دانلود رایگان ترجمه مقاله ارائه فناوری توانمند برای دستیابی به معادن زیرزمینی ایمن تر (نشریه الزویر 2015)

اتوماسیون جبهه کار بلند: ارائه فناوری توانمند برای دستیابی به معادن زیرزمینی ایمن تر و به بهره وری بیشتر

Longwall automation: Delivering enabling technology to achieve safer and more productive underground mining

Abstract

The ongoing need to deliver improved safety, productivity and environmental benefit in coal mining presents an open challenge as well as a powerful incentive to develop new and improved solutions. This paper assesses the critical role that enabling technologies have played in the delivery of remote and automated capability for longwall mining. A brief historical account is given to highlight key technical contributions which have influenced the direction and development of present-day longwall technology. The current state of longwall automation is discussed with particular attention drawn to the technologies that enable automated capability. Outcomes are presented from an independently conducted case study that assessed the impact that CSIRO’s LASC longwall automation research has made to the longwall mining industry in Australia. Importantly, this study reveals how uptake of this innovative technology has significantly benefitted coal mine productivity, improved working conditions for personnel and enhanced environmental outcomes. These benefits have been widely adopted with CSIRO automation technology being used in 60 per cent of all Australian underground operations. International deployment of the technology is also emerging. The paper concludes with future challenges and opportunities to highlight the ongoing scope for longwall automation research and development.

1 Introduction

1-1 CSIRO mining strategy and rationale Industrial

Research Organisation (CSIRO) undertakes missiondirected research to promote transformational change in the Australian mining and resource ecosystems. The vision is to secure a clean energy future in order to sustain long term benefits across environmental, economic and societal sectors. The fundamental approach has been to collaborate with industry, research organisations and government to create cost-competitive, low-emission energy technologies. A vital component of this strategy has been the development of remote and automated mining technologies to achieve safer, more productive and more environmentally sustainable coal mining systems. Coal accounts for around 24% of employment and 27% of total revenue for the Australian mining sector. Longwall coal mining, in particular, accounts for around 90% of Australia’s total underground coal production and thus represents a major interest area for innovative research and development.

1-2 Longwall coal mining process

Longwall coal mining is a full extraction underground mining method that involves the removal of coal in large blocks or panels using a mechanised shearer. The coal panel is typically 200–450 m wide and can be up to five kilometres in length. The mechanical shearer is mounted on a shearer pan and rails which guide the shearer as it moves back and forth along the coal face. Coal cut from the longwall face by the shearer is removed by an Armoured Face Conveyor (AFC) that transports coal to the adjoining gateroad for conveyance to the surface.

The roof over the working area is supported by hydraulic shields that are advanced towards the freshly cut face according to a well-defined motion configuration. As the roof support system advances into the coal panel, the roof behind the shields is no longer supported and is thus allowed to collapse into the void (goaf) behind the shields. For reference, a representation of a small portion of a longwall operation and shearer is shown in Fig. 1. The coal seam is indicated by the hatched layer between the underlying and overlying strata.