Abstract
The article presents tests on the possibility of using ultrasonic transducers for accurate distance measurement in hard coal mines. In order to check the impact of selected disturbing factors on the measurement results, test stands were built, and then a full cycle of measurements with the use of different transducers (AR30 and AR41), which were selected and pre-tested in previous research projects, was realized. The impact of such disturbing factors as airborne dust (coal, stone, lime and mixed dust), changes in temperature and humidity on the propagation of ultrasonic waves, amplitude and measurement accuracy was investigated. The tests were preceded by theoretical analysis. It was found that the transducers selected for the tests had a sufficient accuracy and range, so they can be used in the devices planned to be designed, allowing for the determining of the location of a roadheader in hard coal mine roadways, taking into account technical and legal restrictions. It was also specified which disturbing factors should be compensated and what methods and parameters of this compensation should be used.
Highlights
Academic Editors: Rajender GuptaThe requirements of reducing the manufacturing costs, increasing the efficiency, as well as improving people’s working conditions and limiting their presence in risk zones make it necessary to look for new solutions, often based on automation, in industrial production enterprises [1,2], and in the mining industry [3]
The system should be easy and quick to install, allowing to work without having to be moved during a work shift, while meeting the technical and legal requirements for operating in hard coal mines. Such a system can be classified as an example of the real-time locating system (RTLS), a class of systems that allow the determination of the position of objects in a specific environment or building, usually based on the transmission of radio waves, ultrasound or lasers [6,7]
In the result the following specific devices were selected as the transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic waves: ultrasonic transducers AR30 and AR41, manufactured by AIRMAR for distance measurements in an air medium [27]
Summary
The requirements of reducing the manufacturing costs, increasing the efficiency, as well as improving people’s working conditions and limiting their presence in risk zones make it necessary to look for new solutions, often based on automation, in industrial production enterprises [1,2], and in the mining industry [3]. Review and analysis of working conditions, technical requirements and limitations, as well as legal ones, relating to devices intended for operation in hard coal mines; Analysis of available solutions that are currently used in mining and can potentially be adapted to the requirements of the planned application; Review of the methods for determining the location and distance as well as measurement algorithms; Assessment of suitability of the available methods and devices for the expected application through SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis; Theoretical analysis of the properties of ultrasonic waves initially selected as a technology that can meet the requirements of the expected application; Selection of the type and parameters of ultrasonic transducers to be used in the developed system; Design of a testing facility for distance measurements with the use of ultrasonic transducers; Preliminary tests of ultrasonic transducers;. The ultrasonic wave is the vibration of the elastic medium particles, propagating in the form of a longitudinal wave [19], that can be affected by the environment composition heterogeneity (e.g., the difference in density or temperature, foreign particles inclusions (e.g., dust, water drops) and transmission medium movements
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