Distributed communications and control network for robotic mining

The application of robotics to coal mining machines is one approach pursued to increase productivity while providing enhanced safety for the coal miner. Toward that end, a network composed of microcontrollers, computers, expert systems, real time operating systems, and a variety of program languages are being integrated that will act as the backbone for intelligent machine operation. Actual mining machines, including a few customized ones, have been given telerobotic semiautonomous capabilities by applying the described network. Control devices, intelligent sensors and computers onboard these machines are showing promise of achieving improved mining productivity and safety benefits. Current research using these machines involves navigation, multiple machine interaction, machine diagnostics, mineral detection, and graphical machine representation. Guidance sensors and systems employed include: sonar, laser rangers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, clinometers, and accelerometers. Information on the network of hardware/software and its implementation on mining machines are presented. Anticipated coal production operations using the network are discussed. A parallelism is also drawn between the direction of present day underground coal mining research to how the lunar soil (regolith) may be mined. A conceptual lunar mining operation that employs a distributed communication and control network is detailed

Acquiring electric energy from the transport conveyor roller movement for distributed sensors network

The paper presents the concept of installation of an electricity generator and en energy store inside a roller of belt or roller conveyor. Accordingly, the use of a generator-pulley does not require any structural changes to be made to an existing conveyor. In addition, the user will be able to power distributed sensors network for monitoring the operation of the belt conveyor anywhere on its route. © 2020 Krzysztof Mazurek et al., published by Sciendo.European Regional Development Fund under the project CEBIA-Tech [CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0089

Research and Application on Energy Saving of Port Belt Conveyor

AbstractThis paper briefly introduces several energy-saving techniques used in belt conveyor in ports. According to the practical operating situation of belt conveyor in coal yard in Tianjin port, less motor operation technique is used to develop a study on electricity-saving experiment and improvement of the belt conveyor system, and analyze the related experimental data. Finally, it is proved that this system has some advantages of low cost, stable performance and obvious effect in energy saving

English for Study and Work: Coursebook in 4 books. Book 2 Obtaining and Processing Information for Specific Purposes

Подано всі види діяльності студентів з вивчення англійської мови, спрямовані на розвиток мовної поведінки, необхідної для ефективного спілкування в академічному та професійному середовищах. Містить завдання і вправи, типові для різноманітних академічних та професійних сфер і ситуацій. Структура організації змісту – модульна, охоплює мовні знання і мовленнєві вміння залежно від мовної поведінки. Даний модуль має на меті розвиток у студентів стратегій, умінь, навичок читання, пошуку та вилучення професійно-орієнтованої інформації, необхідної для ефективної професійної діяльності і навчання. Містить завдання і вправи, типові для академічних та професійних сфер, пов’язаних з гірництвом і розробкою родовищ корисних копалин. Зразки текстів – автентичні, різножанрові, взяті з реального життя, містять цікаву й актуальну інформацію про особливості видобутку мінеральних ресурсів в провідних країнах світу, сучасний підхід до розробки родовищ тощо. Ресурси для самостійної роботи (Частина ІІ) містять завдання та вправи для розширення словникового запасу та розвитку знань найуживанішої термінології з гірництва, що спрямовано на організацію самостійної роботи з розвитку мовленнєвих умінь, знань про корисні копалини, методи їх видобутку. За допомогою засобів діагностики студенти можуть самостійно перевірити засвоєння навчального матеріалу й оцінити свої досягнення. Призначений для студентів вищих навчальних закладів, зокрема технічних університетів. Може використовуватися для самостійного вивчення англійської мови викладачами, фахівцями і науковцями різних галузей

Demand Reduction and Responsive Strategies for Underground Mining

This thesis presents a demand reduction and responsive strategy for underground mining operations. The thesis starts with a literature review and background research on global energy, coal mining and the energy related issues that the mining industry face everyday. The thesis then goes on to discuss underground mine electrical power systems, data acquisition, load profiling, priority ranking, load shedding and demand side management in mining. Other areas presented in this thesis are existing energy reduction techniques, including: high efficiency motors, motor speed reduction and low energy lighting. During the thesis a data acquisition system was designed and installed at a UK Coal colliery and integrated into the mines existing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Design and installation problems were overcome with the construction of a test meter and lab installation and testing. A detailed explanation of the system design and installation along with the data analysis of the data from the installed system. A comprehensive load profile and load characterisation system was developed by the author. The load profiling system is comprehensive allows the definition of any type of load profile. These load profiles are fixed, variable and transient load types. The loads output and electrical demand are all taken into consideration. The load characterisation system developed is also very comprehensive. The LC MATRIX is used with the load profiles and the load characteristics to define off-line schedules. A set of unique real-time decision algorithms are also developed by the author to operate the off-line schedules within the desired objective function. MATLAB Simulation is used to developed and test the systems. Results from these test are presented. Application of the developed load profiling and scheduling systems are applied to the data collected from the mine, the results of this and the cost savings are also presented

Coal Quality Management Model for a Dome Storage (DS-CQMM)

