Highwall mining equipment: advanced highwall mining system, preliminary design and analysis. Phase I final report
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5411227
For greater recovery of coal from highwalls, SwRI is developing an advanced highwall mining system to demonstrate the ability of a steerable auger cutterhead to remain in the coal seam while penetrating more deeply into the highwall than present-day, unguided augers. This type of mining system has the potential of increasing recoverable highwall coal reserves manyfold. In addition, the transfer of this technology to present-day, conventional augers can greatly improve their productivity and total resource recovery and will allow coal recovery from many high quality seams which would otherwise be ignored. Higher tonnage, longer mine life, increased production rate and reduced overall cost per ton are possible. The guided cutterhead uses sensors to provide information to the operator on the cutterhead's downhole position with respect to the coal seam boundaries. A remote control, non-contacting communications link between the cutting head and the mining platform or an umbilical cord can be used to transmit sensing information and steering commands. Successful development of the guided cutterhead is the key link to the successful development of an extended depth highwall mining system. Unless the operator is able to maintain positive control over the cutterhead throughout the boring operation, it is doubtful that significant amounts of coal can be recovered from extended depths even if sufficient power is available on the bench for boring to such depths. Without control, coal seam boundary interference is probable when boring holes to 3 to 4 times the conventional depth. Even in conventional practice, boundary interference results in premature hole abandonment.
- Research Organization:
- Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC01-76ET12213
- OSTI ID:
- 5411227
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/12213-T1; ON: DE82002464
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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