One of China's largest coal mines has introduced LEDs to reduce time spent fixing lamps and avoid potental hazards on site.
The Xishan Duerping coal mine in Shanxi Province, owned by Shanxi Coking Coal, asked Shenzhen General Technology to supply 975 coal-mining lamps, using 19,500 Osram Oslon SSL LEDs. A total of 20 (20w) LEDs have been used in each lamp.
The LEDs are replacing fluorescent lamps to light up the 63.1 square km coal mine. According to Osram, the LEDs will reduce maintenance schedules from once every three months to once a year.
Osram claims the LEDs deliver energy savings of 61 per cent and acheive an annual saving of more than 28,000 Euros (pound 22,786).
Before installation, Osram's Oslon SSL LEDs underwent tests for applications in the coal mine environment. This includes coal mine safety certification, explosion-proof certification, salt-spray and waterproof testing.
"The use of LEDs in coal mine lighting is definitely taking off," said Kai-chong Cheng, senior marketing director APAC of Osram Opto Semiconductors Asia. He added: "As LEDs do not use any glass envelope and cannot break, we hope the use of these LED lamps will reduce hazards for the people who work underground."
Zhong-hua Li, chairman of the board of Shenzhen General Technology Co, said: "The average luminance is 82 lux, compared to the 45 lux of the previous incandescent lamps. With the use of advance optics, we are able to reduce glare to a minimum in this low contrast environment."