Coal quality (ash, sulfur, moisture and BTU) is one of the key aspects for both coal mines and power plants. Mines invest time as well as economic and technological resources in order to manage coal quality for final use in power plants. In order to deliver uniform coal quality to the power plant, there is a need for a real-time monitoring of coal quality from the mine to the coal stockpiles. The specific problem represents the process of stacking the coal inside the enclosed facility such as a dome. The process of stacking coal inside a dome generates the unique geometry of the stockpile due to the physical constraints caused by the circular shape and walls of dome, and height and length of stacker. The reclaiming process also creates a particular shape of the stockpile. The specific challenge to the mine is to know spatial distribution of coal quality parameters, volume and tonnage in such formed stockpile.;The objective of this research was to develop a custom-made and integrated Coal Quality Management Model for a Dome Storage (DS-CQMM). The DS-CQMM merges existing technology in surface mines, such as coal analyzers, along with automation technologies, information technologies (IT), mathematical models, and different programming languages.;The DS-CQMM is organized into four major sections: Delay Time Application, Stacker Application, Reclaimer Application, and Live Stockpile Application. A sub-process called Volume Calculation is embedded in Stacker Application, while an additional feature called Forecast Tool is included in the Reclaimer Application. The Delay Time Application calculates the time that a batch of coal takes to reach the boom of the stacker from the coal analyzer through the belt conveyor system. The Stacker Application retrieves the information provided by the Delay Time Application and Distributed Control System (DCS) database using a mathematical model. This model is specifically designed for this purpose in order to assign a unique location to coal that is being stacked into the mathematically-discretized dome storage. The volume of the stacked coal is calculated by using the mathematical model and dome discretization. Finally, tonnage is determined and assigned along with coal quality tags. Once the coal is stacked into the dome, the Reclaimer Application displays the ranges of every quality tag within the stockpile. For more accurate representation, coal quality is shown in numerical values in the Forecast Tool using different tables. The Forecast Tool has the capability of calculating the average of each quality tag and the total summation of the tonnage of the coal that will be reclaimed by selecting the desired cells and showing the values in a display window. After reclaiming the coal, the Reclaimer Application retrieves required data from the DCS database and builds the shape of the remaining stockpile. The Reclaimer Application shows the distribution of the coal quality of the remaining stockpile. The Live Stockpile Application is developed for a special part of the dome that was originally designed to serve as an emergency reclaimer in case of failure or maintenance of the mobile reclaimer. The Live Stockpile Application has two parts: stacking and reclaiming. Using the same concept and mathematical model of the Stacker Application, the stacking part of the Live Stockpile Application is developed, while new concepts and mathematical models are developed for the reclaiming part. Both parts show the same graphical outputs as the Stacker and Reclaiming Applications. The DS-CQMM model was developed for a surface coal mine in the southern United States

Development and utilisation of fibre optic-based monitoring systems for underground coal mines

The continuous economic growth and depleting shallow reserves have increased the number of deeper mining operations worldwide which has made safety and productivity more challenging due to the higher stresses, heat and increased gas contents. Any major improvements in safety and productivity require a reliable and real-time monitoring system that provides more comprehensive information about various processes. The current monitoring systems suffer from lack of reliability, accuracy and high capital and operating costs. Recent advancements in fibre-optic based sensing technology have introduced unique solutions for various underground coal mine applications such as health and safety, geotechnical, ventilation, borehole, mine environment and condition monitoring. This paper presents recent research, development and utilisation of this technology by a group of researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) and CRCMining in Australia and Shandong Academy of Science in China

Master of Science

thesisA booster fan is an underground ventilation device installed in series with a main surface fan and is used to boost the pressure of air of the current passing through it. Currently, federal regulations in the U.S. do not permit the use of booster fans in underground bituminous and lignite coal mines. Considering that a booster fan is an active device with moving parts, it is imperative to install it with an efficient and reliable monitoring and control system. The important aspects of booster fans and monitoring systems that are discussed in this thesis are environmental monitoring, condition monitoring, design and installation principles, guidelines for safe operation of booster fans, fan interlocking, and risk assessment. The environmental status of underground mining operations with large booster fans is critical to the health and safety of the miners. Mining operations, especially in large deep coal mines, rely greatly upon the monitoring systems to create safe and healthy work conditions by monitoring carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and smoke. Condition monitoring is the process of measuring the fan operating factors to evaluate and predict the health of mining machinery. In coal mine ventilation, condition monitoring includes the measurement and evaluation of the following factors: vibration, barometric pressure, noise, input power, motor and bearing temperatures, differential pressures, and air flow rate. The monitoring system network in a mine could become extremely complex if the monitors are not located at the right place. Recommendations are given for calculating the appropriate siting and spacing of monitors. Booster fans are assembled and installed to operate under harsh conditions; they are subject to wear and tear and malfunction. Installation principles are discussed in detail and recommendations are made for the safe operation of booster fans. Interlocking is one method of preventing the occurrence of unsafe conditions due to electrical or mechanical failures. It is described in detail, and the best practices used in other coal mining countries are summarized. To ensure the safe operation of booster fans and monitoring systems underground, a risk assessment was done, critical hazards were identified, and mitigation controls are outlined

Mining Technologies Innovative Development

The present book covers the main challenges, important for future prospects of subsoils extraction as a public effective and profitable business, as well as technologically advanced industry. In the near future, the mining industry must overcome the problems of structural changes in raw materials demand and raise the productivity up to the level of high-tech industries to maintain the profits. This means the formation of a comprehensive and integral response to such challenges as the need for innovative modernization of mining equipment and an increase in its reliability, the widespread introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies in the activities of mining enterprises, the transition to "green mining" and the improvement of labor safety and avoidance of man-made accidents. The answer to these challenges is impossible without involving a wide range of scientific community in the publication of research results and exchange of views and ideas. To solve the problem, this book combines the works of researchers from the world's leading centers of mining science on the development of mining machines and mechanical systems, surface and underground geotechnology, mineral processing, digital systems in mining, mine ventilation and labor protection, and geo-ecology. A special place among them is given to post-mining technologies research