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7 December 1998 |
Ref 98/286 |
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An automated system is being developed to secure the roof in underground coal mines and take people out of the hazardous area between the mining and roof support operations. It could also double the production availability of existing mining equipment by eliminating interruptions.
The system is being developed under a five-year coal technologies research agreement, signed recently between CSIRO and the Japan Coal Energy Centre (JCOAL). The research will be carried out by CSIRO's Coal Mining Technology group, in collaboration with JCOAL, the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) and Australian mining companies and equipment manufacturers. JCOAL has also nominated the Taiheiyo Coal Mine and Japanese equipment manufacturers to take part in this research.
Under the existing system, the coal mining machine moves forward, mining coal until a new roof area is exposed. Mining operations are then halted to reduce the risks to people carrying out the roof bolting process, a time-consuming break in production. With the roof secured, the mining machine then moves forward again to repeat the sequences.
Known as a "rapid roadway development system", the new module will be designed to travel immediately behind the mining machine, automatically inserting roof bolts as it moves forward while transferring the coal across a bridge to the conveyor leading from the mine.
CSIRO's Coal Mining Coordinator Mr Michael Kelly says that the project addresses two of the most significant issues for the coal industry, Australia's most valuable export industry, worth more than $8 billion annually.
"Safety is the primary issue - and this module will take people out of a situation where they have previously placed roof bolts in an area secured only by temporary support immediately behind the mining equipment.
"While this bolting is taking place, mining has to be stopped while the support is inserted. Each of these interruptions has a serious impact on productivity in the mine, often with the result that the equipment is working no more than 30 per cent of its available time.
"The system that our research will develop under this agreement, will use a machine to bolt the roof automatically as the mining moves forward without stopping. This will mean that the very large mining equipment could at least double its output - addressing the second major issue that has concerned the industry."
"We welcome JCOAL's major contribution, approximately fifty per cent, to this R&D project. We will also be working with ACARP participants, coal mines and equipment manufacturers to develop and test the module."
CSIRO conducts R&D for the minerals and energy industries worth more than $125 million annually, sourced from both appropriation funds and the private sector.
More information:
Mr Mick Kelly 07 3212 4612
Dr Cliff Mallett 07 3212 4440
(Australia's largest scientific research organisation)
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