A Polish research team has developed a new technology for signal transmission. The UTS system for transmission of slow-changing analogue and two-state signals can be used at plants with explosion-hazardous areas. The basic function of this system is to ensure reliable duplex transmission of signals between the visualisation system of processes variables placed on the mine head and underground devices that are up to 10 km remote. They are looking for partners interested in co-operation.

The UTS (Unisys Transmittal System) intrinsically safe system for transmission of slow-changing analogue and two-state signals is designed to transfer data from sensors operating in explosion-hazardous zones to a visualisation system. The UTS (dispatching station for configuration, control functions and continuous data monitoring) system enables to concentrate the signals acquired from a dozen or so sensors in a signal lead and to transmit them to the mine head. It is possible to connect up to eight underground outstations to one line, that perform initial multiplexing of data from four sensors being in a distance even of up to 500m. Length of the whole communication line can reach up to 10km. Such architecture enables easy connection of any sensor requiring data transmission to the mine head. The system is equipped with mechanisms providing monitoring of continuity and fault of the line as well as monitoring of efficiency of particular underground stations. That feature makes the system easy to maintain and ensures signalling of any incorrect system operation.
Basic elements of the system:
- Mine head station
- Underground outstation SDW (underground outstation)
- Analogue underground outstation SDA (Polish acronym -analogue underground outstation)
- Two-state underground outstation SDD (two-state underground outstation)
The central surface station consists of three standard 19'' cassettes (width 4T / height 3U) containing the following elements:
- Transmission blocks
- Intrinsically safe blocks of separation
- 48V/5V DC/DC (direct current/direct current) power supply converters
- 48V/48V DC/DC separating converters
The system is supplied from the mine head via the intrinsically safe barriers. Input and output data from the system are transferred by the asynchronous serial interfaces conforming to the RS-485 standard and MODBUS protocol in the network layer. The system includes also the SU-UTS (signalling unit - Unisys Transmittal System) maintenance stand that performs configuration and control functions. SU-UTS software runs on two redundant PC-class computers. It is also possible to transfer SU-UTS data directly to the SQL (simple query language) base, which can be the interface to another system of process variables visualisation.

Innovative Aspects:
- Use of redundant industrial controllers together with PC computers ensures a high reliability level
- Remote power supply of all underground devices
- Automatic monitoring of transmission line status (discontinuity, short)
- Automated diagnostic of underground outstations and input detectors

Main Advantages:
- The intrinsically safe design of underground devices allows to use the system in the mining industry, in methane mines and other explosion hazardous areas
- Possibility of integration with other visualisation systems of process variables using the SQL database
- Standard input/output interfaces

• Databases, Database Management, Data Mining
• Network Technology, Network Security
• Satellite Technology / Systems / Positioning / Communication
• Mining Technologies

• Information processing, information systems
• Telecommunications

• Data Communications
• Data communication components
• Exploration Services
• Coal Related

• Technical Co-operation
• Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance