MECHANISED COAL
A longwall first
There are not many truly global coal longwall technology companies but Poland-based FAMUR
SA , headquartered in Katowice , is certainly one of them .
The company has been making progress on two fronts of late : first , developing a FAMUR automated longwall system in response to increasing geological and human constraints during underground operations ; and , second , managing the install of a major thin seam MIKRUS longwall system remotely at the height of the pandemic .
The company , in March , said implementation and multi-stage tests of its first autonomous longwall had lasted almost a year and involved experts from FAMUR Group and Elsta Elektronica .
The first project of this type carried out with full resources of companies from the FAMUR Group , its aim was to implement and test an integrated system of automatic control of the longwall system and , thus , achieve maximum automation of the longwall mining process under specific conditions .
The activities carried out were a response to the expectations of customers around the world and means the company has joined a select club – including Komatsu and Caterpillar – in being able to offer this level of longwall technology . FAMUR stated : “ Reliable and dependable communication between the systems in a mining complex ensures the mutual reliability of equipment operation . It also improves safety by enabling , if necessary , to withdraw operators from the zone of special mining and geological hazard .
“ Depending on the current conditions in the mine , it is possible to apply different levels of automation – from the advancing cycle ( lowering , advancing , extending ) of a single powered roof support unit to the conveyor , through to advancing the group of powered roof support units and advancing the conveyor following the mining machine , up to automation of the operation of the shearer slotting in the face ( cutting ).”
The heart of the system is a gateway computer located near the face . It receives data from the mining machine , the electro-hydraulic control system of the powered roof support , the AFC , the intelligent video cameras and , optionally , from the methane emission control system .
For the purposes of the project , a data acquisition and archiving system was developed and applied .
Remote monitoring of the longwall system operation is made possible by an event-oriented app for visualisation and control of the mining process . This allows the operator to obtain an overview of the basic process parameters , while being informed by the system about potential hazards to the longwall operators and production disturbances .
An important function in this regard is the use of video cameras to enable the detection of personnel in the monitored area . Using hardware support for artificial intelligence mechanisms , the video cameras locate personnel and notify the master longwall control system . The artificial intelligence algorithms can be trained and adapted to distinguish between , for instance , the clothing of the mine workers where the system is working .
The automation project was initiated in October 2019 and was preceded by design work . The implementation of the machines into operation and testing of the system lasted until autumn 2020 and was carried out on the premises of the FAMUR machine park in Poland .
“ The tests carried out on the surface have not only given us the opportunity to avoid many of the risks associated with commissioning of the longwall system in complex operating conditions , it was also an opportunity to test over a dozen of FAMUR ’ s automation and communication projects and solutions , the implementation of which would not have been possible without conducting tests on the surface ,” FAMUR said . “ Gained knowledge , competence and experience will allow FAMUR to strengthen its position on the Polish market , and , in the long run , to gain competitive advantage abroad .”
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