Rating the speed of the shearer’s electric motor drive load automatic control

Abstract

Introduction. It is possible to improve productivity, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency of coal extraction due to the efficient use of physical resources, technical upgrade of mechanized longwall equipment, and introduction of advanced technologies and control methods. The existing method of shearer electric motor drive automation based on the automated load controller of Uran type has a significant drawback of low speed. In case the actuator (A) meets solid rock and the shearer’s (S) speed is not changed, it may result in heavy shock loads on A and its transmission, therefore, increased wear of the cutter or machine’s breakage, leading to production loss due to the reduced speed of travel along the face. The foregoing demands higher standards of the load controller’s speed, making the task of improving the control system’s development a relevant scientific task. Research aim is to synthesize the neural tuner for the coefficients of the proportional-integral controller (PI controller) in the control system of a shearer with increased speed as compared to the existing standard controllers. The research also aims to estimate its efficiency by the method of mathematical simulation. Methodology. Mathematical model has been developed which has made it possible to compare the performance of standard controllers with an adaptive PI controller. The structure and parameters of the neural network underlying the controller have been substantiated. The proposed controller was compared to the standard PI controller and to the MPC controller (microprocessor-based speed controller) by the method of simulation experiment. Research results. The adaptive PI controller has been synthesized based on the neural network which allows changing the coefficients of the PI controller as soon as coal strength changes. Summary. The simulation experiment has shown that the PI controller with the neural network tuner for its coefficients in the control system will make it possible to increase the load controller’s speed by 1.5 to 3 times on average as compared to the classical controller. Therefore, it is going to be possible to avoid critical overload and breakage of mechanical parts in the shearer’s transmission in case of the sudden contact of its actuator with solid inclusion.