Abstract
As a decision-making problem, selecting proper machines and equipment plays a key role for mining sites and companies. Many factors affect this decision, and values belonging to these factors can be expressed numerically and/or non-numerically. In order to make the most appropriate decision, engineers must carry out an evaluation process that comprises all criteria that might affect decision-making. To achieve this, multi-criteria decision-making tools are used. As a result of technological developments, coal outputs in longwall mining have risen tremendously over the last decades, and longwall mechanisation has become unavoidable. The significance of powered roof supports in particular increases day- by-day, since the rate of roof support has to be in accordance with the rate of face advance in longwalls. In this study, an integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy goal programming model is used to select the most suitable powered roof supports. The procedure is applied to a real-life underground coal mine that is operated using the longwall method. Seven alternative powered roof supports are compared with each other, taking a total of 24 decision criteria under four main topics into account. In conclusion, the most suitable roof supports for the mine under study are determined and recommended to the decision-makers of the system.
Highlights
Excavation of coal in the panel is an almost continuous operation in longwall production
The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach is used to select powered roof supports in an underground coal mine
In longwall mining, selecting the most appropriate powered roof support involves a set of criteria that need to be considered
Summary
As a decision-making problem, selecting proper machines and equipment plays a key role for mining sites and companies. Many factors affect this decision, and values belonging to these factors can be expressed numerically and/or non-numerically. An integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy goal programming model is used to select the most suitable powered roof supports. Die belang van aangedrewe plafonstutte het veral toegeneem as gevolg van die vinnige tempo van skag verlenging. ʼn Wasige analitiese hiërargieproses en wasige doelbeplanningsmodel word gebruik om die gepaste aangedrewe plafonstutte te kies. Sewe aangedrewe plafonstutte word met mekaar vergelyk; die vergelyking neem 24 besluitnemingskriteria, wat onder vier hoofafdelings verdeel is, in ag.
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