Abstract
A powered longwall mining system comprises three basic machines: a shearer, a scraper (longwall) conveyor, and a powered roof support. The powered roof support as a component of a longwall complex has two functions. It protects the working from roof rocks that fall to the area where the machines and people work and transports the machines and devices in the longwall as the mining operation proceeds further into the seam by means of hydraulic actuators that are adequately connected to the powered support. The actuators are controlled by a hydraulic or electro-hydraulic system. The tests and analyses presented in the developed procedure are oriented towards the possibility of introducing automatic control, without the participation of an operator. This is important for the exploitation of seams that are deposited at great depths. The primary objective was to develop a comprehensive methodology for testing and evaluating the possibility of using the system under operating conditions. The conclusions based on the analysis presented are a valuable source of information for the designers in terms of increasing the efficiency of the operation of the system and improving occupational safety. The authors have proposed a procedure for testing and evaluation to introduce an automatic control system into the operating conditions. The procedure combines four areas. Tests and analyses were carried out in order to determine the extent to which the system could be potentially used in the future. The presented solution includes certification and executive documentation.
Highlights
IntroductionThe development of the underground coal mining industry is boosted by the need to improve the efficiency of the mining process, at the same time, maintaining the required level of safety and protecting the environment
With the development of intelligent computing technologies, it has become possible to develop intelligent algorithms related to neural networks, fuzzy logic, hybrid methods [58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77]. This formed the foundation for the development of an automatic control system for a powered roof support in a longwall complex
It is important to prepare the roof support in such a way that after it is installed in the longwall and launched, the automatic control systems take over the functions previously performed by the operator
Summary
The development of the underground coal mining industry is boosted by the need to improve the efficiency of the mining process, at the same time, maintaining the required level of safety and protecting the environment. Machines and devices with innovative designs that automate the process of mining are the key elements required to improve the mining process. One of the basic directions of development in the world mining industry is the automation of a longwall unit. Today, manufactured longwall shearers have improved mining efficiency with a face feed speed of almost 10 m/min. This means that the sections of the powered roof support must be moved within a maximum of 9 s for sections that are
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