Automation of the control process by the shearer drum in terms of coal seam hypsometry

Abstract

Purpose. To develop a method for synthesizing a fuzzy automatic control system for a shearer drum in terms of coal seam hypsometry basing on the information criterion of the beginning of rock cutting-off by the drum to reduce ash content of the extracted coal. Methodology. Taking into consideration peculiarities of determining a distinct information criterion of the beginning of rock cutting-off by the drum and regularities of its variations during the shearer operation, a fuzzy inference algorithm is developed for a system of fuzzy automatic drum control in terms of seam hypsometry. In this context, rules of fuzzy productions, parameters of the membership functions of terms of the output linguistic variable system, and fuzzy operations are substantiated according to the recommendations of a classic Mamdani fuzzy inference algorithm. Studies are carried out to analyze the efficiency of the proposed fuzzy inference algorithm basing on the introduced relative parameter of the number of effective control actions formed by the fuzzy control system. Simulation modeling makes it possible to perform comparative analysis of the efficiency of the drum control. Findings. In the course of research, an algorithm of fuzzy control of the shearers upper drum in terms of coal seam hypsometry has been developed basing on the determination of direct and inverse transfer from coal breaking near the seam roof by the shearer drum to rock breaking with the help of statistical analysis of the stator power of a cutting drive motor. Originality. For the first time, a method of synthesis of fuzzy automatic control of the drum in terms of seam hypsometry has been proposed. Practical value. The proposed method is the theoretical basis to solve important scientific and applied problem of the automation of the coal shearer drum in terms of seam hypsometry to reduce ash content of the produced coal.