doug Eidt says: “The really nice thing is that there is very little or no disruption to the mining activities in an area where they are cleaning. We don’t have to shut down the ventilation or mining. Also, they did an emergency job last year for us. Contamination had caused some corona on our main circuit switcher on the incoming line from Ontario Hydro. Highvec was able to clean it while it continued to supply power.”

New Quarry-Duty Motor

VP Electric Motors has announced the launch of a new quarry-duty motor. This motor is ruggedly built with an all-cast-iron frame, for crusher and aggregate applications. It is also suitable for use in mining and other industries. The cast iron frame–FC 200 density–has extra thick, extra deep (2-inch) ribs, which gives extra strength and improved heat dissipation. The motor has 4,140 high tensile steel shafts with roller bearings for really tough applications. Frame size is 449T, and it is available from 200 to 300 horsepower in 1,200 and 1,800 rpm. Available from Toronto-based V.J. Pamensky Canada Inc.